Being asked to discuss a failure in a job interview can be intimidating. However, with the right approach, you can turn this question into an opportunity to showcase your resilience, learning ability, and professional growth. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to effectively answer the dreaded “Tell me about a time you failed” question.
5 steps to Answering “Tell me about a time you failed”
1. Stay Calm and Buy Time
First, take a deep breath and give yourself a moment to think. You might say, “That’s a great question. Let me think about that for a moment.” This pause shows that you’re thoughtful and composed under pressure.
2. Choose a Genuine Failure
Select a real incident where something significant went wrong due to your actions or decisions. Avoid trivial mistakes or catastrophic failures that could raise red flags. If possible, choose an incident from a while ago, demonstrating that you’ve had time to reflect and improve.
3. Define What Failure Means to You
Explain how you define failure in the context of your story. This personal definition helps frame your story and gives the interviewer insight into your work ethic and values. For instance:
- “To me, failure means not meeting expectations, both mine and others’.”
- “As a manager, I see failure as being caught off guard by unforeseen issues.”
4. Narrate Your Story
Begin with the situation, focusing on why it was challenging. Clearly explain what you did and where things went wrong. Don’t shy away from admitting your mistakes; honesty is crucial. For example:
- “During my time as an email marketing associate, my company set a new aggressive KPI to grow our subscriber list by 25% each quarter. Initially, I felt overwhelmed and continued with my usual tasks without adjusting my strategy. When my boss checked in, I had made no progress towards the new goal. I realized my approach was inadequate and started brainstorming new strategies with her guidance.”
5. Share What You Learned
After describing the failure, highlight what you learned from the experience. Discuss how this lesson has shaped your approach to similar situations moving forward. This demonstrates your ability to learn and grow from setbacks. For instance:
- “From this experience, I learned the importance of addressing seemingly daunting tasks head-on rather than avoiding them. By breaking down the goal and seeking help, I eventually exceeded the KPI in the following quarter. This has made me more proactive and resilient when facing challenging objectives.”
Example Answers
Example 1: School Project Failure
“To me, failure means not fully utilizing the resources available to achieve the best possible outcome. During my junior year in college, we had to build a small automated sprinkler for an engineering class. I was in charge of supplies but didn’t check the school’s storage to see what we could leverage and ended up overspending. Our sprinkler underperformed compared to others. I admitted my mistake to my professor and took responsibility. This taught me to thoroughly assess all available resources and options before making decisions.” – Keep it short and simple.
Example 2: Work Failure
“Failure, to me, is not meeting set goals with the resources provided. As an email marketing associate, I was tasked with increasing our subscriber list by 25% per quarter, which I initially ignored due to its daunting nature. After my boss noticed my lack of progress, she helped me develop new strategies. Though I only achieved a 12% increase that quarter, I learned to tackle challenges directly and seek guidance when needed. This experience has made me more effective in setting and achieving goals.”
