# Did I answer this interview question correctly? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 9, 2011, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-answer-this-interview-question-correctly/566950 "2011-01-09T04:58:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![elninost0rm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ed655f/32.png) [@elninost0rm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elninost0rm)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-answer-this-interview-question-correctly/566950/21 "2011-01-11T15:17:52Z")
Clerk Typist II - PA gov’t checking in. I had to endure similar questions at my interview. They’re mainly just trying to feel you out as a person. Speak confidently and clearly. Stand by your answers. Don’t constantly fret that you’re saying the wrong thing. ---
**Author:** ![Headrush042](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Headrush042](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Headrush042)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-answer-this-interview-question-correctly/566950/22 "2011-01-11T15:30:47Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > I think that this is even a better answer than saying that you would go to the supervisor, since it isn’t your problem. In another job I might recommend saying that you’d work on the most important one first, but I suspect you’d get told that all the work is of equal priority. My response to that is, “If my supervisor is unable to prioritize tasking, then perhaps he/she should be working for me instead.” 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-answer-this-interview-question-correctly/566950/23 "2011-01-11T20:45:21Z")
Of course, why I didn’t I think of that? That’s sure to get me a job. :smack: 😛 ---
**Author:** ![lisalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/0ea827/32.png) [@lisalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisalan)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-answer-this-interview-question-correctly/566950/24 "2011-01-11T20:49:18Z")
> [@Nobody](#): > > Yesterday I had an interview for a clerical position. One of the questions asked of me (which is asked of everybody) was, and this is the short version of a somewhat long question, > > Employees are expected to complete all their assignments the same day that they get them. One day you get twice the amount of work that you normally do. A coworker who has fallen a day behind comes to you and asks for your help, what do you say to him or her. > > My answer was that I would apologize and tell my coworker that I would need to focus on doing my work first, and if I finished before the end of the day then I would help him/her. My reasoning is that trying to do twice the amount of work plus helping a coworker who’s behind might get me behind, and it wouldn’t do the department any good to have two coworkers who were behind. > > Was that the right answer? I honestly believe it’s a good answer but I’ve been wrong about these things before. This is a tricky question. If they were trying to see if you would be a good team player then you did not answer the question well. However, I don’t know what their motivation in asking you that question was. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-answer-this-interview-question-correctly/566950/25 "2011-01-11T21:04:37Z")
Nothing works better than presenting one’s self as an independent worker, who only consults with their supervisor when it is warranted. In this case, pulling a few people together to get the work done is warranted. However, it MUST be measured against the backdrop of ALL the other answers given during the interview, which help to form a picture of the person. Without knowing all that, the answer to this question loses much of its meaning. If the overall theme is an independent and mature worker who is able to solve/prioritize and work things out, then it’s innocuous to suggest that, under severe workload conditions where some are falling behind as a team (either of their own accord or by uncontrollable circumstances), one should consult their supervisor. . ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-answer-this-interview-question-correctly/566950/26 "2011-01-11T21:45:57Z")
I agree with the “go to the boss” answer, but yours wasn’t so bad either. I call situations like that presented in the question “declaring time bankruptcy” (ie, you don’t have enough time to do everything you are supposed to do). The way to handle them is just like a “money” bankruptcy–have a meeting of the creditors (here it’s just your boss and your co-worker’s boss, which may be the same person) and let the creditors work it out somehow. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-answer-this-interview-question-correctly/566950/27 "2011-01-11T21:51:20Z")
> [@Nobody](#): > > One day you get twice the amount of work that you normally do. A coworker who has fallen a day behind comes to you and asks for your help, what do you say to him or her. “Fuck off”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-answer-this-interview-question-correctly/566950.md?page=1)