Past work-related errors are a common topic in employment interviews. “What have you learned from your errors?" may be one question the interviewer asks regarding prior blunders. “Tell me about a moment when you made a mistake,” for example. While the subject may make you feel uneasy, it’s critical to know how to respond to a question regarding errors in a job interview.
How to answer this question
The easiest approach to respond to this question is to give an example of a time when you made a mistake:
-
Explain the error in a few words, but don’t go into too much detail.
-
After you’ve made a mistake, quickly shift your focus to what you’ve learned or how you’ve improved.
-
You might also describe the actions you took to ensure that the error did not occur again.
When discussing what you’ve learned, try to focus on the abilities or traits you’ve obtained that are relevant to the position you’re applying for right now.
You might also say that what you used to struggle with has now turned into one of your strengths.
You want your error example to be truthful. However, it’s a good idea to avoid mentioning a blunder that might jeopardize your new job’s success. Give an example from your previous employment that isn’t directly connected to the work requirements for the current position, for example.
It’s also a good idea to bring up something that isn’t really important. If you make a mistake that reveals a fault in your character, don’t disclose it (for example, a time you got in trouble for fighting at work).
A team error is sometimes a positive thing to note. You don’t want to blame your teammates for everything, but you may claim that you all committed a mistake.