How to Ace “Think Big” Interview Questions and Land the Job

Getting hired at top companies like Amazon and Google requires more than just technical skills. You also need to demonstrate key leadership principles like the ability to “think big.”

Interviewers love asking behavioral questions to assess if you can think ambitiously and come up with visionary ideas

So how do you properly answer “think big” questions without sounding arrogant or unrealistic?

In this comprehensive guide I’ll teach you exactly how to craft winning responses with real-world examples and tips. By the end you’ll feel fully prepared to highlight your bold, creative thinking during any job interview.

What Does It Mean to “Think Big” in an Interview?

Thinking big refers to having an ambitious, future-oriented mindset. It’s about seeing the bigger picture and coming up with ideas to create substantial impact.

Companies want leaders who:

• Set bold, visionary goals beyond what seems immediately achievable
• Constantly question status quo and traditional ways of doing things
• Brainstorm radical solutions without limiting possibilities
• Visualize future opportunities and how to capitalize on them
• Inspire people by communicating an exciting vision

In short, thinking big means pushing boundaries, aiming high, and driving impressive results instead of incremental progress.

It’s about advancing innovation rather than maintaining the normal way of doing things.

Why Do Interviewers Ask “Think Big” Questions?

Companies like Amazon include “think big” as a core leadership principle because they want people who take risks and think differently to fuel business growth.

Other top employers emphasize similar attributes like curiosity, imagination, vision, and innovation.

By asking about your ability to think big, interviewers assess qualities like:

• Ambition – Do you set stretch goals and high standards for yourself and others?

• Creativity – Can you brainstorm innovative ideas and solutions?

• Vision – Are you focused on the bigger picture and how to capitalize on future opportunities?

• Growth Mindset – Do you see problems as challenges to overcome rather than limitations?

• Change Orientation – Are you open to new ways of doing things and challenging the status quo?

• Communication Skills – Can you compellingly explain and sell an unconventional idea to stakeholders?

• Resilience – Do you persist through setbacks when initial bold ideas fail?

Thinking big enables transformational change. Companies want leaders who can envision a better future and make it happen.

That’s why you should come prepared withstories that highlight your ambitious thinking.

How to Structure a Strong “Think Big” Response

Your interviewer wants to hear a concise yet compelling story that shows off your bold mindset.

Follow this basic structure:

1. Set the Context

Briefly explain the situation to provide background. For example:

• “As a product manager in charge of our legacy payroll software…”

• “During my time as an engineer on the automotive team…”

2. Share Your Bold Idea or Vision

Explain the big, unconventional idea or vision you came up with. For example:

• “I envisioned completely revamping our outdated payroll system with a real-time cloud-based solution.”

• “I saw an opportunity for us to integrate cutting-edge self-driving technology years before competitors.”

3. Elaborate on Your Thinking

Provide details on your thought process and goals behind the vision:

• “I aimed to enhance efficiency by modernizing with automation and AI.”

• “My goal was to position our company at the forefront of innovation in the industry.”

4. Describe Actions Taken

Explain how you started turning this vision into reality:

• “I pitched this transformative payroll system overhaul to executives and got buy-in.”

• “I created a prototype, built partnerships with tech firms, and secured funding for R&D.”

5. Share the Results

Wrap up by highlighting the end outcome and impact achieved:

• “The new payroll system reduced processing time by 80% and cut costs by over $2 million annually.”

• “We became the first in our industry to launch self-driving model vehicles two years ahead of competitors.”

This full story structure demonstrates you can envision bold change AND proactively make it happen.

Let’s look at some examples of how to ace various “think big” questions using this framework.

Answering “Tell Me About a Time You Were Creative”

Here’s how you can use the STAR method to answer this common behavioral question:

Situation: As head of marketing for our software startup, I noticed traffic and conversions had plateaued over the past few quarters.

Task: My goal was to dramatically boost brand awareness, website engagement, and subscriptions.

Action: I came up with the creative idea to develop a viral social media challenge by partnering with online influencers in our niche. We provided prize giveaways and rewards for user-generated content and shares.

Result: This innovative viral campaign increased traffic by 30%, doubled our social media following, and resulted in a 20% bump in new subscriptions over a 6 month period.

This example demonstrates ambitious creativity that drove impressive results.

Answering “Tell Me About a Time You Solved a Problem Innovatively”

Here’s another example using the STAR approach:

Situation: As a project manager, my team was struggling to meet aggressive timelines and cost targets for a software development project. Morale and productivity were down.

Task: I needed to find innovative ways to turn project performance around quickly.

Action: I decided to overhaul our traditional waterfall development approach. Instead I piloted a radical shift to agile methodologies, scrum sprints, and added fun perks like remote work days and team lunches.

Result: These innovative changes created new energy. The team met tight deadlines while reducing costs by 20%. Team morale and retention also skyrocketed.

This showcases how you solved challenges with an unconventional approach based on creative thinking.

Answering “Tell Me About a Time You Devised a Simple Solution to a Complex Problem”

Here’s one way to structure a stellar response:

Situation: As a consultant, a client was facing inventory management issues in their complex global supply chain, leading to high costs and operational bottlenecks.

Task: I needed to come up with solutions to simplify and optimize their convoluted processes.

Action: Rather than develop complicated analytical models and algorithms, I saw an opportunity to address the root issue. I proposed shifting from batch processing to continuous inventory monitoring by implementing Internet of Things (IoT) sensors in warehouses worldwide.

Result: This simple IoT solution provided real-time visibility. It eliminated bottlenecks, reduced cycle times by 50%, and cut inventory costs by 8% across global operations.

This example highlights how you developed an elegantly simple solution to a multifaceted problem.

Answering “Tell Me About When You Had to Sell an Idea to Upper Management”

Here’s one way to structure an impressive response:

Situation: Our social media marketing strategy was not driving engagement and conversions as strongly as competitors in our space.

Task: I needed to propose fresh ideas that would get executive buy-in for an unconventional approach.

Action: I developed and pitched an innovative viral video concept to leadership. The zany video would showcase our products in quirky ways not typical for our industry.

Result: The executives were initially skeptical, but I convinced them this creative tactic would help us differentiate our brand and reach new demographics. My team made the video for under $5k and it generated over 2 million views. The marketing team was then given additional budget and support for similar bold ideas.

This example shows how you were able to sell through an idea that challenged the status quo.

Tips for Giving Strong Responses

Keep these tips in mind to craft truly compelling stories:

Strike the Right Tone. Avoid sounding overly arrogant when describing your bold ideas. Use humble language and give credit to others involved.

Focus on Impact. Quantify results as much as possible. Big numbers will make your ambitious ideas and vision look more impressive.

Bring Data. Back up claims around innovation with facts on how much you improved key metrics like costs, times, revenue, market share, etc.

Get Excited. Show energy and enthusiasm when describing your vision and ideas. It will get the interviewer excited about your leadership potential.

Be Concise. Pick stories with maximum impact and detail. Stick to key points instead of rambling or going off on tangents.

Explain Failures. If your big idea didn’t pan out, talk about what you learned and would do differently next time.

Questions and Answers

Let’s look at a few additional examples of common “think big” interview questions along with suggested responses:

Q: Tell me about a time you aimed high and were able to achieve your goal.

A: As a sales rep, I set the hugely ambitious goal of becoming the