“Tell Me About A Time When You Failed” (The BEST ANSWER to this Behavioural Interview Question!)

CareerVidz

7 Jun 202205:48

Summary

TLDRThis video script offers a strategic approach to tackling the challenging behavioral interview question, 'Tell me about a time when you failed.' It advises against common poor responses and introduces the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for structuring a compelling answer. The tutorial explains the interviewer's intent, provides a step-by-step guide to formulating a response, and exemplifies a top-scoring answer. The presenter also encourages viewers to subscribe for more interview tips and to download additional resources for interview success.

Takeaways

📝 The video script is a tutorial on how to answer the behavioral interview question 'Tell me about a time when you failed'.
🤔 The interviewer asks about failure to assess the candidate's reaction to it and to understand their actions post-failure.
📈 The STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is recommended for structuring answers to behavioral interview questions.
🙇‍♂️ It's important to take ownership and show how you learned and improved from the failure rather than blaming others.
📝 The script provides a scripted answer to demonstrate how to respond to the failure question in an interview.
🔄 The example answer involves a situation where the candidate failed due to not fully listening to instructions, and then took steps to correct the mistake and prevent future failures.
💡 The candidate's new systematic approach to work after the failure is highlighted as a positive outcome.
🔗 The video offers a link to download 22 responses to common behavioral interview questions from the presenter's website.
👍 The presenter encourages viewers to subscribe to the channel for more interview tips and strategies.
👥 The presenter suggests connecting on LinkedIn for further professional networking and support.
🌟 The video concludes with well-wishes for viewers' interview success and an invitation to engage with the content.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the video script provided?
-The main purpose of the video script is to guide viewers on how to effectively answer the behavioral interview question 'Tell me about a time when you failed,' and to provide a structured approach to responding to such questions.
Why do interviewers ask about a time when the candidate failed?
-Interviewers ask about a time when a candidate failed to assess their reaction to failure, whether they see it as an opportunity to learn and improve, and to understand their actions following the failure.
What is the STAR technique mentioned in the script, and how is it used in answering interview questions?
-The STAR technique stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. It is a method used to structure answers to behavioral and situational interview questions, ensuring that the candidate provides a clear narrative of a specific situation, the task involved, the actions taken, and the results of those actions.
What are the two reasons the interviewer is interested in a candidate's failure story?
-The two reasons are to assess the candidate's ability to take ownership and learn from the situation, and to hear about a specific instance where the candidate failed and what they did afterward.
How does the script suggest handling a failure story in an interview?
-The script suggests handling a failure story by using the STAR technique, starting with the situation, outlining the task, describing the actions taken, and finishing with a positive outcome or lesson learned.
What is the importance of taking ownership of a failure in an interview?
-Taking ownership of a failure in an interview shows the interviewer that the candidate is responsible, can learn from mistakes, and is proactive in finding solutions and preventing similar issues in the future.
How can a candidate demonstrate learning from a failure in their interview answer?
-A candidate can demonstrate learning from a failure by explaining the actions they took to correct the mistake, the changes they implemented to avoid repeating it, and the positive outcomes or improvements that resulted from these changes.
What is the role of the 'Action' part in the STAR technique when answering a failure question?
-The 'Action' part of the STAR technique is crucial as it allows the candidate to explain what they did in response to the failure, including any corrective measures and the rationale behind their actions.
Why is it important to conclude the failure story with a positive outcome in an interview?
-Concluding the failure story with a positive outcome is important because it shows resilience, adaptability, and the ability to turn negative experiences into opportunities for growth and improvement.
How can the provided script help someone prepare for a job interview?
-The script provides a clear framework for answering difficult behavioral interview questions, specifically about times of failure. It offers a scripted example and encourages practice and preparation to ensure candidates can confidently and effectively respond to such questions in an interview.
What additional resources are offered by the script for job interview preparation?
-The script offers a link to download 22 responses to the 11 most common behavioral interview questions, providing candidates with a comprehensive resource to prepare for various interview scenarios.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Mastering the Art of Interview Responses

This paragraph introduces the topic of handling a difficult behavioral interview question about a time when the interviewee failed. The speaker emphasizes the importance of not using cliché answers and instead provides a structured approach to answering such questions effectively. The paragraph outlines the purpose of the question, which is to assess the interviewee's reaction to failure and their ability to learn and improve from it. It also introduces the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) as a method to structure responses to behavioral interview questions, ensuring a positive outcome is highlighted.

05:01

📚 Accessing Interview Success Resources

The second paragraph focuses on providing additional resources to help interviewees succeed. It mentions the availability of 22 scripted answers to common behavioral interview questions, which can be downloaded from the speaker's website. The paragraph encourages viewers to subscribe to the channel for updates on interview tips and strategies, and to like the video to show appreciation and motivate the content creator. It also invites viewers to connect with the speaker on LinkedIn for further professional networking, offering a link in the video description for easy access.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Behavioral Interview Question

A behavioral interview question is a type of query used by interviewers to understand how a candidate has acted in the past to predict future performance. In the video, the key behavioral interview question addressed is 'Tell me about a time when you failed.' It's used to assess a candidate's reaction to failure and their ability to learn from it.

💡Failure

Failure, in the context of the video, refers to an unsuccessful outcome or event that did not meet the desired goal. The video emphasizes the importance of how one deals with failure, suggesting that it should be viewed as an opportunity for growth and learning rather than a negative endpoint.

💡Ownership

Ownership, in the script, is the act of taking responsibility for one's actions or mistakes. The video suggests that a good response to a failure question involves demonstrating ownership of the situation and the subsequent steps taken to rectify it.

💡STAR Technique

The STAR technique is a structured approach to answering behavioral and situational interview questions. It stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. The video uses this technique to demonstrate how to effectively answer the question about failure, by outlining the situation, the task involved, the action taken, and the result of those actions.

💡Situation

In the STAR technique, 'Situation' refers to the context or background in which an event occurred. The video script uses this term to describe the starting point of the narrative about a time when the speaker failed, setting the scene for the rest of the answer.

💡Task

The 'Task' component of the STAR technique outlines the specific job or duty that needed to be completed. In the video, the task was an administrative job that the speaker had performed many times before, which led to a sense of overconfidence and ultimately, failure.

💡Action

Action, as part of the STAR method, is the step where the interviewee describes what they did in response to the situation and task. The video script details the speaker's actions after realizing the failure, including apologizing and taking steps to correct the mistake.

💡Result

The 'Result' in the STAR technique is the outcome that followed the actions taken. The video emphasizes the importance of ending the answer with a positive result, such as the speaker implementing a new system to prevent future failures.

💡Systemized Approach

A systemized approach refers to a methodical and organized way of working. The video script mentions the speaker adopting a systemized approach to avoid repeating the failure, such as writing down instructions and confirming them to ensure tasks are completed correctly.

💡Interview Tips

Interview tips are pieces of advice or strategies given to help candidates perform better in job interviews. The video provides tips on how to answer difficult questions, specifically using the STAR technique, which is a form of interview tip aimed at helping viewers succeed in their interviews.

💡Top Scoring Answer

A top scoring answer is a response that is likely to earn high marks or approval from the interviewer. The video script provides an example of a top scoring answer to the failure question, which includes acknowledging the failure, taking responsibility, and demonstrating learning and improvement.

Highlights

The importance of not using cliché answers when responding to behavioral interview questions about failure.

A common mistake of attributing project failure to a team member's shortcomings instead of personal responsibility.

The tutorial's promise to provide a perfect scripted answer for a difficult interview question.

The necessity of understanding why interviewers ask about failure to prepare an effective response.

The two reasons interviewers inquire about failure: assessing reaction to failure and learning from specific situations.

The introduction of the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for structuring answers in behavioral interviews.

The emphasis on detailing actions taken and reasons in the response to demonstrate accountability and learning.

The instruction to ensure the result of the answer shows a positive outcome, indicating improvement after failure.

A live interview example using the STAR technique to answer the question about a time of failure.

The example's demonstration of taking immediate action to correct a mistake and implementing a new system to prevent future failures.

The availability of a resource with 22 responses to common behavioral interview questions for download.

The encouragement to subscribe for updates on interview tips, strategies, and top-scoring answers.

The request for likes on the video as a sign of appreciation and motivation for creating more content.

The offer to connect with the presenter on LinkedIn for professional networking and shared insights.

The well-wishes for viewers' success in job interviews and an invitation to support the channel.