Scene to read · Problem solving, Empathy
Both sides of the crossword
You are the newest greeter in the customer lounge of a car dealership's service department.
Emeka, 74, has sat by the coffee machine since noon with a crossword. The oil change on his pickup was finished by two, but the mechanics and the sales office each assumed the other was closing out his job ticket. By house rule only a salesperson walks a customer to a finished vehicle, since one was once driven off unpaid. Omkar, who has worked the lounge for years, is beside you.
The scene
Emeka: Crossword's done, both sides. My wife's aide leaves at five. I can't be late.
Omkar: I'll ring sales again, Emeka. They're slammed with month-end.
Emeka: So I heard at three. Twenty more minutes, then I'm stuck.
Omkar: Don't walk it over. The last new hire who pushed sales got written up.
The two questions
- 1What would you do, and why?
- 2When a problem falls between two teams and belongs to neither, how do you decide whether it is yours to chase?
What raters look for
- Problem solving
- Gathers facts before acting, considers options and consequences, and chooses a workable next step.
- Empathy
- Recognizes what others feel and need, and lets that shape the response without losing judgment.
Answer scenarios like this on the real timers
Answer both questions on the clock, and get each one scored 1–9 the way raters score. Your first set is free, no card.
Practice free
