#JobSearch : Answering ‘Tell Me About A Time You Failed’ In A Job Interview. Bottom Line: They Want to Know How you Reacted & Managed It.
Interviewing for a new job can be draining and stressful, especially when the interviewer asks tricky questions. Among the hardest questions to answer can be “tell me about a time you failed.” Just when you’re trying to present yourself in your best light, the interviewer is seemingly undermining your efforts.
Figuring out how to answer this question effectively is especially important. The job market is super challenging right now—and it’s also super stressful. But when you know how to answer the toughest questions, you set yourself apart, reduce your anxiety and increase your chances of success.
Why Interviewers Ask About Failure
Perhaps the biggest mystery about this question is why interviews ask about failure at all. Why is this an important question that’s included in interviews? And what are organizations looking for when they asak you about failure?
Smart employers know there will always be times when performance isn’t perfect. And great cultures reward appropriate risk taking—because it drives innovation and growth. And these conditions mean that some failure will be part of the work experience.
They want to know how you’ll handle it, whether you can learn from it and if you can bounce back when you encounter friction, frustration or setbacks.
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Article continued …
How Interviewers Ask About Failure
So, what are the different potential versions of this question?
You should listen for a few different ways potential employers will ask the question—so you can reinforce the right themes no matter how it comes across. They may ask,
- Tell me about a time you failed.
- Share an example of a time when you weren’t hitting the mark.
- Tell me when your work didn’t measure up.
- What was a time when things didn’t go as you had planned?
- How do you handle failure?
- What do you do when you’re frustrated?
- How do you work through failures?
- Tell me about a time when you struggled, and how you handled it.
- Describe a time when you had to pivot.
- What was a time when you had to change course because things weren’t working out?
No matter how the interviewer asks, be ready with themes that you want to emphasize—so you can be clear about your answer while you also connect it with their specific question.
How to Answer an Interview Question About Failure
So how should someone answer ‘tell me about a time you failed’ in an interview? And what are key points, words or themes that should be included in the response?
Essentially, interviewers want to hear four things.
- First, they want to know how you handle failure. You’ll want to be sure to communicate that you’re self-aware—and also willing to be honest and admit mistakes. You will also need to answer in a way that shows you’re not overly negative—and that you can keep your cool in tough situations.
- Next, they want to know that you learn from failure and that you are able to not only reflect, but take action to continuously improve. Share how you consider your performance (but don’t obsess), and how you have adjusted your approach to do better next time.
- Also, they want to know you have the capability to be resilient and persevere. You’ll want to communicate that you are able to realize you’ve missed the mark, take action and stay optimistic. They will want to know you can bounce back and stay focused on the future.
- And finally, interviewers want to know you’re a team player. You’ll need to take responsibility for your failures and own your missteps—and avoid blaming others or throwing team members under the bus.
When you’re answering, be thorough, but also concise. Answer with four points: First share the situation and your role. Second, talk about what went wrong. Third, share what you learned. Fourth, talk about the adjustments you plan to make for next time. Put the emphasis on how your reflection helped you move forward and how you’re able to adjust, adapt and improve.
Use words like “reflection,” “taking responsibility,” “taking ownership,” “learning,” “improvement,” “teamwork,” “adapt,” “move forward” and “do better.”
Be clear and transparent about what didn’t work well, but also avoid going into unnecessary detail. Also avoid getting emotional. Instead, remain calm and professional.
Succeeding in Your Interview
Most people—71% according to survey by The Harris Poll conducted for Bloomberg—find the job search process to be complicated. In addition, 69% say they suffer mental and emotional effects of the job search including fatigue (84%), stress (77%), anxiety (75%) and frustration (46%), according to a survey by Monster,
If you’re finding it tough, you’re not alone. But also know that you can reduce the negative toll the process takes by being ready for the most likely questions and boosting your confidence to answer effectively.
You’ll feel the pressure to perform brilliantly in your interview—but ironically when you can articulate times when things didn’t go well, you can shine in comparison to other candidates and get the job.
Forbes.com | May 14, 2024 | Tracy Brower, PhD
