How do setbacks emotionally affect you and your work?
Everyone handles the stress and disappointment of setbacks differently. How you answer this question will inform your interviewer of your emotional intelligence. Some may experience a setback, feel overwhelmed, and try to find any route other than the daunting one they must take, resulting in task paralysis and procrastination. Others might feel too intimidated, shirk responsibility, and neglect to take action, leaving challenging decisions for others to make. Discuss with your interviewer how you typically cope with setbacks in the workplace, your attitude toward your work, and how you think fast and remain productive while respecting the chain of command. Close out with the takeaways from your setbacks, what you learn, and how you grow from those experiences.
"It happens from time to time. Whenever I am hit with a major setback, I take a few moments to debrief my manager to ensure I am properly assessing the damage control required and discuss what I could have done differently. I learn, and then I move on."
"Experiencing a setback is always disappointing and can be a bit disheartening. But I think it is important to remain positive and keep that disappointment to myself. Making it public will only cast doubt over my abilities in the eyes of others. If I feel frustrated when a setback occurs, I never show it publicly. I go for a quick walk on my lunch break instead. I choose to take what I can from the experience rather than have it take away from me."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
I am truly happiest when I'm at work. When I have a personal setback I actually like to pick up more hours at work because it takes my mind off of anything going on in my personal life. I have never felt unable to work due to any emotional reason.
Stephanie's Feedback
Great--it sounds like you're very good at not allowing challenges to set you back at work. A lot of people struggle in this area, so it's great that you've learned to maintain this balance!
