How to Answer “How Do You Stay Organized at Work?” in a Job Interview

As you are certainly aware, hiring managers and interviewers rely on specific questions during job interviews to determine which candidates are best suited for the job. While there are many popular job interview questions interviewers often ask, there’s one question that seems to come up with particular regularity: How do you stay organized at work?

This is a popular job interview question because it lets interviewers see how well a candidate can multitask and prioritize work assignments — skills that are essential in the workplace.

And so, because it is such a popular question, you need to prepare how you’ll respond so you aren’t left stammering and rambling. The following steps will help you as you prepare.

1. Master the STAR Method

When answering this question, as with any other job interview question, a candidate must master and implement the STAR Method. In short, the STAR Method teaches you to respond to questions as follows:

• Situation: Briefly describe the context
• Task: Then, explain the task you needed to accomplish.
• Action: Next, outline the specific actions you took to complete that task
• Result: Finally, conclude by sharing the positive outcome of your approach.

For example, if you are asked how you stay organized at work, you’d (1) share a situation where you had to organize work and prioritize tasks; (2) explain the competing responsibilities you needed to manage; (3) share what you did to perform and stay organized; and (4) share how it played out.

2. Highlight Organizational Tools

A great way to build on the STAR Method when answering questions about how you stay organized is to share what specific tools you use. For example, explain to your interviewer what task-management tools or calendaring systems you use to stay on top of competing deadlines. You can also ask if the employer has organizational tools that are available then increase your prestige if you are familiar with them.

3. Show Flexibility and Improvement

Most corporate jobs require their workers to adapt to changing situations. Employers want to know that their employees can be flexible, especially when sudden changes require it. As you explain how you stay organized at work, be sure to also discuss how you remain organized when crises occur, or sudden demands require immediate attention.

You can also explain how your ability to stay organized has improved, and what specific lessons have led to that improvement.

4. Connect Experiences to the Job

Once you’ve done all the foregoing, your final move is to make sure to tie your responses to the specific job or role you are applying for. Meaning, if you are interviewing for a project management position, make sure to go over how your organizational skills are suited to managing project timelines and team members. If the job is in sales, explain how your skills help you balance multiple leads to ensure quick responses.

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