Describe a time when you didn’t complete your work on time.
"A while back there was an occasion where I over-promised and under-delivered. I felt as if I planned things out pretty well, but I hadn't factored in those rare circumstances that were out of my control. I was making really good progress on a project that was just me working on an analytical, solitary project. Then I ended up getting a pretty bad virus from something I ate, and it put me out of work for a couple of weeks. I failed at passing the torch, hadn't taken notes along the way, and it wasn't possible to communicate over the phone. Not to mention I was pretty out of commission. My superiors were pretty understanding about the whole thing, but it still bothered me. At one point I even came into work, but I was so pale and shaking and cramped over I was useless and couldn't even drive myself home. It was pretty dumb. Not a mistake I'll make again. It seems the standard I hold myself to is higher and higher by the day."
This question evaluates your emotional maturity and how you recover from professional failures or setbacks. Are you a victim of your disappointment, or do you keep your eye on the big picture and quickly take responsibility for your mistakes and prioritize damage control and the welfare of the team above all else? Or do you try to cover up your mistakes, deflect blame, and eventually repeat the same errors, making you a liability?
Looking at Amazon's Leadership Principles, "Ownership: Leaders are owners. They think long term and don't sacrifice long-term value for short-term results. They act on behalf of the entire company, beyond just their own team. They never say that's not my job." This principle of ownership is broad and includes taking responsibility for one's own actions. It's important to exhibit comfort with this principle, and not to come across as insecure or ashamed of the mistakes you've made. By showcasing that you are able to take responsibility for your actions, learn from your mistakes and taking those extra measures to not repeating them exhibits true leadership and that you take this principle of ownership to heart.
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