What is the biggest mistake you've made? How did you handle it?

What You Need to Know
Answer Example

It's never easy to discuss mistakes or regrets with an interviewer. This question sounds more intimidating than it is. Avoid sharing a mistake with dire consequences or that would reflect poorly upon you. Share instances where you executed sound judgment and did everything you could to remedy the mistake and reduce its negative impact. Explain the valuable lessons you learned from it and how you applied them forward, ensuring you did not repeat the mistake. Every mistake is a growth opportunity. Show your interviewer that you didn't waste the opportunity. Keep your answer light and focus on how you handled the consequences. Share what you learned and how you have improved.

"In my last role, I was responsible for all customer communication. I would pride myself on how quickly and effectively I could do my job until I made a big mistake on an email. I was moving so quickly that I didn't review the email communication for errors, and it almost cost us the customer! Now I pay much closer attention, proofing every email before sending it and sometimes even asking a peer to review it beforehand."

Next Question

How to Answer: What is the biggest mistake you've made? How did you handle it?

Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Rocket Mortgage job interview.

23. What is the biggest mistake you've made? How did you handle it?

What You Need to Know

It's never easy to discuss mistakes or regrets with an interviewer. This question sounds more intimidating than it is. Avoid sharing a mistake with dire consequences or that would reflect poorly upon you. Share instances where you executed sound judgment and did everything you could to remedy the mistake and reduce its negative impact. Explain the valuable lessons you learned from it and how you applied them forward, ensuring you did not repeat the mistake. Every mistake is a growth opportunity. Show your interviewer that you didn't waste the opportunity. Keep your answer light and focus on how you handled the consequences. Share what you learned and how you have improved.

Written by Kevin Downey on June 23rd, 2022

Answer Example

"In my last role, I was responsible for all customer communication. I would pride myself on how quickly and effectively I could do my job until I made a big mistake on an email. I was moving so quickly that I didn't review the email communication for errors, and it almost cost us the customer! Now I pay much closer attention, proofing every email before sending it and sometimes even asking a peer to review it beforehand."

Written by Elisabeth Walter

Next Question