What is the hiring manager looking for?

The hiring manager wants to know if you can apply your technical skills to solve real-world problems. They also want to see that you can communicate your ideas clearly and concisely.

How to structure your answer

Use the STAR method to answer this question:

* Situation: Briefly describe the situation you were in.
* Task: Explain the specific task you were assigned.
* Action: Describe the steps you took to solve the problem.
* Result: Share the outcome of your efforts.

Tips to answer this interview question

* Avoid being too vague: Don’t just say that you “solved a problem” without providing any details.
* Don’t ramble: Keep your answer concise and to the point.
* Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification: If you don’t understand the question, ask the interviewer for clarification.

Example interview answers to this question

Sample Answer 1:

“I was working on a project to develop a new website for a client. The client wanted the website to be visually appealing, easy to navigate, and mobile-friendly. I used my technical expertise in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to create a website that met all of the client’s requirements. The website was a success and the client was very happy with the results.”

Analysis:

This answer is strong because it:

* Clearly describes the situation: The candidate provides a clear and concise overview of the project they were working on.
* Explains the specific task they were assigned: The candidate explains the specific task they were assigned, which was to develop a new website for a client.
* Describes the steps they took to solve the problem: The candidate describes the steps they took to solve the problem, including the technical skills they used.
* Shares the outcome of their efforts: The candidate shares the outcome of their efforts, which was that the website was a success and the client was very happy with the results.

Sample Answer 2:

“I was working on a project to develop a new software program. The program was intended to be used by a team of engineers to track their projects. I used my technical expertise in Java and Python to create a program that was user-friendly, efficient, and scalable. The program was a success and the team of engineers was able to use it to improve their productivity.”

Analysis:

This answer is strong because it:

* Clearly describes the situation: The candidate provides a clear and concise overview of the project they were working on.
* Explains the specific task they were assigned: The candidate explains the specific task they were assigned, which was to develop a new software program for a team of engineers.
* Describes the steps they took to solve the problem: The candidate describes the steps they took to solve the problem, including the technical skills they used.
* Shares the outcome of their efforts: The candidate shares the outcome of their efforts, which was that the program was a success and the team of engineers was able to use it to improve their productivity.