The best approach to answering this question: Focus on a time when you had to take initiative in your work or projects. The best answer would also involve others, but it can also be simply taking personal initiative on your own.
What is your initiative?
When you show initiative, you do things without being told; you find out what you need to know; you keep going when things get tough; and you spot and take advantage of opportunities that others pass by. You act, instead of reacting, at work. Most of us have seen initiative in action.
How do you show initiative and a willingness to work?
How to show initiative at work
- Do more than what is expected of you.
- Make your career plan.
- Work on your confidence.
- Develop a team mentality.
- Actively request feedback and follow it.
- Always keep a positive attitude.
- Be prepared for any opportunity.
How to give an example of your initiative?
Rely on the STAR Method. The STAR method- or situation/task- action and result- is a reliable and appropriate way to help frame your answer to a behavioral interview question like the one at hand. When asked for an example of a time you took the initiative- begin by describing the situation or task in which the scenario took place.
What is an example of a time you acted on your initiative?
If you are struggling to think of a time when you acted on your initiative, our sample answers below should get you thinking about when you may have done something similar. Remember that you need to provide sufficient details in your answer for the interviewers to understand the scale of your achievement.
What are examples of people who don’t take initiative?
A type of person who doesn’t take initiative may be someone who is lazy, they don’t think it’s their problem to pick up the glass (or the pen), because they didn’t break the bottle and THEY didn’t leave the pen on the floor… It is the attitude of: I didn’t make the mess, so why should I bother to clean it? Someone else should do it.
When do you take initiative in your work?
Give me an example of a time when you took initiative to get things done. Tell me about how you move forward with getting things accomplished in your job. When have you had to step out in your work to move things forward? Where would you say you rank on a 1 to 10 scale for taking initiative?
