They want to ensure their ideal candidate holds themself accountable, takes ownership of their mistakes and learns from their setbacks. Making mistakes is human. Feeling fear of judgement for your mishaps is natural. How you confront your fear is the true test of character. If you tried to fix the mistake before bringing it to the attention of your superiors, explain the reasons behind your course of action. If you brought the mistake to their attention, explain that it would've cost them more to have you fix it, whereas the issue could be solved by a superior in a matter of minutes. If you chose not to distract others from work, was it simpler and less exhaustive for you to fix the mistake yourself? How we deal with and remedy a mistake comes down to exercising good judgment and knowing when asking for help is appropriate.