These are five sample questions from Bryq’s Resilience assessment, a soft skills test for hiring people who stay effective under pressure and adapt well to change. The full assessment covers five skills: confidence and self-belief, emotional regulation, purpose and motivation, support networks, and adaptability and problem-solving. Each question describes a challenging moment at work and asks how you would respond, with four options to choose from.
Confidence & Self-Belief
Question
You are about to deliver a high-stakes presentation when you notice a senior colleague in the audience who has previously been critical of your work. How do you respond?
Select your answer
Acknowledge the nerves internally, refocus on your preparation and the value of your content, and deliver with the same confidence you would bring to any other room.
Adjust your delivery to be more cautious and measured, given who is watching.
Remind yourself of past successes to settle the nerves before beginning.
Get through the presentation as efficiently as possible to limit exposure.
WHY IS THIS THE CORECT ANSWER
Acknowledging nerves and anchoring to them keeps performance steady.
Emotional Regulation
Question
You are in the middle of a high-pressure week when a colleague gives you unsolicited critical feedback on work you are proud of. How do you respond?
Select your answer
Pause, allow the initial reaction to settle, then engage with the feedback honestly to determine whether it has merit.
Thank them in the moment but dismiss the feedback privately, as the timing makes it hard to consider fairly.
Respond immediately to defend your position while the context is fresh.
Stay quiet and process it later, but let the interaction affect your mood for the rest of the day.
WHY IS THIS THE CORECT ANSWER
Letting the first reaction settle allows judging the feedback on its merits rather than on how it made you feel.
Purpose & Motivation
Question
You are several months into a new role and realise the day-to-day work is less meaningful than you expected. How do you respond?
Select your answer
Reflect on what specifically feels misaligned, identify where you can create meaning within the role, and have an honest conversation with your manager about your development.
Stay positive and trust that the work will feel more purposeful once you settle in further.
Focus on performing well in your current responsibilities while quietly exploring other opportunities.
Accept that not every role will feel meaningful and focus on doing a good job regardless.
WHY IS THIS THE CORECT ANSWER
Diagnosing the misalignment and working with the manager turns a vague dissatisfaction into specific, actionable changes.
Support Networks
Question
You are navigating a significant challenge at work but feel reluctant to involve others, not wanting to appear as though you cannot handle it. How do you respond?
Select your answer
Identify someone you trust and reach out early, with a clear sense of what would be helpful.
Work through it independently for as long as possible before involving anyone else.
Drop hints to a close colleague and see whether they pick up on it and offer help.
Wait until the challenge resolves itself or becomes unavoidable before bringing anyone in.
WHY IS THIS THE CORECT ANSWER
Resilient people use their support networks early and deliberately.
Adaptability & Problem-Solving
Question
You are partway through executing a plan when new information suggests the approach may no longer be the most effective one. What do you do?
Select your answer
Pause to assess the new information honestly, share your concerns with the team, and co-create a revised approach.
Complete the current phase as planned and factor the new information into the next stage.
Raise your concerns with your manager and wait for guidance before changing anything.
Make quiet adjustments to your own work while continuing to follow the broader plan publicly.
