There are some benefits to keeping the status quo. Often it became the status quo because there is something effective about it – something that makes it worth staying the status quo. But there are other times when you’ll be faced with a challenge that you’ll have to address in a unique way, and if that happens you will want to be able to come up with a unique solution to the problem.
Employers value this. They want to know that you can think outside of the box, and that means they are likely to ask you about it directly.
Behavioral Interview Question: Describe a time when you had to think “outside the box” and how did you go about it?
One of the risks of talking about how you “thought outside of the box” is that your “idea” is either not that original, or it doesn’t really sound like a good idea. It’s important to really think back to some of your greatest achievements and find the most unique approaches you took to each task. Make sure you can weave in a story that explains how this is outside of the box, and ends up with a great outcome.
The good news about this type of creativity interview question is that it gives you an excellent opportunity to say something positive about yourself, so if you come up with a good answer here, you can expect to give yourself a great chance of landing the job.
Sample Answer:
“A key function of my digital advertising position involved finding users that would convert through the use of display ads. This was made up of actions such as filling out a request-for-more-info form, ticket purchase, or merely a simple click on the ad. It all depended on what the client considered a “conversion.”
I remember we were doing a campaign for Myrtle Beach tourism. Initially we did employed the normal/basic keywords, but we weren’t reaching all the possible targets. Given my experience in South Carolina, having been to Myrtle Beach many times, I came up with the idea to target Canadians – “Snow Birds” as the locals call them – and wealthy people in the northeast.
In addition, the target market is a specific type of person. I mentioned we should target golf lovers, specifically ones in the northeast that like to do weekend trips to Myrtle Beach, because I knew they had many golf courses. Suddenly we were able to reach an untapped user base, beyond just the typical beach goers. We were able to reach affluent men and women in Boston, Philadelphia, and more. Conversions increased 550% in the first few months, and we improved consistently from there.”
There’s nothing wrong with bringing up personal experience, and it shows that you went above and beyond in your job. Overall, a great answer.