How should I tackle this difficult interview question?

Question

I have an interview soon and all the other - unsuccessful - interviews I've had in the past all contained roughly the same question. The question is, 'If you had a problem within the company - say, staff shortages / wage reduction / being upgraded to an unfamiliar computer system / uncooperative colleagues - who would you speak to about it?'
Usually I list off the colleagues / supervisors / managers I would speak to, but the interviewer usually responds by pretending all of these people cannot help me, so then I talk about how I would tackle the problem by myself, but then the interviewer responds by pretending I am unable to tackle the problem by myself and invites me to suggest further solutions. By this point I am fresh out of ideas.
How would you respond to this question?
All answers appreciated. Thanks.

Answer 1

To be honest with you

No matter who you speak to, immediate supervisor, colleagues etc. None of these people can resolve the problems you mentioned.
These problems are way above the heads of these people and are probably irrevocable.

Many companies pay lip service to industrial relations and would prefer that workers cause no waves.

All that matters to them is the profit margins and reputation.

I think you answer should be that you will consult with no one about this. You will alter your lifestyle and work outlook to deal with the problems and get on with your job.

The last thing these people want is someone who is going to go running to HR or line managers and making waves.

Answer 2

It sounds like it is a behaviourral questions to see how you would respond in certain situation and the interview is looking for a specific behaviou if you do not provide what they are looking for they continue to probe. Listen for key words and figure out what they are looking for before you answer it is okay to ask for more information. I would respond in a way that i would evaluate the situation and get all the fact sometime it is appropriate to do nothing and make the Best of a situation.
Good luck and do a web search on behavioural interviews it might help.

Answer 3

I think the interviewer is just trying to get a sense of your thought process. So it's not necessarily that your ideas are bad or not allowed, it's just that he/she's trying to see where you'd go and what you'd do.

In addition to talking to peers/supervisor (which IS usually the first place you go). You'd first ensure you understood the company's priorities. Then, you'd come up with various solutions.

Then, you'd meet w/ supervisor to see how the higher priority things could be done with the available resources. If that wasn't enough, you could brainstorm to see if you could come up with an outside the box solution, but often this'll take some additional investment to accomplish.

Hope that helps!

Answer 4

i'd think of you first could locate out as lots on the subject of the comapany as a threat. I interview applicants and that i will not be able to stand it whilst human beings are available in not understanding a topic approximately our organization. the subsequent would be to benefit approximately what your objectives and objectives are. once you are the group chief in a shopper centers organization i'd assume you will prefer to evaluate the desires of your purchasers. what's working for them? what isn't working for them? What has worked interior the previous? What has failed interior the previous? What are the kind of lawsuits vs compliments? What are the lawsuits? Does your group have a undertaking fact, if not you are able to artwork on becoming one. have they have been given guiding concepts? If not, they could additionally be created. you additionally must be interviewing your group to benefit from their journey with the organization and to additionally show them which you fee their enter. i can work out how this would be a not basic question to respond to as an interviewee, yet as an interviewer I see it as a slam dunk...get to comprehend your aim audience and the thank you to desirable serve them. good good fortune, and you will intend to make effective your solutions are consistent and that they don't sound rehearsed. Have an theory on your head as to the way you prefer to respond to the questions yet do not memorize an answer. it is the biggest downfall of a few of our applicants.

Answer 5

I find it ironic that an interviewer discusses those things. Those are things well out of your control and has no bearing on you working there at that given moment. These are things out of your hands. I don't know what kind of places you are applying to but i'm guessing they are already low waged, no benefits and they want you to be ok with their disadvantages ahead of time so you cannot quit based on these terms. Becareful real jobs don't ask these kind of questions. That shouldn't be a factor in the kind of worker you are.

Answer 6

I would go to the human resource dept.find out if there are any solutions to the problems on their behalf. If not, suggest to have a team meeting, because more than likely it will become a group effort to sort out these kinds of problems. You find out what's best for the company etc..

Answer 7

I am not quite sure which situation you are speaking about however, you did ask for any and all suggestions. What about if all else fails you consult the internet or library or some of your old college books?

Answer 8

i would suggest you respond by saying i would go to the regional manager or human resources if that didnt work i would make a suggestion myself and try and fix the problem

Answer 9

Cor, that's a really hard one. Human Resources Department?