Tell me about one security-related situation where you wish you had reacted differently.

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Focus Your Answer On
What to Avoid
Entry Level Example
Answer Example

The interviewer wants to hear a real-life example of a time when you wish you would have reacted differently during a security-related situation. The most critical piece of this question highlights what you learned from the case and how you leveraged it to improve personally and professionally.

This style of question is considered a scenario or situational interview question, and you can approach it using the STAR framework. STAR is an acronym for Situation, Task, Action, Result. Share your story-based answer utilizing this framework. Set the stage of your story with the necessary details and provide an appropriate resolution.

Don't forget to mention what you learned from this experience. The interviewer wants to hear that you are self-aware and realize when you could have reacted differently and that you take the necessary steps to improve.

"(Situation & Task) When I was working for a temp security firm while attending college, I thought that being a security officer was an easy job. Being stretched thin between school and work, I did not take the training as seriously as I could have. As a result, I let down my employer and coworkers. (Action) One day, I was working security at a concert when a violent altercation occurred. My teammates pulled most of the weight during the altercation. Due to my lack of attention during training, I was frozen at the moment and did very little to help. After the situation was resolved, I realized the error of my ways. I apologized to my coworkers for letting them down and promised them that I would immerse myself in training and be better prepared to act and respond in a way that supported them and made them feel safer on the job. (Result) In the end, I was one of the most engaged team members and even helped to train new security officers from time to time."

"I had a situation while working as a Security Guard that I wish I would have handled differently. I worked for a law office and was trained to walk the employees to their cars at night if they were alone. One night, an associate was leaving the building alone, and I started moving towards the door to walk him to the parking lot. He told me he was fine and did not need me to accompany him as his wife was waiting outside the front door for him. I went back to my desk, and the next thing I knew, I heard people shouting. I ran outside and saw the associate being attacked by two men. His wife was running late and was not outside like he thought. I learned that I needed to walk everyone to their cars whether they wanted me to or not. I felt like I let the associate down by not doing my job, even though he assured me it was not my fault."