15 Initiative Interview Questions and Answers

Initiative is one of the most important qualities employers look for in candidates. It’s a quality that can be difficult to define, but it essentially boils down to taking initiative in your work and being proactive in solving problems.

If you’re applying for a job that requires initiative, you can expect to be asked interview questions that assess your ability to take initiative and get things done. In this guide, we’ll give you some examples of common initiative-related interview questions and suggest how you might answer them.

1. What is initiative?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the term and how it applies in the workplace. When answering, define what initiative means and explain why it’s important for employees to have this skill.

Example: “Initiative is when an employee takes action on their own without being asked by management. It’s important because it shows you’re motivated and willing to take responsibility for your work. In my last role as a marketing manager, I noticed that some of my team members weren’t taking initiative with their projects. So, I created a training program where we discussed different types of initiatives and how they can help us succeed at our jobs.”

2. How can you demonstrate your initiative in the workplace?

Employers want to see that you’re willing to take on new tasks and responsibilities. They may ask this question to learn more about your willingness to do so. In your answer, explain how you’ve taken initiative in the past. Explain what motivated you to act or perform a certain way.

Example: “In my previous role as an administrative assistant, I noticed that our team was struggling to meet deadlines for client projects. So, I took it upon myself to create a calendar where we could all post due dates and deadlines. This helped us stay organized and ensured that we met our project goals each week. It also allowed me to delegate some of the work to other team members.”

3. Can you give me an example of when you showed initiative at work?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you are willing to take on new tasks and responsibilities. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a time when you took initiative in a situation where it was beneficial for the company or organization.

Example: “At my previous job, I noticed that our social media accounts weren’t being updated regularly. This led me to create a plan to update all of our social media accounts at least once per day. I created a spreadsheet with each account’s posting schedule and shared it with other employees who were interested in helping out. We ended up updating all of our social media accounts every two hours during business hours.”

4. Why should we hire someone who demonstrates initiative?

This question is a great way to show your understanding of the company’s values and how you can contribute to them. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention specific examples from your past that demonstrate initiative skills.

Example: “In my last position as an administrative assistant, I noticed that our CEO was having trouble finding important documents for meetings. I took initiative by organizing all of his files into folders based on their content. This allowed him to find what he needed more quickly and freed up time in his schedule so he could focus on other tasks. He even mentioned to me later that he appreciated my help.”

5. When do you think it’s appropriate to take initiative at work?

This question can help interviewers understand your perspective on initiative and how you use it in the workplace. When answering, consider what situations or factors make you more likely to take initiative at work.

Example: “I think taking initiative is important when I notice a problem that needs solving or an opportunity for improvement. If I see something that could be better, I feel like it’s my responsibility to step up and try to fix it. Another time I think it’s appropriate to take initiative is if I’m interested in learning new skills or tasks. If I have the interest and motivation to learn something new, I think it’s worth asking my manager about training opportunities.”

6. Do you have any examples where taking initiative didn’t turn out well?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you respond to challenges and learn from your mistakes. It’s important to answer honestly, but try to focus on what you learned from the experience so that it doesn’t happen again.

Example: “In my last position as a marketing manager, I noticed that our social media accounts weren’t reaching their full potential. So, I decided to create a new strategy for all of our platforms. Unfortunately, I didn’t get approval from my supervisor before making these changes, which resulted in some negative feedback from customers. My supervisor was upset with me at first, but she understood why I made those decisions and appreciated my initiative.”

7. Have you ever taken initiative while working on a team project? If yes, then how did that go?

This question is a great way to show your ability to work with others and take initiative. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention how you worked with the team to complete the project successfully.

Example: “In my last position as an administrative assistant, I was working on a large project with several other members of my department. We were all responsible for different parts of the project, but we had weekly meetings to discuss our progress. One week, I noticed that one of my coworkers hadn’t submitted their portion of the project by the deadline. I brought this up during our meeting, and we decided to extend the due date so they could finish their part of the project.”

8. Are there times when showing initiative might not be such a good thing?

This question is a great way to see how you react when things don’t go as planned. It’s important to show that you can take initiative but also know when it might be better to wait for further instructions or guidance.

Example: “There are definitely times when showing initiative isn’t the best idea. For example, if I’m working on a project and my manager asks me to do something else, I would put aside what I was doing and focus on their request. If I were in the middle of something and they asked me to do something else, I would ask them if it could wait until I finished what I was doing so I didn’t have to switch back and forth between tasks.”

9. Is being proactive always better than being reactive?

This question is a great way to test your critical thinking skills and ability to make decisions. Your answer should show the interviewer that you can evaluate situations, consider multiple factors and make appropriate choices.

Example: “No, being proactive isn’t always better than being reactive. In fact, sometimes it’s best to be reactive because it allows you to respond quickly to changing circumstances. For example, if I’m driving on the highway and see an accident ahead, I would want to react by slowing down or moving into another lane so I don’t get caught in the crash myself. However, there are times when it’s better to be proactive. If I’m driving along and notice something wrong with my car, for instance, I would want to pull over as soon as possible so I could check out what’s going on.”

10. What types of situations require taking initiative?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you approach different types of work and what your priorities are. Use examples from previous experiences to show that you know when it’s important to take initiative and how you do so effectively.

Example: “Taking initiative is important in any situation where I notice a problem or an opportunity for improvement. In my last role, I noticed that our team was having trouble collaborating with other departments because we didn’t have a system in place for sharing information. I created a shared document that all employees could access and update as needed, which helped us communicate more efficiently and avoid miscommunication.”

11. How does taking initiative help teams become successful?

This question can help interviewers understand how you view your role in a team and the value of taking initiative. When answering, it can be helpful to highlight specific examples from previous experiences where you took initiative and helped your team succeed.

Example: “Taking initiative is important because it allows me to take ownership over my work and ensure that I’m meeting deadlines or other objectives set by my manager or team leader. In my last position, I was tasked with creating an online marketing strategy for our company’s new product launch. After researching different strategies, I presented my ideas to my team, who then gave feedback on what they liked and didn’t like about each idea. We eventually decided on one strategy and implemented it successfully.”

12. How does one show initiative without crossing the line into micromanagement territory?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you balance taking initiative with being respectful of your manager’s authority. Use examples from past experiences to show that you know when to take action and when to ask for permission or guidance.

Example: “In my last role, I noticed a problem with our customer service department. The employees were having trouble keeping up with the volume of calls they received each day. I spoke with my supervisor about it, and we decided to hire two new call center representatives. However, I also offered to train the new hires so that I could ensure their quality of work was at an acceptable level before handing off the training to other team members.”

13. What are some ways people usually avoid taking initiative at work?

This question can help the interviewer understand your awareness of common workplace challenges and how you might overcome them. Describe a situation in which you overcame one or more of these common barriers to taking initiative at work.

Example: “Some people avoid taking initiative because they’re afraid of making mistakes, but I think that’s an easy excuse. If you don’t try something new, you’ll never know if it would have worked out. Another reason is that some people are too busy with their own tasks to notice what others need help with. To address this issue, I make sure to communicate clearly with my coworkers about any projects I’m working on so they can offer assistance when needed.”

14. What do you feel is the best way to encourage employees to take initiative?

This question can help the interviewer understand your approach to encouraging employees to take initiative and how you might encourage others in a new role. Use examples from previous roles where you encouraged initiative among your team members or other colleagues.

Example: “I feel that one of the best ways to encourage employees to take initiative is by showing them they have support. When I first started my career, I worked for a small company with only five employees. We all knew each other well, but we didn’t always know what our coworkers were working on. One day, I overheard two employees talking about a project they were working on together. They mentioned it was taking longer than expected because they weren’t sure if their coworker would be able to contribute as much as they had originally thought.

I approached those two employees later that day and asked if they could show me what they were working on. After seeing their progress, I told them that I understood why they were concerned about asking for help. However, I also let them know that I would love to help out if they needed any assistance. The next week, they came back to me and said they appreciated my offer and wanted to ask for my input on the project. I ended up helping them complete the project ahead of schedule.”

15. What are some key traits of leaders who take initiative?

This question can help the interviewer assess your understanding of what it takes to be a leader. Leadership skills are important for many positions, and this is an opportunity to show that you have them.

Example: “In my experience, leaders who take initiative are confident in their abilities and willing to make decisions. They’re also able to communicate clearly with others so they can get support when needed. Finally, they’re organized enough to keep track of all the details involved in taking action on something.”