The interview question “How do you prioritize your work?” is a common one, and for good reason.
Employers want to know that you can manage your time effectively and focus on the most important tasks.
A well-thought-out answer to this question can show the interviewer that you are organized, efficient, and able to handle competing priorities.
In this article, we take a look at how to answer the interview question “How do you prioritize your work?” in 6 simple steps along with 10+ sample answers.
How to Answer “How Do You Prioritize Your Work?”
Here are 7 unique tips to answer the interview question “How do you prioritize your work?”:
Use a framework to explain your process
Choose a framework that you are familiar with and that you can use to explain your prioritization process clearly and concisely.
Answer with real-life examples
This is a great way to show the interviewer that you have real-world experience with prioritization. Be sure to highlight the challenges you faced and the steps you took to overcome them.
When describing your prioritization process, don’t just say that you consider importance and urgency.
Instead, provide specific examples of how you have used these factors to prioritize your work in the past.
For example, you could talk about a time when you had to prioritize a new project over an ongoing task because the new project was more urgent.
Demonstrate your flexibility and adaptability
Things don’t always go according to plan, so it’s important to be able to adjust your priorities as needed.
Priorities can change quickly, so it’s important to show the interviewer that you can adapt your prioritization process accordingly.
Be sure to demonstrate your flexibility and adaptability in your answer, and talk about how you handle unexpected changes in priorities.
For example, you could talk about a time when you had to drop what you were working on to focus on a new urgent task.
You can do this by talking about a time when you had to adjust your priorities due to an unexpected change in circumstances.
Highlight your ability to say no
One of the most important skills for effective prioritization is the ability to say no to new requests.
Be sure to highlight your ability to say no in your answer, and talk about how you do it respectfully and professionally.
For example, you could talk about a time when you had to say no to a new project because you were already overloaded with work.
Emphasize your communication skills
Prioritization is not just about managing your workload. It’s also important to be able to communicate with your manager and team members about your priorities and to collaborate on tasks.
Be sure to highlight your communication skills in your answer and talk about how you use them to ensure that everyone is aligned on priorities.
Share delegation process
If you have experience delegating tasks, be sure to share this in your answer.
Talk about how you decide which tasks to delegate and how you ensure that they are completed to a high standard.
For example, you could talk about a time when you delegated a task to a new team member and how you provided them with the support they needed to be successful.
Be honest about your areas for improvement
No one is perfect, so it’s okay to admit that you have areas for improvement when it comes to prioritization.
Just be sure to talk about what you are doing to address those areas for improvement. For example, if you struggle to say no to new projects, you could talk about how you are learning to set boundaries and delegate tasks.
Here is a mock Sample answer using the above tips to help you answer the interview question “How do you prioritize your work?”
Sample answer
“I prioritize my work by considering the following factors: importance, urgency, dependencies, and my skills and experience.
I also communicate with my manager and team members regularly to make sure that everyone is aligned on priorities.
For example, in my previous role, I was working on a new product launch and a marketing campaign for an existing product. The product launch was more urgent, so I prioritized that project.
However, I also knew that the marketing campaign was important, so I worked on it in the evenings and on weekends.
I also understand that priorities can change quickly. So, I am flexible and willing to adjust my priorities as needed.
For example, if my manager comes to me with a new urgent task, I will drop what I am working on and focus on the new task.
Finally, I am always looking for ways to improve my prioritization skills.
For example, I recently started using a time tracking tool to help me identify areas where I can improve my efficiency.
I am confident that my prioritization skills will be a valuable asset to your team. I am organized, efficient, and able to handle competing priorities.”
This answer is specific, highlights the interviewee’s ability to adapt and communicate, and is honest about their areas for improvement. It is also authentic and genuine, which is important to the interviewer.
Here are some other sample answers to this question!
“How Do You Prioritize Your Work?” Sample Answers
Check out these nine sample answers to the question “How do you prioritize your work?”, defining the hypothetical journey of a job seeker.
Sample Answer 1
I prioritize my work by considering the Urgency of the task considering how soon the task needs to be completed, followed by the Impact of the task to the company or team.
I also consider the Dependencies and check whether the task depends on other tasks being completed first.
Finally, I take a moment to consider My skills and experience, and in case I feel there’s someone better at it, I try to align the work with them, making sure that in prioritising the work, the quality is not compromised.
Once I have considered these factors, I rank my tasks in order of priority and start working on the most important tasks first.
I also review my priorities regularly to make sure that I am still focused on the most important things.
Sample answer 2
I use a to-do list and/or project management system to help me prioritize my work.
I start each day by reviewing my to-do list and identifying the most important tasks that need to be completed.
I then schedule those tasks into my calendar and focus on working on them one at a time.
I also use a project management system to track my progress on larger projects and to ensure that I am meeting all of the deadlines.
