For many candidates, a lot of preparation goes into interview performance, with an anticipation of technical or role-specific questions. However, one of the most popular interview questions is neither technical nor complicated and yet often distinguishes good from great candidates.
The question is:
‘Tell Me About a Time You Failed and What You Learned From It’
Questions like this are posed by recruiters, HR professionals, team managers, hiring managers and so on from every industry. Seems easy enough, but few of the best applicants find an answer!
It is not designed to learn if you‘ve failed, everybody gets setbacks. The interviewers are looking for how you respond when faced with something that‘s gone wrong.
Why Interviewers Ask This Question
Hiring managers look for individuals willing to adapt and able to learn from past mistakes. To get at this, three areas are probed when discussing about failure:
- Self-awareness
- Accountability
- Problem-solving skills
- Emotional maturity
- Capacity to learn from mistakes
- Professional growth mindset
A person who passes the blame for every problem on to someone else while job searching can cause an employer to be wary. Conversely, a person that takes responsibilities and explains what he had learn shows professionalism.
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What Makes a Smart Answer?
Good candidates do not deny that they have failed.
Instead, they:
- Explain the situation honestly.
- Acknowledge that they were part of the error.
- Describe the lessons learned.
- Illustrate their subsequent development.
It shows confidence and the fact that we can be more confident about ourselves.
Example of a Strong Answer
“I once failed to deliver an internal deadline because I underestimated how long a recruitment project was likely to take in the early days. I took a step back, reflected on my approach and learned from my mistakes. I implemented task-tracking instruments and enhanced working relationships. Since then I have successfully managed multiple projects and maintained deadlines.”
This is effective answer as it takes an indulgent and an encouraging approach rather than a critical or reprimanding one.
Common Mistakes Candidates Make
1. Saying “I Have Never Failed”
This answer sounds totally off. Showing a lack of self-awareness.
2. Blaming Others
Avoid one-sentence statements that put all the blame on colleagues, managers or outside agencies.
3. Choosing a Major Disaster
Choose an authentic professional dilemma, yet do not include any examples that cause you significant concern regarding your competency or honesty.
4. Not Explaining the Lesson
The learning outcome is far more vital than the mistake.
Other Frequently Asked Interview Questions
Apart from discussing failure, recruiters commonly ask:
Why not? Who else? What do you think?
This question tests how confident you are, and what you know about the role.
What Is Your Greatest Weakness?
What the interviewers are interested in finding out is if you have identified any weaknesses.
This shows employers where you want to go career-wise and if you are dedicated.
Tell Me About Yourself
This is generally the first question in an interview and is an opportunity to give a summary of your education, work experience, and accomplishments.
Describe a Difficult Situation You Handled
This says a lot about your problem solving and decision-making skills.
How to Prepare for Interview Success
- Research about the company before the interview.
- Practice common HR questions.
- Include examples from your practice.
- Remember to give clear and organized solutions.
- Lessons learned and successes.
- Ensure you maintain positive body language and confidence.
Final Thoughts
The most common interview question is not the difficult one. The questions about failure, obstacles, and improvement turns out to be the hardest for candidates but also the most informative for interviewers to identify the useful attributes.
Smart applicants know that they don’t have to be perfect. They know that interviewers are just looking for someone who can learn, who can develop over time.
The next time you hear ‘Tell me about a time you failed and what you learned from it,’ seize the moment to showcase your maturity, tenacity and work ethic.
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