IBM Mock Interview

Master 35 IBM interview questions covering technical depth, business transformation, and cultural fit.

Question 25 of 35

How do setbacks emotionally affect you and your work?

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Kevin Downey
Kevin Downey

Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.

Everyone handles the stress and disappointment of setbacks differently. Your interviewer needs to know whether, when suffering a setback, you have the emotional intelligence to learn from such experiences, or if you become agitated and stressed out, and whether such setbacks further impede your ability to do your job. As IBM details in one of its blogs, "Soft skills are skills that require a high level of EQ. They are attributes that relate more to personality and presence that allow meaningful communication to take place in the workplace, rather than technical skills." Tell the interviewer how you typically cope with a setback in the workplace, showcasing how your soft skills align with what IBM is looking for in their ideal candidates.