IT Job Interview Question: Tell Me About A Time You Failed

“It’s fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure” — Bill Gates

We’ve all have personal failures at work: be it cutting corners to accommodate deadlines, missing deadlines altogether, or allowing small details to get in the way of the bigger picture. Whatever the reason, its important to admit you made the mistake and take the time to truly understand how you can improve next time.

So how do you answer this question in an interview?

Be honest and succinct, but take responsibility. Blaming others when situations go awry is a red flag in the interviewer’s eyes. Interviewers are interested in seeing how you took responsibility for your failure, what you learned from the situation, and what you would change to prevent a similar scenario from happening in the future. A successful answer takes all three components into consideration.

In the end, presenting yourself as someone who is willing to self-improve is your best recipe for a successful interview.

Photo provided by Free Digital Photos

Related articles

• How many times did you fail today?
• Interview Tips for the Weary Job Seeker | 15 Nerve-racking Job Interview Questions and How to Answer Them
• Plotting A Career Move? 5 Books That Can Help
• Learn to Turn Failure into Success
• Are You Celebrating Failure a Little Too Much?

Category: IT / Tech Career and Employment Advice, IT / Tech Interview Questions