Waffling is a common interview mistake and tends to be the result of nerves, so avoid talking about everything all at once. It's important to sell your skills and experience without rambling.
The best way to answer this question is to talk about a specific example of a time you made a mistake: Briefly explain what the mistake was, but don't dwell on it. Quickly switch over to what you learned or how you improved, after making that mistake.
What is your biggest failure interview question sample answer?
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.
Misunderstanding instructions from a boss or coworker, which led to a mistake. Mishandling or losing cash at work. Missing a deadline. Not delivering the work a client/customer expected.
Saying that war is irrational may be a big mistake. But to discard entirely would be a big mistake. I try to allow most people one big mistake. Perhaps this is all a great big mistake on our part.
Examples of defensive responses where the spin only draws more attention to the failure: “It didn't set us back that much, but many people overreacted.” “I was right all along — they just didn't see it.” “My mistake was actually beneficial in the long run because…”
I missed my deadline and had to change the delivery window. The client wasn't happy with the extra time I needed. While I did finish the project, it took much longer than it should have. Had I taken those steps to test changes at every stage, I wouldn't have had to go back to the drawing board to make changes.
What is an example of tell me about a time when you made a mistake?
ACTION: When I started work on the task, I soon realised it was going to take me much longer than I'd anticipated. I'd made a mistake in estimating how long the task would take to complete. Because of my mistake, I had to stay behind late after work each evening and commit the extra hours to get the job finished.
Some common synonyms of mistake are blunder, error, lapse, and slip. While all these words mean "a departure from what is true, right, or proper," mistake implies misconception or inadvertence and usually expresses less criticism than error.
Consider giving your manager a brief apology such as, "I've made a mistake. However, I'm working to resolve the issue." Not only does this express your remorse, but it also shows that you're taking actionable steps and holding yourself accountable.
What if I fail to answer a question in an interview?
Ask to come back to it later
If you're stumped, you can ask to come back to the question later. The interviewer may forget to ask again, and that will allow you to follow up with your answer in your thank you email. Say something like: "That question has stumped me!
Some interviewers will appreciate the extra elaboration on a question you think you botched, but to others, it will simply draw more attention to your mistake. So, it's important to pinpoint if the errors from your interview are important enough to bring up again—and if bringing them up is going to help you.
This is all well and good for experienced interviewers who can improvise and quite naturally wing their way through a variety of questions, giving the appearance of expertise and experience. However, there is nothing worse than an interviewer who is clearly not prepared.
Employers want to see you have those personal attributes that will add to your effectiveness as an employee, such as the ability to work in a team, problem-solving skills, and being dependable, organized, proactive, flexible, and resourceful. Be open to learning new things.
