Corporate Trainer Interview Question:

Explain me when you had to deviate from a process, (a design), (a plan). Or, talk about a time when expectations (or deliverables) changed?

Submitted by: Muhammad

☛ it's all about the flexibility. I'm a self-admitted planner & possess slight, um, OCD tendencies. That's okay - there's a need and a place for us - in every company, in every department, in every field. But, we must learn that nothing can be prepared for 100% and that the unfortunate by product of our technology, our long commutes, and our complex society and our large organizations is the need for flexibility. Don't sweat it and don't take it personally. If you are like me, trust me you are valued for what you bring and what you do - even if you think you never hear it or are fairly compensated for it. That's fine. Even if you make a mistake and leave a position or company because you weren't valued - you still will always need to recognize that flexibility can endear you very much to those who fly by the seat of their pants.
☛ The saying goes "no man is an island". And in the training world that's never been more true than today. You may know Photoshop, or Illustrator, or Captivate, or Lectora, or your company's LMS like the back of your hand. Trust me though, unless your a programmer who works on that program, you don't know everything - and you will get a request that you cannot fulfill - either in time and/or budget requirements. But, that's okay - deviation is expected. All those project plans you fill out, all your hours you've tracked, all those fancies spreadsheets or Microsoft Project timelines you've seen - everyone is late with work, every project cuts corners, skips steps, or somehwere along the way causes anxiety, anger or sleepless nights for a manager. You are not alone. So, when this question comes up - focus on what you did right, how you fixed it, not on the problem or casting blame.
☛ As a side note, this may be a great and opportune time to include a comment or story than demonstrates your ability to learn a business/industry - it's not just about you and your reaction - it can also be about your ability to conceptualize, organize, and maybe even evaluate a situation clearly and that's what a business needs.
Submitted by: Muhammad