Similar to urgent-request triage, but emphasize calendar and stakeholder alignment.
Decision template
1. List commitments with deadlines 2. Mark blockers for others 3. Estimate effort 4. Confirm priorities with manager/mentor when unclear 5. Communicate trade-offs in writing
STAR outline
Situation: Midterm project demo Friday + internship bug that blocked analysts Thursday.
Action: I fixed the production bug first (external impact), asked professor for a half-day buffer on a polish feature, and time-boxed the demo to core path.
Result: Analysts unblocked; demo still passed with clear scope.
Fresher tip
Saying "I asked my manager what matters most this week" is a strength, not weakness.
Interview tip: Show you protect focus time for deep work when possible.