Last year, a virus was causing our computers to send out thousands of e-mail messages to our clients. We were being inundated with angry phone calls before we even knew what was going on. Our technical support person was on vacation, so I made a few phone calls and found someone to fix the problem. Then, once she removed the virus from our system, I drafted an apology that was sent out by e-mail to our clients.
This answer is good because the candidate clearly describes the problem and gives specifics on how he solved it. In addition, the crisis is one that could have caused his company to lose clients, something that would strike fear into the hearts of most employers, including the one interviewing him.
Never Say: “My assistant called in sick right before I was leaving on vacation. I was counting on her to run some errands for me. Since she wasn’t there, I had to get one of the interns to do it.” This candidate is resourceful, but he shouldn’t have had anyone running his errands on company time.