Target HireVue Mock Interview
Practice 30 Target HireVue questions covering video responses, retail scenarios, and behavioral assessments.
Question 26 of 30
Describe a mistake you made on the job, the steps you took to try to correct it, and what you learned from the experience.
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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.
"The first time I was asked to help onboard a new hire, I assigned them an important task. I told them what to do and how to do it but didn't explain why each step was important. The new hire didn't understand the full impact each step had on the business, and as a result, their quality of work didn't meet expectations. Since I was the one training them, the responsibility for their quality of work fell on my shoulders. Now, when I assign a task, I preface the objective of the work before I assign the tasks and how to get the work done. I learned this helps our staff take more pride in their work and feel they are a part of something bigger."
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.
With questions regarding mistakes or failure, take ownership and exemplify that you learned from the experience. Stand behind your word when you say to your superiors that you won't make the mistake again.
When you provide your example, explain that you know where things went awry, the reasons behind your course of action, and the steps you took to correct it or reduce the impact of your mistake while considering the needs of the workplace and your teams.
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 supervisors from matters they were dealing with, and it was simpler and less exhaustive of the company's resources for you to fix it yourself. If you brought the mistake to their attention, explain that it would've cost the workplace more to have you fix it, whereas a superior could solve the issue in a matter of minutes.
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.
The recruiter is looking for candidates who exhibit integrity with this question. Showcase your professionalism and confidence in your abilities to learn and grow from your setbacks. Practice speaking clearly, and take note of your use of any speech crutch words such as "like," "um," "you know," "so on and so forth," "and," "well," "but," "so," "ah," "er," and "Etcetera."
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