Tight deadline with too much work

Interviewer: Tell me about a time you had more work than you could reasonably get done in the time available. How did you decide what to drop?

Asked atMicrosoft· L62Google· L5

Why interviewers ask: This tests prioritisation under pressure. Strong answers show explicit tradeoffs, stakeholder communication, and a 'minimum viable' mindset — not 'I worked the weekend'.

Hints0/1

Your STAR answer

Aim for 80–200 words per letter. Use I not we in Action.

SSituation

Set the scene. Where, when, and what was the context? Keep it tight — 2–3 sentences.

0 / 80

TTask

What was the goal and your role? Why was this on your plate?

0 / 80

AAction

Specifically what did YOU do? Use 'I' not 'we'. Concrete steps, decisions, and trade-offs.

0 / 180

RResult

What was the outcome? Quantify if possible. What did you learn and how did it change you?

0 / 120

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