Talking about career setbacks in interviews

Discussing challenges or missteps in a job interview can be a double-edged sword.While it’s an opportunity to highlight how much you’ve grown and improved, it’s also easy to stumble if you’re not mindful of how you present these experiences. This week at Career Recruiters Inc., we’re giving some useful tips on how you can tackle these questions with insight and tact.

 How and why interviewers ask 

Interviewers often explore past setbacks to assess your problem-solving skills, self-awareness and potential for growth. Personally, I like to ask candidates if there was one thing they could have done better in hindsight and why. This question helps reveal how well you reflect on your actions and learn from past experiences. Interviewers want to see if you can acknowledge shortcomings, analyze what went wrong and demonstrate how you’ve used those experiences to improve your skills and processes.

Prepare a few examples

Before the job interview, think of a few examples of challenges or setbacks you’ve faced and how you handled them. Practice articulating these stories clearly and concisely, highlighting the key points of the situation, your actions, and the outcomes. This preparation will help you feel more confident and articulate during the interview.

Keep it appropriate, specific and confidential

Only share situations that are appropriate for discussion and avoid sharing overly sensitive or confidential information. Make sure to share a specific scenario but it’s not necessary to get into the exact details of the error. Describe the situation in a way that highlights the general context and your role in it. Steer clear of blaming others or external factors. Focus on what you could control and how you can handle similar situations better in the future.

Show that you’ve taken the time to reflect on what you could have done better 

When discussing a setback at work, it’s important to demonstrate that you’ve reflected on the experience. Begin by clearly outlining the situation and what went wrong. Then, delve into a thoughtful analysis of what could have been done differently. It’s important to share how the experience has shaped your approach to similar situations in the future.

 Don’t be afraid to say you wouldn’t change anything— if that makes sense

There are instances where, despite the outcome, your actions were justified. If you wouldn’t change your decision because it was based on sound reasoning, explain why. Make sure your reasoning is clear and justified. This shows your ability to assess situations and make thoughtful choices, even under pressure.  

Your response should always focus on the gains 

The point of asking these questions is not to dwell on setbacks, but to highlight the gains that came from them.  After sharing your story and your learnings, tie it back to your strengths and how it makes you a better candidate.

Discuss how the experience led to personal growth, improved processes or better outcomes in the future. By focusing on the gains, you demonstrate your ability to turn challenges into opportunities for learning and growth.