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2. 8 Time Management Interview Questions With Example Answers

By Indeed Editorial Team

Published 15 November 2021

Time management interview questions help an interviewer assess how well you manage your time. The answers you give can tell interviewers whether you're a productive employee who can meet deadlines. As time management skills are transferable soft skills, answering these questions well can help you secure jobs in a variety of industries. In this article, we list eight common time management interview questions with sample answers to help you with your interview preparation.

8 time management interview questions

You may answer one or more time management interview questions during an interview, depending on the role. Reading example interview questions and answers can help you prepare answers reflecting your own experience and time management techniques. Here are some common interview questions about time management with example answers:

1. Sometimes we may ask you to complete several tasks. How do you prioritise workload?

Interviewers may ask this question to see how you manage time when you're asked to multitask. It also assesses your decision-making and prioritising skills. If you have multitasking experience, you may give a prioritise workload example showing how you prioritised tasks previously. You might give work priority examples explaining how you created a schedule for your workdays or how you reorganised tasks to handle a new job with an urgent priority. In your experience of successfully managing your time and prioritising work example, you may refer to organisational tools you use, like apps or to-do lists.

Example: 'I prioritise tasks by considering their deadlines and expected completion times. I enter all my deadlines into a digital calendar app. If I have major projects, I do a set amount each day leading up to the deadline. When urgent tasks arise, I can take care of them right away knowing I have made progress on the larger jobs. For example, in my last job I needed to write an article with a quick turnaround after one of my colleagues became ill. I felt confident prioritising that job because I knew I had already made progress on other tasks'.

Related: Using the Pomodoro Technique to Master Time Management

2. How do you manage competing deadlines?

Most employees have several deadlines their employers expect them to meet. This question confirms whether you can meet multiple deadlines and the approach you take. You may answer with examples from your past that show the systems and processes you use to meet deadlines. You may also explain how you communicate with people about your competing deadlines.

Example: 'I think of a deadline as the last possible date for delivery, rather than the delivery date. This perspective encourages me to deliver work earlier if possible. I mark deadlines on a wall calendar so I can visualise my competing deadlines for the month. Trying to complete tasks earlier than required means I can reorganise tasks if urgent matters arise. Sometimes I may have too much scheduled to accept urgent tasks. I've found being honest and open about that is the best policy. I explain my existing looming deadlines to managers who appreciate me being upfront about my schedule'.

3. How do you limit distractions?

Many things can distract you from your tasks during your day. This question helps the interviewer understand whether you know what distracts you and how you address it to remain productive. Try to explain the strategies you use to limit workplace distractions and focus on achieving your goals. You may like to give examples of things that have distracted you in the past and how you minimised their impact. This approach shows your commitment to improving yourself and your performance.

Example: 'I'm a really social person, so I limit my conversations to work-related topics during office hours. If a conversation veers off-topic, I let my colleague know I'm interested in what they have to say, but I'd love to chat about it after work or during lunch. This approach maintains good relationships while maximising my productivity. I also have lunch in the tearoom, rather than at my desk, so I can chat to people socially at an allocated time'.

Related: Self-Discipline: Definition and Tips For Development

4. Why do you think time management is important?

This question lets you reflect on the importance of time management and how your time management skills can benefit the business. While it may sound like a general question, it's a good idea to personalise your answer and discuss how managing your time has made you a better employee. If you have developed your time management skills over time, you could mention the difference your efforts have made.

Example: 'Time management impacts my productivity and ability to complete tasks and meet deadlines. In the past, I missed a couple of deadlines and my supervisor encouraged me to improve my time management skills. When I started using productivity apps and allocating a set time for each task, I found myself delivering work before my deadlines. I know that managing my time well makes me a more reliable employee because people can trust me to complete work on schedule. This helps other people that rely on me do their jobs and the business run more smoothly'.

Related: Time Management Skills: The Importance of Including Them in Your Resume

5. How do you achieve a good work-life balance?

An interviewer asks this question to assess how you manage juggling your professional life and your personal one. Businesses understand employees with a good work-life balance are more productive and better at managing stress. While it can be tempting to present an image that you're solely focused on business, it's better to be honest about having a personal life as well. This question lets you show you have diverse interests and can manage your time to include them too. A good answer shows your commitment to your job and the outside interests that make you happy.

Example: 'When I am at work, my professional duties are my main priority. I appreciate being a call centre operator because I work set hours and can focus on my personal life when my shifts end. I know I can be home at 6 pm every day to have dinner with my family. I have time for a surf every morning before work. My weekends are free for socialising with friends and taking my children to sport activities. Making the most of my time away from work makes me a happier person which benefits customers and my colleagues'.

Related: 13 Types of Work Schedules (With Benefits and Challenges)

6. What did a typical day at your last job look like?

This time management examples interview question reveals how you have managed your time in the past. Taking your interviewer through a typical day in chronological order can be a good approach. Note your typical tasks and any tasks you performed during slow periods to remain productive. The best answers show you're a motivated person who makes the most of your shifts.

Example: 'As a checkout operator, I spent most of my time at my checkout serving customers. I really enjoyed talking to customers, so I made sure to greet every person with a smile and make small talk while I scanned their items so they all felt special. In slow periods, I stepped out from my checkout and tidied the area around it. This might involve handing unwanted items to my supervisor to return to the shelves, cleaning my scanning station and clearing baskets from the front of my checkout'.

7. Have you ever missed a deadline?

Interviewers ask this question to learn about your experience of missing deadlines. It's best to answer this question honestly. If you have missed a deadline, explain how you communicated about this with your superior and what you learned from the experience. If you're always punctual with your work, explain why you think this is. You may also suggest how you would handle missing a deadline in the future.

Example: 'I missed the deadline for submitting a financial report once as a new financial manager. I thought the deadline was a week later. I realised I was mistaken the morning the report was due and communicated immediately with the chief financial officer. I assured them the report was my number one priority and I stayed back late that night to complete it. Now I mark down any due dates on a digital calendar that I can access anywhere as soon as I receive tasks. I have the calendar set to alert me days before a deadline approaches'.

8. How would you react if your manager gave you a task you were unfamiliar with and a short deadline?

Interviewers ask this question to assess your initiative and if you understand how performing new tasks can impact your productivity. If you have experienced a scenario like this, share your story and anything you learned from it. Otherwise, imagine how you might react.

Example: 'I love accepting new challenges, but I understand that I manage my time best when performing familiar tasks. I would explain to my manager that while the task is new to me, I would love to learn how to complete it. I would ask whether they could provide some hands-on training to help me perform more efficiently. If time was too limited, I might suggest a more experienced employee could complete the task and let me watch them so I could do the job next time'.