What's your process for making decisions?

WORK HABITS INTERVIEW QUESTION

By Christophe Paka | April 15, 2025 | 4 min read

   

What's Your Process for Making Decisions? A Deep Dive Into Interview Mastery 🚀

Ever been caught off guard by the interview question, "What's your process for making decisions?"
This seemingly simple question is a powerhouse—peeking into your decision making process, work habits, and even your ability to innovate when under pressure. In today's post, we’ll explore every angle of this question—from its purpose to effective decision making skills—and provide you with job interview decision process tips that can truly set you apart. Let's dive in!

Introduction: The Importance of the Decision Making Process in Interviews

Employers ask "What's your process for making decisions?" for a reason. This common interview question isn’t a trick; it's a gateway to understanding how you function in high-stakes moments. Hiring managers want to know if you possess solid decision making strategies—if you can weigh options, project outcomes, and take decisive actions that benefit the business.

Why Interviewers Ask This Question

  • Understanding Your Thought Process: They want insight into how you evaluate situations.
  • Assessing Problem Solving Skills: It examines your ability to swiftly analyze a scenario.
  • Measuring Logical vs. Instinctive Decision Making: Do you rely solely on intuition, or do you combine it with thorough analysis?
  • Evaluating Work Habits and Decision Making: They’re looking out for consistency and reliability.

Variations of the Question

Interviewers love to mix things up! You might also hear:

  • “Can you describe a time when you had to make a difficult decision?”
  • “How do you handle decision making in a team setting?”
  • “Tell me about a decision you made that didn’t go as planned. What did you learn?”

Regardless of the wording, the focus remains the same: showcase your effective decision making skills.

Key Elements for an Impactful Response

To nail this interview question, use the STAR method—an acronym that stands for:

  • Situation: Set the scene.
  • Task: Define your responsibility.
  • Action: Describe what you did.
  • Result: Highlight the outcome.

Unpacking Your Decision Making Process: Why It Matters

Imagine walking into an interview and being asked, "What's your process for making decisions?"
Your answer is your moment to shine, offering the recruiter a snapshot of your ability to assess, strategize, and execute tasks.

The Purpose Behind the Question

This question aims to:

  • Reveal work habits and decision making approaches.
  • Gauge if you’re a strategic thinker.
  • Assess how you handle pressure and uncertainty.
  • Understand if you consider alternative perspectives or work best independently.

What Are Employers Looking For?

  • Logical Thinking: A structured approach that considers risks and benefits.
  • Collaboration: Examples of seeking team input before finalizing decisions.
  • Learning from Experience: Even if a decision wasn’t perfect, what did you learn?
  • Balance of Intuition and Analysis: Confidence in your gut—but backed by thorough analysis.

Crafting Your Answer: The Role of the STAR Method

Using the STAR method is one of the best interview preparation for decision making. It offers a framework that is both concise and compelling.

Step-by-Step with the STAR Method

  1. Situation:
    Begin by painting a clear picture.
    For example: "In my previous role at XYZ Company, I was tasked with revamping our marketing strategy."

  2. Task:
    Define the problem or decision you had to face.
    For example: "I had to choose between two potential marketing initiatives to align with our annual revenue targets."

  3. Action:
    Detail the steps you took.
    For example: "I conducted market research, consulted with my team, and weighed the potential ROI of both strategies."

  4. Result:
    Highlight the outcome and what you learned.
    For example: "The chosen strategy increased customer engagement by 30%, and our campaign achieved a 20% boost in sales."

Examples of a Good Response

Good Response Example:
"In my previous role, I faced a decision between two marketing strategies. I began by listing out the pros and cons of each option based on our company’s goals. Then, I gathered insight from my colleagues and analyzed market data. Ultimately, I chose the one that promised a higher ROI. This structured approach led to a 30% increase in customer engagement and a significant boost in sales."
Why It Works:

  • It demonstrates a thorough, structured decision making process.
  • It shows your ability to analyze data and incorporate team feedback—a key indicator of work habits and decision making.
  • It illustrates effective decision making skills through tangible results.

Bad Response Example:
"I generally just go with my gut feeling. I trust my instincts to guide me in the right direction, so I usually don’t overthink it."
Why It Falls Short:

  • It lacks evidence of a systematic approach.
  • It misses the depth of reasoning expected in a professional setting.
  • It fails to recount any learnings or adjustments made based on past outcomes.

Interview Decision Making Tips: How to Impress Your Interviewer

If you're a job seeker looking for job interview decision process insights, here are some interview decision making tips to enhance your answer:

  • Practice Makes Perfect: Rehearse your answer to maintain a natural flow.
  • Stay Relevant: Tailor your example to the job you’re applying for.
  • Quantify Achievements: Use metrics to underscore your accomplishments.
  • Show Flexibility: Highlight how you adapt your decision making strategies based on different scenarios.
  • Include Learning Moments: Even if a decision didn’t pan out, describe what you learned from the experience.

Additional Tips for a Polished Response

  • Be Concise: Keep your explanation straightforward and to the point.
  • Maintain a Positive Tone: Even if discussing a less-than-perfect decision, focus on what you learned.
  • Highlight Collaboration: Mention situations where you worked as part of a team, showcasing your collaborative work habits.
  • Demonstrate Confidence: Your confidence will communicate that you are capable of handling challenging decisions under pressure.

Detailed Breakdown: Answering the "What's your Process for Making Decisions?" Question

Let’s break down in more detail how you can structure your response using the aforementioned tips and the STAR method. This section will help you see a real-life scenario in action, integrating key elements for an effective answer.

1. The Situation: Laying the Groundwork

When introducing your anecdote, be clear and concise.
For instance, “At my previous company, I noticed that our monthly sales were steadily declining. There was a situation that required an immediate and thoughtful decision.”

Key Points:

  • Identify the problem clearly.
  • Set a realistic and relatable context.
  • Engage your interviewer with a brief story backdrop.
    🚀 Tip: Start with an attention-grabbing fact, e.g., “Sales declined by 15% in just one quarter!” to hook your listener.

2. The Task: Define the Challenge

Clearly articulate your responsibility.
For example, “I was tasked with leading a project to identify the root cause and explore strategies to reverse the sales decline.”

Key Points:

  • Show that you were entrusted with responsibility.
  • Illustrate why the decision was important.
  • Emphasize your role, which reassures the interviewer about your contribution.

3. The Action: How You Structured Your Decision

This is the heart of your answer.
Explain the steps you took, focusing on critical decision making strategies and your analytical approach.

Consider saying:
"I assembled a cross-functional team to dive deep into the data. We analyzed market trends, customer feedback, and competitor strategies. I then developed a decision matrix to evaluate potential solutions based on their feasibility, cost, and potential impact. After weighing all factors, I recommended a revised pricing strategy combined with a targeted digital campaign."

Key Points:

  • Describe your structured decision making process.
  • Mention the collaborative elements to show your team leadership.
  • Highlight the analytical tools or frameworks you used.

4. The Result: Showcasing the Outcome

Conclude by sharing what happened.
For instance, “As a result, our revised strategy led to a 25% increase in sales over the next quarter. Moreover, the process allowed us to better understand customer needs, setting a benchmark for future decisions.”

Key Points:

  • Use metrics to demonstrate success.
  • Reflect on the learning experience,

Keep Learning

Christophe Paka