This one made me pause longer than I expected.
Choose a low-stakes, resolved situation where initial doubt about a colleague's reliability or expertise was addressed through direct, respectful communication and verification. Focus on how you separated the person from the problem, used data or checkpoints to validate work, and preserved the relationship. Conclude with the positive outcome and what you learned about building trust.
Pro tip: Emphasize that you addressed the doubt by adjusting your own behavior first—like adding a review step or asking clarifying questions—rather than accusing the colleague. This shows emotional intelligence and a solutions-oriented mindset, which Expedia values in collaborative engineering teams.
Describe the project, your role, and the colleague's role in 1-2 sentences. Keep it neutral and avoid sounding like you're blaming anyone.
State the specific, observable behavior or pattern that triggered your doubt (e.g., missed deadlines, inconsistent code quality, vague updates). Avoid personal attacks or assumptions about character.
Explain the concrete steps you took: e.g., having a private conversation, increasing check-ins, adding code reviews, or verifying work through tests. Highlight how you kept communication open and respectful.
Reveal what happened—whether the doubt was resolved, the colleague improved, or you adjusted expectations. Mention any process improvements or stronger working relationship that resulted.
Summarize what you learned about trust, communication, or assumptions, and how you apply that insight today.
AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.