What keeps you awake at night?

Disciplines > Job-finding > Interview questions > What keeps you awake at night?

The question | What they are looking for | How to answer | See also

The question

What keeps you awake at night?

What sorts of things play on your mind more?

What are the critical issues in the job?

What they are looking for

In this question, they may be checking whether you are taking problems at home or whether issues play on your mind. If you cannot let go when you go home, you may be building up unhealthy levels of stress.

The issues that you take home also may give a clue as to how you prioritize things and hence may also give some indication as to your decision-making ability.

How to answer

When answering this show that you are reasonably concerned but not obsessed to the point that you cannot take an objective view or properly relax.

When there is a new product release coming up, I constantly go over the procedures in my mind until I am sure that everything is covered.

Show that the things that concern you are the most important issues.

I do worry about meeting budgets -- it is so important that these are not exceeded.

Show also that your additional thoughts do lead to effective results.

I've found that going over the figures in my mind actually does make a difference. Reflective thinking allows me to check the formulae used and bring out any deep issues.

See also

.