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Ace Behavioral Interviews at Paychex

Paychex is a leading provider of integrated human capital management solutions for human resources, payroll, time and attendance, and employee benefits. Join the 730,000 businesses Paychex serves and stand out in your next job interview.

Top interview questions to expect


1. Tell me about a time when you had to overcome a challenge.
2. Give me an example of a time when you had to work with someone you didn’t agree with.
3. Describe a situation where you had to make a difficult decision.
4. Walk me through a time when you had to adapt to change.
5. Can you tell me about a time when you had to prioritize multiple tasks?
6. Tell me about a time when you had to resolve a conflict.
7. Describe a time when you went above and beyond for a customer or colleague.

Check the latest questions for this role:

Answering interview questions with STAR structure

The STAR framework is a simple and effective way to answer behavioral interview questions. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result.

* Situation: Briefly describe the situation you were in.
* Task: Explain the task that you needed to complete.
* Action: Describe the specific actions you took to complete the task.
* Result: Share the positive outcome of your actions.

Here is an example:

Situation: I was working on a project with a tight deadline.

Task: I needed to complete my part of the project on time so that the team could move on to the next phase.

Action: I worked late nights and weekends to finish my work. I also communicated regularly with my team members to keep them updated on my progress.

Result: I completed my part of the project on time and the team was able to move on to the next phase without any delays.

Sample answers to above interview questions


1. Tell me about a time when you had to overcome a challenge.

Answer:

Situation: I was working on a complex project with multiple deadlines. Several team members suddenly became unavailable, leaving me with more work to complete in the same amount of time.

Task: I needed to complete all tasks on time and ensure the project’s success.

Action: I created a new project plan, prioritizing tasks and reallocating resources. I delegated tasks to team members who were still available, prioritizing tasks, and communicating regularly to ensure everyone understood their roles and responsibilities.

Result: The project was completed on time and within budget. I received praise from my manager for my ability to overcome challenges and deliver results.

2. Give me an example of a time when you had to work with someone you didn’t agree with.

Answer:

Situation: I was working on a project with a team member who had a different approach to problem-solving than I did. We often disagreed on the best course of action.

Task: I needed to find a way to work with this team member and complete the project successfully.

Action: I took the time to understand their perspective and tried to find common ground. I actively listened to their ideas and provided constructive feedback.

Result: We were able to work together effectively and completed the project successfully. This experience taught me the value of collaboration and compromise.

3. Describe a situation where you had to make a difficult decision.

Answer:

Situation: I was faced with a difficult decision that had the potential to impact my team and the company. I had to decide whether to approve a new project that had a high risk of failure.

Task: I needed to weigh the risks and benefits of the project and make a decision that was in the best interest of the company.

Action: I gathered as much information as possible, including input from my team and other stakeholders. I analyzed the data and carefully considered all the options.

Result: I made a decision to approve the project, which ultimately led to a successful outcome. The project was completed on time and within budget, and it had a positive impact on the company.

4. Walk me through a time when you had to adapt to change.

Answer:

Situation: I was working on a project when the company decided to change the project scope. This meant that I had to change my entire approach to the project.

Task: I needed to adapt quickly to the new project scope and ensure that the project was still completed on time and within budget.

Action: I met with my team to discuss the changes and develop a new plan. I also communicated regularly with stakeholders to keep them updated on the project’s progress.

Result: I was able to adapt quickly to the change and the project was completed successfully. This experience taught me the importance of being flexible and adaptable in the face of change.

5. Can you tell me about a time when you had to prioritize multiple tasks?

Answer:

Situation: I was working on multiple projects simultaneously, and I had to prioritize my tasks to ensure that the most important ones were completed on time.

Task: I needed to determine which tasks were most important and allocate my time accordingly.

Action: I created a to-do list and prioritized the tasks based on their importance and deadline. I also communicated with my manager and team members to ensure that we were all on the same page.

Result: I was able to prioritize my tasks effectively and complete all of them on time. This experience taught me the importance of setting priorities and managing my time wisely.

6. Tell me about a time when you had to resolve a conflict.

Answer:

Situation: I was working on a project with a team member who had a different approach to problem-solving than I did. This led to a conflict between us.

Task: I needed to resolve the conflict and ensure that the project continued to move forward smoothly.

Action: I met with the team member and communicated my concerns and perspectives. We talked through the conflict and tried to understand each other’s points of view.

Result: We were able to resolve the conflict and work together effectively to complete the project successfully. This experience taught me the importance of communication and collaboration in resolving conflicts.

7. Describe a time when you went above and beyond for a customer or colleague.

Answer:

Situation: I was working with a customer who was having difficulty using our product. I spent extra time with the customer, answering their questions and providing support.

Task: I needed to ensure that the customer was satisfied with our product and our service.

Action: I listened to the customer’s concerns and provided them with detailed instructions on how to use the product. I also followed up with the customer to ensure that they were satisfied with the support they received.

Result: The customer was satisfied with our product and our service. They continued to use our product and became a loyal customer.

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