How To Answer “How Do You Prioritise Your Work?” In An Interview

To be very good at any job, one should know how to manage one’s time properly; therefore, it is no wonder that an interviewer will ask, “How do you prioritise your work?”

Why do employers ask this? Employers ask this question to assess how you can plan and control your time and differentiate between pressing and significant assignments.

Your reply helps the interviewer gauge how you would execute and accomplish your work assignments, assuming you get employed.

So, what steps do you take to answer, “How do you prioritise your work?”

1. Describe how you schedule your day

When an interviewer poses this question, respond clearly about how you handle your daily tasks at work.

For instance, if you make a checklist of what needs to be done for the day, explain how such things are prioritised so that immediate ones are handled first, followed by those that can wait.

This suggests you are proactive, have good organisational skills, and manage your workload effectively.

2. Explain how you shift between priorities

Your workday is likely to be interrupted by changes here and there that require attention.

Explaining this can show flexibility during last-minute adjustments in assignments and shed light on the interviewer’s method of reshuffling activities.

3. Discuss how you set your deadlines

Completing work assignments on time is an essential aspect of any job, and the interviewer wants to know that you can establish timelines for yourself that accommodate impending and shifting deadlines where necessary.

Discuss how you set your deadlines according to task urgency, and provide details about determining appropriate time frames.

For instance, give examples of how you discuss due dates with team leaders or confirm important and tight deadlines.

4. Talk about how you maintain work-life balance

Explaining how you set realistic expectations for yourself during your workday highlights your ability to determine what tasks need to be completed and when a timeline should be extended.

For instance, if you work on a project that you know will extend to the following day, share your expectations for what you can finish in eight hours.

This shows employers that you understand the importance of working within your daily time limits and that you value your productivity and performance.

5. Connect your answer to the job requirements.

Ensure you relate the examples in your answer of how you prioritised your workload to the job requirements under discussion.

For example, if you are interviewing for an administrative assistant position, discuss maintaining order in your administrative responsibilities—managing customer emails, distributing memos and updates among top management staff, etc.

6. Show That You Can Reprioritize and Be Flexible

It does not matter how well-ordered your daily work schedule or algorithm-rich spreadsheets you have created are. Hiring managers will instead not take their chances with individuals who lack this quality and cannot change their plans.

Things change all the time in fast-paced workplaces. Priorities change, management gives new mandates, and company goals move. How do you respond to those changes?

When you answer this question, you must show that you can remain flexible.

Final Tip….

An excellent answer to “How do you prioritise your work?” will significantly improve your chances of getting a job offer. Remember these key points to show a potential employer that you know how to juggle company priorities, efficiency, and work-life balance.

Do you have an upcoming interview? Do you need help answering interview questions confidently? Seek our interview coaching services today to help you prepare and stand out from the other candidates.