Job App: Name a time you solved a difficult problem?

davestar_delux · 19 Jan 2008 at 20:22

Hey I'm applying for a job, got this question here, name a time you solved a difficult problem?

I can't think of any difficult problems I have had. Help!

I do a computing degree, work in an office doing admin and tax work and been on placements doing networking and IT support stuff. This job is for IT support stuff. Anyone got any ideas for me?

I mean I could put down someone on my group project was a slacker so I worked extra hard and told the lecturer they were a waster. Or PC crashed day before coursework had to be handed in, ended up transferring the hard drive to another PC as a slave to access it. Someone reported their PC not booting up, I diagnosed it and ascertained it wasn't a hard drive problem and had to phone Dell to get it repaired.

But I don't think any of those answers cut it, I surely must have done something more problematic? What does everyone else give for these questions?

davestar_delux · 19 Jan 2008 at 22:03

Thanks for all the helpful advice from people. Eventually went with one of my original ideas and just fleshed it out a bit.

davestar_delux · 19 Jan 2008 at 22:10

divine` said:
I hope you mentioned your lack of ability to think for yourself.

I can think for myself. If you have nothing constructive for me, I'd appreciate if you didn't contribute to the thread anymore. I'm looking for advice. Thanks.

davestar_delux · 19 Jan 2008 at 22:24

divine` said:
The contents of this thread would contradict that sentiment though.

So asking for the advice and experience of others means I can't think for myself?

davestar_delux · 19 Jan 2008 at 22:39

divine` said:
When it's asking about a problem you've faced and solved, i'd say needing to ask other people what to answer demonstrates a certain lack of ability to think for ones self, yes.

Do you think requiring help to answer fairly basic questions is not indicative of this then?

I gave examples of some things I had already come up with that I had faced and solved so how was I asking for other people to answer? I was asking for advice on my answers and the benefit of other peoples experience. Also, when you do many tasks with computers, it's easy to forget some of the problems you found difficult in the past so I don't think it demonstrates a lack of thinking if I did ask someone else about their problems.

And being a fairly basic question is your opinion, it's a very important question for me at this point in my life where I don't have a lot of experience of the job I'm attempting to get or of application questions like this.