Interview Question: Do You Enjoy Working in a Fast-Paced Environment?

Many jobs require employees to work in a fast-paced team environment. These range widely, from a call center position to a restaurant job, for example. When you're interviewing for a job that involves teamwork in a high-paced setting, be prepared to respond to questions about how you feel about that type of work environment.

In a job interview for one of these jobs, a common interview question is, “Do you enjoy working in a fast-paced team environment?” You can expect to be asked this question whenever keywords like “multi-tasking,” “teamwork,” or “fast-paced environment” have been emphasized in the job announcement of the position you’re applying for.

When answering this question, be sure to address both parts of the question. Explain both why you work well in a team, as well as why you enjoy working in a fast-paced environment.

What the Interviewer Wants to Know

An employer will ask this question to see if you would fit in well with the company culture. They also want to make sure you can handle the requirements of the position. It takes both time and money to run a hiring process. The hiring manager doesn’t want to have to repeat the process because a new employee can’t handle the heat of a fast-paced workplace.

Your interviewer will also be gauging the tone and enthusiasm with which you answer this question in order to assess your level of motivation and to predict whether you would be satisfied and productive in the role. 

How to Answer the Question

You can demonstrate your enthusiasm for teamwork and fast-paced environments in different ways. You might explain what it is you like most about this kind of workplace. Perhaps you enjoy the camaraderie of a team or the excitement of working under a deadline.

However, you should also support your answer with specific examples from your work history. For example, you can explain how you are the most efficient and productive in a fast-paced, team environment. This will show the employer that you will add value to the company.

You could even provide a specific example of a time when you accomplished something in a fast-paced, team environment. For example, you might mention a time when you worked on a team project under a tight deadline and achieved success.

Examples of the Best Answers

Here are a few examples of ways to answer the question, “Do you enjoy working in a fast-paced team environment?” Again, even though this is a “yes or no” question, remember that elaborating upon why you enjoy this style of work will help to persuade the employer of your enthusiasm for the job.

Why It Works: This candidate provides a quantifiable example of their success in working in a fast-paced setting: their frequent awards for stellar customer service.

Why It Works: This answer is effective because the candidate obviously knows what is required of a good team member. They draw upon previous work experience to show how they could acclimate easily to a similar work environment.

Why It Works: This candidate, too, tells a brief story about their work experience to demonstrate that they have the motivation and proactive collaborative skills to thrive in a fast-paced, high-stress job.

Tips for Giving the Best Response

• Be Specific: Did you save or make the company money? Increase sales by X %? Come to the interview prepared with facts and figures that demonstrate your success. Dollar signs are always persuasive, but showing that you helped to achieve the company’s mission, strengthen their brand awareness, or otherwise solve a problem will also impress the interviewer.
• Tell a Story: You have a limited amount of time to make a good impression on the hiring manager; use it to your advantage by telling a story that grabs their attention and shows that you’re the perfect person for the job. Storytelling tips include creating a story with a beginning, middle, and end, emphasizing your actions, and anticipating follow-up questions.
• Tailor Your Story to the Company’s Needs: Not all fast-paced jobs are alike. If you’re applying for a customer-service job, it’s important to emphasize your ability to resolve problems quickly and effectively; if you’re hoping to get hired as an advertising copywriter, stress your knack for being creative under challenging deadlines.
• Use Body Language That Backs up Your Statements: You’re trying to show that you’re a warm, approachable, supportive teammate. Closed body language like crossed arms, lack of eye contact, or bad posture won’t convey the right message. Instead, practice maintaining balanced eye contact (in other words, engage with the interviewer, but don’t stare) and keeping a relaxed, open posture. If you know you tend to fidget, suppress the urge to fiddle with your hair or tap your leg.

Possible Follow-Up Questions

• Why should we hire you? - Best Answers
• Describe your work style - Best Answers
• Are you willing to fail? - Best Answers