INTERVIEW TIPS mistake and ask them for suggestions on how to

openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, resolve it.

agreeableness, and emotional stability when
they learn from failures 4. What would you do if a manager asked
you to perform a task you’ve never done
SITUATIONAL QS before?
Candidates should be motivated and confident
1. Describe a situation where you saw a to try new things in their jobs. The willingness to
problem and took steps to resolve it. face new challenges shows their determination
Candidates should give an example of a to improve. They might explain how they
common problem at work and explain how they approach unfamiliar tasks or focus on their
resolved it. For instance, they may have had thought processes.
insufficient training to complete a specific task,
which hindered their productivity. To fix this For example, the candidate may request a
problem, maybe they arranged training sessions meeting with the manager to discuss anything
with the manager to improve their skills and they’re unsure about. This method is ideal
knowledge. because questioning is the key to learning in a
new position.
-Problem-Solving test to determine how they
respond to complex situations in the workplace. 5. Tell me about a time when you failed at a
-Analytical thinking and ability to overcome task. How did you learn from this
challenges. experience?
Learning more about a candidate’s mindset can
2. Tell me about a time you had to give you insight into their behavior, thought
collaborate with a team member who was processes, and unique workplace habits.
tough to please.
Research suggests that collaboration makes In response to this question, candidates should
employees much more effective at completing discuss a past mistake and focus on what they
tasks. Companies where team cohesion is learned from it to prevent it from happening
lacking may suffer from low employee morale again. For instance, they might have sent an
and poor productivity. Therefore, it’s essential to email to the wrong client or got an upcoming
hire a candidate who can collaborate with any deadline wrong.
team member, even if they don’t share the same
views. How did they recover and what strategies did
they implement to prevent errors of this type?
The candidate may have arranged a meeting For example, they might be double-checking
with the team member to discuss their ideas and deadlines or project details before sending
actively listen to suggestions. This way, all emails.
parties could express themselves when
navigating a new project. You can also use a Big 5 (OCEAN) personality
test to assess candidates’ openness,
3. What would you do if you made a mistake conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness,
that no one knew about in your team? and emotional stability when they learn from
This question determines whether candidates failures.
are honest. It may be tempting to ignore
mistakes, but this can prevent team members 6. What would you do if an angry customer
from learning and honing their skills. The ideal confronted you?
candidate will talk with team members about the Problems arise in many jobs, so candidates
must know how to resolve conflict and manage
their emotions. Angry customers can be something in a project but they don’t
challenging, because they may only focus on the respond quickly enough. How would you
problem rather than offer constructive feedback. approach this issue?
Candidates can answer this question in a few
A skilled candidate would be able to remain ways, depending on their behavior and mindset.
calm and use positive language to diffuse the For example, they might decide to:
situation. They would also provide suggestions
to resolve the issue. Wait for the manager to reply

Consider using a Communication test to Talk with a colleague instead

evaluate the candidate’s ability to use
professional etiquette and stay open-minded. Make the change regardless

7. How do you plan your days to meet project These answers may not be the best when hiring
deadlines? a candidate. Managers are usually busy, so
Hiring candidates with excellent time waiting for them may not be an option.
management helps increase productivity and Proceeding with the change can also be a bad
even employee engagement. Time management choice if the project is for a demanding client.
is vital for meeting deadlines and meeting Colleagues might not have enough experience
deadlines is essential for building professional to offer expert advice.
relationships with clients, so candidates should
have a step-by-step process for planning Instead, candidates should aim to speak to
projects. They might create a simple to-do list or another manager or a team lead – or contact the
use daily goals. manager through another channel of
communication.
To check if candidates have the right skills to
meet deadlines consistently, consider our Time 10. How do you handle pressure in the
Management test. The test determines whether workplace?
candidates can prioritize, plan, and manage their Research shows that 94% of employees feel
projects efficiently. stressed at work. This stress may derive from a
poor work-life balance or demanding deadlines.
8. What’s been the most challenging Therefore, it’s vital to hire a candidate who can
obstacle in your career? How did you manage their stress and deal with pressure in
overcome it? the workplace efficiently.
With this situational interview question, you can
learn more about what motivates your applicants For example, they might arrange meetings with
to improve and develop their skills. Candidates their manager to evaluate priorities or make sure
should be honest about challenges they’ve they set personal boundaries to avoid burnout.
faced.
11. How do you explain complex topics to
For example, applicants might have found it team members or clients who aren’t tech-
difficult to gain specific work experience or they savvy?
may have struggled to find relevant jobs that Candidates might talk about the four main
fostered professional development. A way to communication types when answering this
overcome this obstacle is by seeking career question. Some naturally gravitate toward verbal
advice or applying for volunteering roles. communication, while others might use pictures
or diagrams to explain their thoughts.
9. Consider a situation where you need
approval from a manager to change
12. You notice a team member is acting regular breaks or discuss task prioritization with
inappropriately toward another. What action managers. Others may focus on work-life
do you take to prevent conflict? balance to ensure they have enough free time to
This question is suitable for HR roles because it relax.
focuses on conflict between employees and
potential failures to follow company policy. 15. What would you do if you received harsh
feedback on your work on a key
Candidates should remain professional when it assignment?
comes to confrontation. If they notice another Receiving harsh feedback is never easy, but
team member being inappropriate, they must how candidates deal with it is crucial. They
take the issue to higher management. Dealing should have an open mindset when receiving
with the problem alone could damage team criticism and look for ways to improve.
dynamics, cause other employees to complain,
and reduce the company’s productivity. For example, if the client left negative and
personal comments on a specific project, the
Send candidates an HR Fundamentals test to candidate should talk with their manager about
better understand their approach to solving the best way to approach the situation. Look for
conflict and fostering productive relationships. applicants who know how to strike the right
balance between listening to the client and
13. A team member tries to blame you for a explaining their professional choices.
mistake during a work meeting. How do you
react? 16. An employee has joined your team. How
Employees can’t prevent all work conflicts. do you make them feel welcome?
Sometimes, they stem from personality clashes This question can give you more insight into the
and mismatched ideas and some team candidate’s personality and how they interact
members might blame others for their mistakes with others in the workplace. Starting a new job
because of their fear of being reprimanded. can feel daunting for many. New employees
may not feel comfortable enough to approach
However, in this scenario, candidates must stay the team or ask questions.
professional when correcting the other person
and discussing the issue with their manager. Therefore, it’s essential to hire candidates who
Respecting and listening to other opinions in the can welcome team members and provide easy
workplace is crucial to maintaining peace, so tasks based on their skills.
consider whether candidates know how to use
active listening to help diffuse tension. Use an Enneagram personality test to
understand how a candidate’s core beliefs and
14. How do you prevent burnout during mindset help them build professional
demanding projects? relationships.
Studies show that 75% of employees have
experienced burnout in their jobs. Burnout is a 17. What would you do if you knew that your
state of emotional, physical, and mental fatigue manager was wrong about something that
that stressful environments cause. Employees could damage the company?
who feel overwhelmed and unable to meet Even though managers have more control over
demands at their company are at risk for projects, they might still make incorrect
burnout. decisions. Candidates should have the
confidence to approach them in such situations.
Candidates should be aware of different
strategies to prevent burnout when working on Let’s say a manager wants to concentrate on
large projects. For example, some might take creating and publishing new content on
Facebook for their new product launch. The 20. Let’s say that you finish a project and are
candidate knows, however, that this social unhappy with your results and overall
media platform isn’t the most engaging option progress. What would you do?
for their target audience, so they suggest using There is always room for improvement and
Instagram or TikTok instead. As a result, more growth. The ideal candidate will talk about their
potential customers engage with the brand and personal development goals and explain how
discover its new products, which makes the they see such situations as learning
launch a success. opportunities.

18. Describe what you would do if you For this question, applicants should provide an
disagree with a team member about how to example of a project and explain how they would
complete a specific task. How would you develop their skills to better manage future
resolve the problem without causing tasks.
conflict?
According to research, more than 36% of For example, if you’re hiring a content writer,
employees face conflict regularly. Dealing with they might talk about an article they wrote in the
conflict can be challenging and mentally past, which didn’t contain accurate information.
draining, so candidates must know how to solve To improve, the candidate might explain how
disagreements without causing a dispute. they’ve sourced better research data to make
the article more impactful.
In this scenario, the candidate should express
their reasons for disagreeing without making any 21. How would you react if you proposed a
harsh statements and seek to understand the strong idea for fixing a problem in a project,
other party. They might decide to sit down with and your team members ignored your input?
the other team member and negotiate ways to Coming up with a good idea is exciting, but not
complete the task until all parties are satisfied when team members ignore it. Large teams
with the outcome. usually miscommunicate or simply don’t have
the time to hear every idea. Therefore, some
19. If you were struggling with a deadline, team members might find it difficult to express
what would you do to get back on track? their thoughts and offer unique suggestions.

Candidates should talk through each step of Suitable candidates will have the confidence to
managing tasks and meeting tight deadlines. step up. They could arrange a meeting with the
They may also work on improving their attention team lead to discuss their idea in more detail
to detail skills to ensure they don’t miss key and talk about ways to present it to the team.
information or make mistakes that would slow
the project down. 22. What do you do when you have
completed all your tasks at work and have
By reassessing your priorities, you can focus on free time? What do you do with that extra
what is necessary to make the biggest impact time?
and avoid wasting time on less important tasks. - A candidate who isn’t motivated to do more if
organize and assign tasks, with the ability to they have free time at work may not be suitable
prioritize anything as needed. for your company. This lack of aspiration is a
PRIORITIZE/ COMMUNICATE/ LEARN FROM key sign that they don’t have the right motivation
EXPERIENCE TO PREVENT THE SAME to succeed.
FROM HAPPENING AGAIN
Look for candidates who focus on spending their
time wisely. They might ask for more tasks, help
other team members with theirs, or look to To hire the ideal candidate, ensure your
improve their skills. candidates’ idea of success matches your
company’s mission and vision. You could ask for
Recent statistics show that more than 20% of examples showing their achievements to learn
employees take longer to complete tasks. more about their values.
Despite this, hiring candidates with more self-
discipline is crucial, so ask follow-up questions 26. Tell me about a time you went above and
to determine if applicants are driven and beyond what was expected of you to
productive even when they aren’t working under complete a project.
pressure. Candidates with the attitude and determination
to succeed are some of the most hard-working
23. Tell me how you establish career goals people. You can identify these positive
and work towards achieving them. characteristics by asking this question in the
You can learn more about a candidate’s interview. Each candidate should give an
personality by asking about their goals. example of when they put in the extra effort to
Candidates should give examples of a few short- improve a project’s outcome.
and long-term goals and explain how they plan
to achieve them. Everyone has unique For instance, a company that plans to release a
ambitions, so note down their responses to new product might need more in-depth research.
determine who best aligns with your company’s To solve this issue, the candidate may travel to
expectations. several department stores throughout the day to
gain relevant information, which enables the
24. How would you adapt if your company company to position their product better.
goes through a major change that affects all
employees? Send candidates a Motivation test to check
Candidates should have the right skills to adapt whether their aspirations match what your
to changes. Many industries are constantly company has to offer.
evolving, meaning they incorporate new
technologies or ways of working (such as hybrid 27. Tell me about a time you had to make a
work). Therefore, it’s crucial to seek candidates great first impression on a customer. What
with strong adaptability skills who will be able to did you do?
adapt to change quickly and efficiently. Making a good first impression is critical to
attracting clients. The ideal candidate will have
When answering this question, candidates the confidence and experience to gain clients’
should talk you through their thought processes trust.
and how they would adapt to major changes.
They may also discuss the positive outcomes of For example, some could create a presentation
the change, such as increased profits or better about the company and how it can meet the
team productivity. client’s requirements. Others may prefer to talk
about successful past projects when negotiating
25. Can you tell me how you would define a long-term contract.
personal success in this job?
This question gives you insight into the 28. Describe a time you needed to use strong
candidate’s personality and how they define communication skills to successfully
their own career goals. Success means different navigate a project with other team members.
things to each candidate – some applicants Research suggests that for 49% of employees,
may focus on personal development while poor communication affects their productivity.
others might prioritize completing large projects. Additionally, team members who don’t
communicate effectively are more prone to
making mistakes. Therefore, look for candidates while others might discuss a situation where
who can lead conversations and guide others they needed to use visionary leadership and
through demanding tasks. strategic thinking.

How poor communication affects productivity 32. How would you persuade someone to do
You can use communication assessment tools, things your way?
such as skill tests to better understand the Sometimes, team members may want to lead
candidate’s skills. with their idea or ignore other suggestions. The
ideal candidate would be capable of listening to
29. What would you do if you had to plan a others while confidently expressing their
presentation in one hour? thoughts. Persuasion is key to standing out and
In some jobs, employees need to work on assuming leadership in the workplace.
demanding tasks under tight deadlines.
Candidates should have an effective strategy for Send candidates a Negotiation test to determine
tackling such tasks, especially the ones due on whether they’re capable of influencing others
the same day. and have a productive discussion without
provoking frustration or stress.
In this case, the ideal candidate will plan their
time to make the most of the hour they have. 33. Picture a situation where a manager
They may spend 15 minutes researching, 10 gives you two high-priority tasks. How would
minutes planning, and the remaining 35 minutes you determine which one to do first?
creating and practicing the presentation. There may be times candidates have to
complete various tasks in parallel. This situation
You could give candidates a time management can be overwhelming to some, but hiring
assessment to see how they manage their time candidates who know how to prioritize and plan
under stress. their time efficiently is important.

30. Share your biggest professional In this example, if the two tasks require a
accomplishment and how you achieved it. different amount of time to complete, some
You can learn more about a candidate’s candidates may finish the short one first to get it
personality traits with this question, which invites out of the way. However, other candidates could
them to discuss their achievements and decide to work on the longer task first, as it
proudest career moments. Use the opportunity requires extra dedication and motivation.
to better understand their mindset, especially
when working on specific goals. Do they focus 34. You’re unhappy with an aspect of your
on improving their skills? Are they proud of role. How do you handle it?
connecting with professionals in the industry? A global survey by Gallup demonstrated that
only 21% of employees feel engaged at work.
31. Describe a situation where you needed to This feeling can come from poor working
use your leadership skills to guide others. conditions, low salaries, or a lack of enjoyment.
How did you approach this?
Here, candidates may discuss their leadership To ensure your employees are content in their
style and experience, which can help you roles, it’s essential to hear their concerns – but
determine whether they have the skills to also to hire employees who are willing to
become a leader at your company. proactively discuss this with you. In this case,
the candidates may talk about ways in which
For example, some applicants may talk about a they would approach the situation and express
situation where they used a coaching style and their dissatisfaction.
focused on nurturing team members’ strengths,
35. You’re a team leader and you notice that
a member of your team is underperforming.
What would you do?
Not having strong leaders can make productivity
and employee engagement plummet. Therefore,
if you’re hiring for a management position, it’s
essential to hire a candidate with strong
leadership skills.

Potential leaders know how to collaborate with

team members to improve the quality of their
work. If a team member isn’t performing
optimally, the leader can arrange a meeting to
get to the root of the problem. Together, they
can find ways to address the underlying issues
and boost productivity.

Send your candidates a Leadership and People

Management test to better understand their Enhanced Leadership Skills:
managerial experience. The test requires them Continue to develop my leadership skills,
to answer questions that focus on delegation, especially in roles such as hosting events and
authority, and enforcing actionable directives. leading initiatives. Should take on more
leadership responsibilities to further cultivate my
36. You have a choice when completing a ability to guide and inspire others within the
project. You can do something fairly well and organization.
fast or exceptionally well and slow. Which do Balancing Workload Efficiently:
you choose? As I showcase commitment by consistently
Completing work quickly may seem like a good exceeding quotas, I should also focus on
option, especially when dealing with tight balancing my workload efficiently. This involves
deadlines. However, the speed of completing ensuring that the quality of my work is
specific tasks can affect the quality of the output. maintained even as I strive to achieve high
In some cases, rushed work won’t meet the quantities.
project requirements. Collaboration:
To build more connections to open up
Candidates should give an honest answer about opportunities for collaboration and knowledge
their approach to completing work. Do they exchange, contributing to both personal and
prefer to extend deadlines to ensure the quality professional development.
is excellent? Or do they care more about Achieving a consistent peer review score:
meeting the deadline without adding extra hours Consistently enhance coding expertise, maintain
or days? a high peer review score, and contribute to Lex
Machina's overall success in legal analytics.
Strengths and development areas

Expertise in Multiple Practice Areas:

My involvement in diverse practice areas such
as Fair Housing Act, Voting Rights, Education,
ADA, Police Action, Class action and First
Amendment showcases a comprehensive
understanding of civil rights issues.
Contribution to Legal Analysis: initiatives like RELX Cares, tree planting, and
My coding efforts have contributed to the various team-day activities.
development and improvement of legal analytics Global Collaboration:
within Lex Machina, enhancing the platform's My role as a Maintenance Analyst in Civil Rights
ability to provide valuable insights in civil rights (ADA), involving collaboration across borders,
cases. showcases my commitment to breaking down
Project Flexibility: barriers and working seamlessly with a global
My adaptability in transitioning between different team, aligning with the value of
projects demonstrates versatility and a boundarylessness.
willingness to take on new challenges, Passion for Winning and Innovation:
contributing to the success of various initiatives. My consistent achievement of high peer review
Specialization in ADA and other civil rights area: scores, exceeding quotas, and taking on roles in
My management of the ADA practice area developmental projects illustrates a passion for
indicates a specialized skill set, showcasing a winning and an innovative mindset, contributing
depth of knowledge and expertise in specific to Lex Machina's leadership in legal analytics.
areas of civil rights law. Overall Alignment with Company Values:
My comprehensive embodiment of RELX
values, including customer focus, valuing
Completion of the Full Spectrum: people, passion for winning, innovation, and
Coding cases across all practice areas within boundarylessness, positions me as a key
Civil Rights and the Civil Rights Expansion contributor to the success and ongoing
Project signifies a comprehensive understanding excellence of Lex Machina.
of the entire spectrum of civil rights issues,
making me a valuable contributor to the
organization's efforts.
Exceeding Quotas:
Consistently exceeding coding quotas, including
achieving an outstanding 300% above quota in
coding Class Action cases, reflects my
dedication to excellence and ability to
consistently deliver results beyond established
expectations.
High Peer Review Scores:
My consistent high peer review scores across
various quarters and projects demonstrate a
commendable level of expertise, accuracy, and
commitment to maintaining quality standards in
coding.
Community Engagement and Leadership:
My active involvement in various activities, such
as Team Day Volunteer events, joining circles,
committees, and hosting sessions, reflects my
dedication to community building, inclusivity, and
leadership within Lex Machina.
Positive Impact on Culture:
My impact on the organization's culture, both in
terms of social responsibility and team
dynamics, is evident through my participation in
Point you can raise: compromise but to also support whatever the
-The requirement is Juris Doctor. This means final decision of the team is.
that I have the requirement to do the job. Hence,
in this job it does not matter if other candidates
are lawyer. The mere fact that the requirement -Since we are dealing with US Law and most
doesn’t include passing the bar means that you likely US clients, it is an advantage as well that I
do not need Filipino lawyers. was able to deal with American lawyers and
read US cases already. (Give specific examples
para mas believable. For example, I remember
-Lawyers can still practice which may cause when I was training, I used to talk to them in
conflict on work schedule and prioritizing. I can extreme details to show respect but with
work full time. Americans they actually would prefer it if you are
direct to the point. Respect for them is valuing
their time.)
-I am an expert proofreader. My experience has
taught me great deal on reading and how to spot
details faster. Making me both efficient and Notes:
effective in my job. Lawyers they usually have -Highlight early regularization
formats or assistants that they sometimes -Ambassador
overlook the basics. -ALL THE ACTIVITIES hahaha while still
meeting the quota
-how resilient you are to changes, be specific
-One of the best things about Lex Machina, is again trained from fha to education to class
we have peer review. Peer review is the our action then back to education in the span of two
their version of quality checking. (You can insert months
your experience as maintenance like how rare
and it means that you produce quality work and
the likes) The result is that I got used to
providing quality work. Not only that, but I also
know how to accept constructive criticisms and
use them for my own development.

-Moreover, I have a target number of cases to

read per day. Hence, not only am I trained to
deliver quality work but I make sure that we
maximize the working hours by meeting (even
surpassing) the quantity required. I make sure
that my integrity is seen through my output.

-I am also people-cultured and I can work with

different types of people. Lex Machina have
sites both here in Manila and in Iloilo, not to
mention those people we interact with outside
the Philippines. As a result, I have learned to
deal with diverse people. I know how important
mutual respect is and how not just to