Discuss a time you made a big mistake and explain your approach to finding a solution.
"Any time I make a mistake, which happens less as time goes on, I try to correct it immediately on my own and evaluate the most effective and cost-reductive route. On the one hand, I want to protect assets. On the other, I don't want to burden my superiors with my mistake, distracting them from their priorities. So, I look at it from a task management perspective. I determine the wisest course of action and proceed accordingly. Let me tell you about the last time I had to put this into practice..."
Whoever they choose for the internship, they want to make sure they have a strong sense of self-accountability, the ability to take ownership of their mistakes, and exhibit the ability to learn and grow from such setbacks. Making mistakes is human. How we deal with and remedy a mistake comes down to exercising good judgment and knowing when asking for help is appropriate. Many times, a person might feel fear of being judged for a mistake they've made. How they confront their fear, and the situation, is the true test of their character.
When you provide your example, explain the reasons behind your course of action. If you tried to fix the mistake before bringing it to the attention of your superiors, explain why. In this scenario, a good reason would be to not distract your superiors from important matters they were dealing with and it was simpler and less exhaustive for you to fix the mistake yourself. If you brought the mistake to their attention, explain that it would've cost them more payroll hours to have you fix it, whereas the issue could've been solved by a superior in a matter of minutes. At Siemens, they state that ownership is important at every stage of your career. They aim to provide colorful impulses for self-awareness and growth and continuous development. They'll expect high levels of responsibility for complex tasks in day-to-day business from day one.
Unlock all 30 Siemens questions
Unlock expert responses for technical and behavioral questions Siemens recruiters ask interns.
Get Started