You're three weeks into a project you care about when your manager shelves it — priorities changed — and moves you to something less interesting, starting today. What do you do?
Why this works
The dilemma has no clean move: sulking is visible and costly, but letting three weeks of work evaporate without a trace is careless. It works for candidates with little work history, and the "less interesting" detail tests whether their effort is attached to the outcome or to their own enthusiasm.
Follow-up probes
- What happens to the half-finished work?
- What, if anything, do you say to your manager about the call?
- What does your first day on the new assignment look like?
What good looks like
The shelved work closed out responsibly — documented, parked where others can find it — disappointment named without being performed, a real question about the reasoning, and full effort on the new thing from day one.
Red flags
Instant cheerfulness with no sign the loss registered, a campaign to reverse the decision dressed as questions, or the new assignment visibly starting at half throttle.
More Adaptability questions
Related across competencies
Build the interview around it
One vetted question is an ingredient, not the meal. Plan the interview and three short steps will work out which competencies your role needs, no account required. Or subscribe and get new vetted questions and interview guides as we publish them.