Q: how do you prioritise your workload

[gb155]

Ok, I have 2 interviews in 2 days

Today I scored 25/30 , the pass Mark being 27........ Gutted

I don't want to mess up tomorrow and I know one question will deff be how do you prioritise your workload, I'm never sure how to answer it tbh

So hit me with your ideas ;-)

 

[Paulus]

The urgency of the job and the importance take preference where I work, taking into account how it would impact on other tasks that need to completed today.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Generaly by each jobs level of criticality. That level would be derived from a critical path analysis. That is I would look at each job and do the most important one first.

 

[Spinney]

Bonus points if you imply* that you will work late/at the weekend to get any outstanding jobs done.

*imply rather than state, unless you really mean it!

 

[gb155]

Pretty much confirms what I normally say tbh - but I'm just never sure it's what they want

Thanks guys

 

[smokeysmoo]

Generaly by each jobs level of criticality. That level would be derived from a critical path analysis.

You Sir must be in middle management

 

[Chilternrides]

Hard to answer without knowing what industry you are talking about:

Certain industries have "built-in" priorities (customer schedulings, promised delivery dates etc), others have an endless churn of tasks which simply have to be waded through.

Impact on either other people's dependencies on you, or generation of revenue are usually good indicators of what to prioritise. *

*I'm working on the theory that you are not applying for the armed forces or emergency services here though!
A & E staff are also excluded from this generalisation

Good luck either way.

 

[ttcycle]

Have you got the job description of the role?

If there is a task/element of the job that you can give a clear example of and how you would break that down it's always useful to give solid examples of how you work.

If there's a team element to the job and if you do this, if work comes to you from others; useful to mention how you negotiate competing tasks.


Good luck!

 

[Angelfishsolo]

I used to be

You Sir must be in middle management

 

[accountantpete]

You want to get hold of an internal bit of guff which details the goals/aims of the entity as a whole and say that you would use that as the yardstick in assessing each individual case.

 

[Norm]

There's several factors, comparing those tasks which are urgent for their size with those which are urgent for their timing (a million pound project for tomorrow can take second place to a grand's worth today).

Mention of day tight compartments (don't worry today about what you have to do tomorrow) can show you know some of the theories.

You can also introduce a bit of reverse delegation, asking the boss to help you decide or to help out can show you aren't afraid to get resources if there really are two critical tasks.

Project management is all about understanding the big stuff before doing the little stuff. Plan it well and there aren't so many crushed schedules.

 

[darth vadar]

Thank goodness I am retired.

Critical Path Analysis ?

More management speak me thinks!!!!

 

[Dan B]

Don't confuse "urgent" with "important"

 

[upsidedown]

As others have said; some things are urgent and important, some urgent and some important. All 3 categories come after web browsing, checking out the new additions to the bike rack and eating.

 

[colly]

It depends on one of three things:

1...............who is shouting the loudest.

2...............who is most pi**ed off at me.

3.............. (this will take precedence at times)...which task will get most money in the bank the fastest.

Of course finishing tasks which will keep regular/repeat customers coming back slips in and out of the top spot as and when required.