How to Answer: Tell Me About a Time You Failed (with Examples) - theJub (2023)

FAQs

What is an example answer to tell me about a time you failed? ›

For example: Three years ago, we were doing A, but realized the result fell short of the goal. Things were just not working. Many saw it as a failure, but we also saw it as an opportunity to improve, so we did a thorough analysis and realized that B was a better tactic.

Tell your story.

Interviewers don't ask this question to see you squirm, they want to know how you handle setbacks—so get to the part where you're dealing with the failure as quickly as possible. Start with the situation, and explain why it was challenging. Then go into what you specifically did to try and rectify it.

It all went wrong when I [describe the action you took] which I tried to solve by [add an action]. I had solved a similar problem in the past in this way, but this time I forgot to [insert the action that would have made a difference]. As a result, I did not meet the deadline.

Spend more time explaining what you have learned about yourself than the experience: Instead of dwelling on what went wrong, identify the reasons behind the incident and emphasise what you have learned and what you now do differently. Explain the actions you took to ensure that you wouldn't achieve the same mistake.

Interviewers ask questions like what is your greatest failure or tell me about a time you failed, to see how the candidate faces tough situations, and what they learned from the outcome. The interviewer is not interested in the actual failure itself, rather how you took it and implemented the lessons learned from it.

I was responsible for interacting with big clients and understanding the requirements. Being a fresher, I did not pay much attention to the details of the project. Instead, I focused only on my ethics and discipline. My poor listening skills led me to lose one of the most significant projects of the organization.

Show that you have skills and experience to do the job and deliver great results. You never know what other candidates offer to the company. But you know you: emphasize your key skills, strengths, talents, work experience, and professional achievements that are fundamental to getting great things done on this position.

Example answers

One time I was supposed to deliver a project to a client in five days. A colleague who was working with another client had the same deadline, but he had to take a leave of absence due to personal reasons. I was forced to take up both projects at the same time, but I did not let the stress affect me.

What are the 3 types of failure? ›

Henry Ford's first two automobile companies failed. Oprah Winfrey was fired from an early job as a television news anchor. Jerry Seinfeld was booed off stage in his first stand-up comedy appearance. Sir James Dyson suffered through 5,126 failed prototypes before he landed on the first working Dyson vacuum.

Example Sentences

He became discouraged by his repeated failures in business. He was often crippled by his fear of failure. The accident was caused by engine failure. The patient was suffering from heart failure.

Example Answers to “Tell Me a Time When You Failed”

“I was managing a project for one of our biggest clients in my previous company, and I was so eager to please them that I told them we could finish the project within 2 weeks. I thought this was doable, but it ended up taking three weeks and they were not happy.

How to answer “What is your biggest failure?” Pick a real failure that happened in the workplace, specifically a failure related to the work you're doing now. Look for a story where something didn't go as planned. Choosing the right story is important, as you want to explain a situation where only one thing went wrong.

To describe myself in one word, I'm a very ambitious person. I take up all learning opportunities that enhance my skills and know-how to cope up with failures. I like challenging myself to find creative solutions as quickly as possible and resolve any issues at hand.

Smart questions to ask about the interviewer

Has your role changed since you've been here? What did you do before this? Why did you come to this company? What's your favorite part about working here?

#1 — Be Honest With Yourself

The first way resilient people bounce back from failure is by being honest with themselves. They don't try to sugarcoat the fact that they failed. They don't try to use softer words to help lessen the impact of that failure.

Can you ask why you failed interview? ›

It's very common for job applicants to request feedback – employers usually take this as a sign you're interested and keen to improve on your abilities – so don't be nervous. But it is very important to be polite.

You can definitely reapply to a company that rejected you, as long as learn from your previous mistakes and make corrections. So, if the perfect role has become available in a company that has previously turned you down, don't stress.

“Over the years, I have acquired relevant skills and experience, which I shall bring to your organization. I have also worked tirelessly on my communication abilities and teamwork skills, which I will put to use in my future career, which would be in your organization if I am selected for the position.

Mention any skills or work experience that makes you a unique, strong candidate for the job. If possible, use numbers to express how you can add value to the business. For example, if you saved your previous company a certain amount of money, mention this, and say that you want to do the same for this company.

While working under pressure, reframe the situation as an opportunity to prove yourself. Visualize a happy outcome and actively work toward it. Find a work-life balance: Although your work-life balance may suffer during busy times at work, it's important to spend a portion of your day doing what you enjoy.

I would like to be financially independent and gain more time-to-time knowledge in the company's goals. And to get a respected position that is my future endeavour to easy. As a person, I want to be a more skilled, more capable person. As a professional, I see myself as handling more responsibilities.

How To Answer “How Do You Handle Stress?” To answer this question successfully, you'll want to provide specific examples of how you've handled stress well in the past. You might also provide examples of times when pressure made you work more productively.

Example Answer:

I had a very difficult situation where the company I was working for was having financial problems. Because of that, I had to fire one person from my team. I chose the team member we had hired most recently. She had great potential, but she still needed guidance to do her job.

How do you answer Tell me about a time you dealt with a difficult employee? ›

In your response, first describe the situation you were in and what you had to do to respond to it. (For example, an employee was chronically late and you needed to get them to improve their behavior.) Then, describe the action you took. (For example, giving the employee a formal warning and looping in HR.)

Practice stepping outside your comfort zone. Do things that might get you rejected or try new things where you could fail. Over time, you'll learn that failure isn't as bad as you might imagine. It will help you learn to face your fear of failure in a way that can be productive and help you reach your goals.

Here are some examples of common difficult situations in the workplace: Not getting on with a colleague. Not feeling able to speak up about something you feel is wrong. Your team doesn't pull together.

Some examples of situations you can discuss include: A time when you dealt with a lot of customer complaints and how you rectified the issue. A time when you had to work long hours to meet a deadline. A time when you had to deal with a difficult colleague when working on a project.

“I would deal with a difficult co-worker by first making sure I wasn't contributing to the situation in a negative way. I would then sit down with them in private to find an amicable way forward. I would find out what was important to them.

Give me an example of working with others where you did not agree. How well do you work with people who are different from you? Tell me about someone who has been difficult for you to work with in your job. What has been the most difficult situation for you to deal with in your current team?

1) Admit the mistake. Knowing the true cause of a failure is the first step to overcoming it, after acknowledging that there's a problem or failure in the first place. Leaders who practice denial might feel better about themselves temporarily, but nothing gets done to make things better.

How do you use failure to your advantage? ›