The other interview question you need to prepare for
In earlier issues we talked about researching before your interview and about “tell me about a time” questions, pulling from real experience and structuring it with STAR. Now, a different type of question that trips people up for the opposite reason: the hypothetical.
“What would you do if a resident came to the counter upset about a delay?” “What would you do if you disagreed with a decision your supervisor made?”
There’s no memory to pull from here, which is exactly why it feels harder. But it’s the same underlying skill, just pointed forward instead of backward. The panel still wants to see how you think and act, not just what you’d conclude.
A simple approach
Take a beat before you answer. A pause here is even more expected than with a “tell me about a time” question. You’re thinking it through in real time.
Talk through what matters first. Who’s affected, what you’d need to know before acting, what the priority is. This is the part most candidates skip, jumping straight to a conclusion instead of showing their reasoning.
Walk through your steps in order. Not just “I’d handle it,” but what you’d actually do, first, second, third.
If it fits, bridge to something real. “This is similar to a situation I’ve dealt with before” and a quick real example goes a long way. It shows this isn’t just a guess, it’s how you actually operate.
Say what outcome you’re aiming for. Even in a hypothetical, end with the result you’d want to see.
What it sounds like
Here’s how that might sound for someone like Jordan Reyes, asked “What would you do if a resident came to the counter upset about a permit delay?”:
“First, I’d let them explain the full issue before responding, since they’re probably frustrated and want to feel heard. Then I’d check where the permit actually stood, whether it was a processing delay, missing information, or something else, so I could give them an accurate answer instead of a guess. That’s similar to something I dealt with during my internship, where a resident thought their application was lost, and it turned out to just be waiting on one signature. Once I found that out and explained it clearly, they were satisfied. I’d aim for the same thing here: the resident leaving with a clear, honest answer, even if it’s not the one they were hoping for.”
Notice the shape: think first, then act, then ground it in something real if you can. That’s what separates a thoughtful answer from a guess.
A common mistake
Giving a one-line answer like “I’d talk to my supervisor” and stopping there. Panels aren’t grading whether you land on the “right” answer. They’re listening to how you got there.
Insider tip: There’s rarely one “correct” answer to a hypothetical question. What panels are actually evaluating is whether your thought process is well formulated and grounded in their organizational values.
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