Being asked about a past career mistake might surprise you in a job interview, but employers are interested in understanding beyond what's on your resume.
According to Tom Gimbel, CEO of LaSalle Network with 25 years of hiring experience, understanding how candidates discuss their weaknesses is as crucial as hearing about their strengths.
Sharing How You Handled a Worst Case Scenario
Many of those hires are well-acquainted with his preferred interview question: "Share a time when you made a significant mistake, resulting in either a loss of company revenue or additional expenses and tell me what you gained from that experience."
Gimbel's reason for asking this question is simple: It helps reveal if people are authentic. He shared that he makes mistakes daily and has been open to sharing them. If someone can't do the same, can you trust their honesty in their responses? Gimbel likes to ask questions towards the end of the interview to gauge if the candidate has been consistently self-aware and authentic throughout the conversation.
Gimbel poses the question to candidates who have presented themselves well and those who are struggling. Gimbel approaches it from two angles: "If I believe the candidate is a good match, this question will validate them. Or if I don't think they are, this is the life preserver they need to save the interview." According to him, even if the interview isn't going smoothly, he'll see genuine humility in their response, possibly influencing his decision.
How to Genuinely Answer Such Interview Questions
Gimbel mentions that the most memorable situations occur when candidates can't provide an answer, which, according to him, is not a positive outcome.
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Mistakes happen when exploring new things. Therefore, if a candidate cannot provide an example of a mistake, it might indicate they are not being truthful about their experiences, avoiding discussing a mishap, or haven't tried something outside the box in their job.
Get ready for this question by selecting a mistake that is "big enough to show you've got the bumps and bruises of real experience, but small enough to convey you are generally highly competent," as advised by Suzy Welch, a management professor at NYU and author, in a previous statement to CNBC Make It.
Steer clear of anything too trivial ("I once ordered catering for the wrong day"), insincere responses ("I worked too hard on that project"), or risky incidents ("I lost a key client").
Focusing on the Aftermath of a Situation and How You Gracefully Handled it
Instead, focus on the aftermath of the mistake in your response you took responsibility for, the lessons you gained, and the personal growth that resulted from it.
Gimbel agrees as he ultimately seeks candidates who can display humility, self-reflection, and the ability to learn from previous mistakes at the end of the day.
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