![A person sitting on the edge of a rooftop while working on a laptop.](https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/learning-dev-89518.appspot.com/o/images%2F800%2Fedbe8eb0-a927-11ec-bb9b-bdbe8af473cb.jpeg?alt=media&token=1fc2d85b-4ebe-4ac7-ab6e-bb7b3c9c6e48)
A common question in a job interview is to be asked how you've stepped out of your comfort zone in handling a problem in a prior role.
Perhaps you addressed a challenge with a customer or covered for a team member who was away.
A simple way to help craft your answer is by framing your response using the SOAR model: Situation, Obstacle, Action, and Result.
Define The Situation
The first step is to set the scene: where, when, and what was behind the situation that lead you to take action? A sample situation could be this:
I was on a team that was nearing an important launch date for a product.
![Balloons launching](https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/learning-dev-89518.appspot.com/o/images%2F800%2Fd0f26720-903b-11ec-8807-77c6ccd86aeb.jpeg?alt=media&token=935450fe-0690-4639-8fa1-03312ad7d23c)
What Was The Obstacle?
The second step is to define the obstacle. A sample obstacle could be:
A key person on the product launch team suddenly took ill and was not able to complete their tasks.
![Empty desk.](https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/learning-dev-89518.appspot.com/o/images%2F800%2F51486820-903c-11ec-8807-77c6ccd86aeb.jpeg?alt=media&token=0d733a0d-ed53-4b4d-85cc-264fd6e2be62)
What Action Did You Take?
The third step is to explain what you did to overcome the obstacle. A sample action could be:
I offered to cover for the sick person, and requested key documents from them in order to get up to speed quickly on what needed to be done.
![Working late](https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/learning-dev-89518.appspot.com/o/images%2F800%2F364948e0-903d-11ec-8ed3-d1ec8de921d2.jpeg?alt=media&token=a93bf799-00f5-4d8b-9237-604eed1a1fdd)
What Was The Result?
The fourth step is to explain the outcome. As a result of going above and beyond in handling a challenge in the workplace, what happened? Was the project completed on time? Was a customer satisfied? Did a team become more closely knit?
![Happy worker](https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/learning-dev-89518.appspot.com/o/images%2F800%2F9037c970-903e-11ec-8ed3-d1ec8de921d2.jpeg?alt=media&token=799caa90-79bc-4265-809d-7a4e6d19c1b1)
Quiz
How would you define this phrase within the SOAR model: "The product launched ahead of schedule."
Take Action
![Writing in a notebook](https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/learning-dev-89518.appspot.com/o/images%2F800%2F4d265ff0-9040-11ec-8da6-e3c5d2782d25.jpeg?alt=media&token=131e210a-ac3b-49a3-8bf1-39ceef96bb57)
To be ready when you're asked in a job interview about how you've gone above and beyond in the workplace:
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