What is the hiring manager looking for?

Hiring managers ask this question to assess your ability to handle and learn from mistakes professionally. They want to know if you can admit and acknowledge your errors, take responsibility for them, and use them as opportunities for growth and improvement. Your answer should show that you can recognize your mistakes, take steps to correct them, and learn from your experiences to avoid making similar mistakes in the future.

How to structure your answer

To answer this question effectively, structure your response using the STAR method:
1. Situation: Briefly describe the situation or task where you made a mistake. Provide enough context for the hiring manager to understand the circumstances.
2. Task: Explain the specific task or responsibility you were handling when the mistake occurred. Be clear about your role and involvement in the situation.
3. Action: Describe the mistake you made in detail. Be honest and specific about your error, acknowledging your responsibility and ownership of the mistake.
4. Result: Explain the consequences or impact of your mistake. Discuss what happened as a result of your error and how it affected the project, team, or company.
5. Learning: Conclude your answer by highlighting what you learned from the experience. Explain how you used the mistake as an opportunity for growth and development. Share any changes you made to your approach or processes to prevent similar mistakes in the future.

Tips to answer this interview question

Tips:
* Be honest and authentic in your response. Don’t try to sugarcoat or hide your mistakes.
* Focus on a mistake that you genuinely learned from and that demonstrates your growth and development.
* Be specific and provide concrete examples to illustrate your points.
* Emphasize the positive aspects of the situation, such as how you took responsibility, corrected the mistake, and learned from it.
* Avoid blaming others or making excuses. Take full ownership of your mistake and focus on what you learned from it.

Things to avoid:
* Don’t dwell on the mistake or get defensive about it.
* Don’t focus on the negative aspects of the situation or how it affected you personally.
* Don’t try to downplay or minimize the mistake.
* Don’t make excuses or try to blame others for your mistake.

Example interview answers to this question

Sample Answers:

Question: Tell me about a time when you made a mistake at work.

Answer:
In my previous role as a marketing manager, I was responsible for planning and executing marketing campaigns for our company’s products. During one campaign, I made the mistake of approving a marketing email without thoroughly checking the content. As a result, a typographical error went out to our entire customer list, which caused confusion and frustration among our customers.
Upon realizing my mistake, I immediately took responsibility for the error and apologized to my team and our customers. I immediately worked to correct the mistake by sending out a corrected email with the correct information. I also implemented a new process for reviewing marketing materials to ensure that similar mistakes wouldn’t happen in the future.
This experience taught me the importance of attention to detail and the need for thoroughness in my work. It also showed me the value of taking responsibility for my actions and learning from my mistakes.

Explanation: This answer is strong because it demonstrates the candidate’s honesty, accountability, and willingness to learn from mistakes. The candidate clearly explains the situation, takes responsibility for the mistake, and highlights the lessons they learned from the experience. The candidate also demonstrates their ability to take action to correct the mistake and prevent similar mistakes in the future.

Question: Tell me about a time when you made a mistake at work and how you handled it.

Answer:
In my previous job as a software engineer, I was working on a project to develop a new feature for our company’s software. During the development process, I made a mistake in the code that caused the feature to malfunction. As a result, the project was delayed, and we had to work overtime to fix the issue.
Upon discovering my mistake, I immediately informed my team lead and took responsibility for the error. I worked closely with the team to identify the root cause of the problem and develop a solution. We were able to fix the issue and complete the project on time, although it required extra effort and late nights.
This experience taught me the importance of testing and reviewing my work thoroughly before releasing it. It also showed me the value of working collaboratively with my team to solve problems and meet deadlines.

Explanation: This answer is strong because it demonstrates the candidate’s ability to handle mistakes professionally and work effectively as part of a team. The candidate clearly explains the situation, takes responsibility for the mistake, and highlights the lessons they learned from the experience. The candidate also demonstrates their ability to work collaboratively with their team to solve problems and meet deadlines.