Tell me about a time you received negative feedback.

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
1st Answer Example
2nd Answer Example

How you respond to criticism speaks volumes to your ability to handle failure and use it as an opportunity to improve professionally. Give a specific example that shows your capacity to learn from your mistakes and improve in the face of criticism. Make sure your example is NOT a huge error or lapse in judgment that will reflect negatively on you. Focus mostly on your tolerance for adversity and emphasize the strategies you've developed to push through challenging situations in the workplace.

"I can think of one client project that did not reach my usual high expectations. At the time, my team was overstretched in the scope of our work, and we did not devote sufficient time to the project. The client was not satisfied with the outcome, and we received negative feedback from their team. As the client lead, I took ownership of this failure and set up a meeting with my supervisor to discuss the mistakes made along the way, and we worked together to make a concrete plan to improve project management in the future. I now consider project management one of my strengths and learned a great deal about what not to do from this experience."

"A few months ago, I created a project proposal that did not address the root questions that needed to be addressed. I had to completely redo the proposal per my supervisor's feedback. From this failure, I learned the importance of open and direct communication from the start of a project. I realized that I didn't ask sufficient and clarifying questions from day one, and as a result, various miscommunications led to a proposal that missed the mark. I worked quickly to address my mistake and came up with a proposal that satisfied the client's goals. Overall, I feel confident in my ability to handle negative feedback as it helps me to improve professionally."

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How to Answer: Tell me about a time you received negative feedback.

Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Coinbase job interview.

9. Tell me about a time you received negative feedback.

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

How you respond to criticism speaks volumes to your ability to handle failure and use it as an opportunity to improve professionally. Give a specific example that shows your capacity to learn from your mistakes and improve in the face of criticism. Make sure your example is NOT a huge error or lapse in judgment that will reflect negatively on you. Focus mostly on your tolerance for adversity and emphasize the strategies you've developed to push through challenging situations in the workplace.

Written by Rachel Hills on February 11th, 2022

1st Answer Example

"I can think of one client project that did not reach my usual high expectations. At the time, my team was overstretched in the scope of our work, and we did not devote sufficient time to the project. The client was not satisfied with the outcome, and we received negative feedback from their team. As the client lead, I took ownership of this failure and set up a meeting with my supervisor to discuss the mistakes made along the way, and we worked together to make a concrete plan to improve project management in the future. I now consider project management one of my strengths and learned a great deal about what not to do from this experience."

Written by Rachel Hills on February 11th, 2022

2nd Answer Example

"A few months ago, I created a project proposal that did not address the root questions that needed to be addressed. I had to completely redo the proposal per my supervisor's feedback. From this failure, I learned the importance of open and direct communication from the start of a project. I realized that I didn't ask sufficient and clarifying questions from day one, and as a result, various miscommunications led to a proposal that missed the mark. I worked quickly to address my mistake and came up with a proposal that satisfied the client's goals. Overall, I feel confident in my ability to handle negative feedback as it helps me to improve professionally."

Written by Rachel Hills on February 11th, 2022

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