Tell me about a time you had more work than you could finish on time.

I was two years into a job at a market research firm, working for two managers on two client reports that were both due on a Friday. On Wednesday afternoon a partner asked me to help with a proposal that was also due Friday. Before saying yes, I added up the hours. There was more work than time, even with late nights. So something had to give, and I didn't think it was my call which client waited. I went to both managers that afternoon with options instead of a problem. I suggested which pieces could slip, including an appendix, and asked them to decide. One manager, Elena, called her client and got Monday for the appendix in five minutes. The partner found another analyst for the rest of the proposal. Both reports and the proposal went out on Friday. The appendix followed on Monday, and the client didn't mind. The thing I'd do differently is raise it sooner.

I was two years into a job at a market research firm, working for two managers on two client reports that were both due on a Friday. On Wednesday afternoon a partner asked me to help with a proposal that was also due Friday. Before saying yes, I added up the hours. The two reports needed about 22 more hours between them and the proposal about 12. I had roughly 20 working hours left before Friday at five, even with two late nights. So something had to give, and I didn't think it was my call which client waited. I went to both managers that afternoon with options instead of a problem. I showed them the hours on one page and said, "I can finish two of these three properly, or all three badly. Here's what I'd suggest." My suggestion was to deliver the first report in full, hold the second report's 15-page data appendix until Monday, and give the proposal six hours for the market sizing section only. One manager, Elena, called her client and got Monday for the appendix in five minutes. The partner found another analyst for the rest of the proposal. Both reports and the proposal went out on Friday. The appendix followed on Monday, and the client didn't mind. We won the proposal, and I was asked onto that project. The thing I'd do differently is raise it sooner. I knew on Monday that the two reports alone were tight, and I kept quiet because I thought asking was a sign I couldn't handle it. Now I flag a crunch the day I see it, and I bring the hours and a proposed trade-off with me.