How to Answer: Tell me about a time when you failed.
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Walgreens job interview.
3. Tell me about a time when you failed.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
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. They want to ensure their ideal candidate has a strong sense of self-accountability and exhibits the ability to learn from setbacks. How you answer will help them evaluate how you handle disappointment and what you learn from such experiences, if you take responsibility for your own actions, inactions, limitations, and self-awareness, as well as your attitude towards life. 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.
Written by Kevin Downey on May 16th, 2022
How to Answer
Relay a positive experience, providing what you consider failure looks like to you, the situation framing the setback, how you dealt with it, and what you learned from it. Detail what you would've done differently and how you avoided repeating it.
Written by Kevin Downey on May 16th, 2022
Answer Example
"I inherited a district that was underperforming, a lot. It was overwhelming. I suffered from task paralysis and had trouble getting started. Long ago, a mentor suggested in situations I always tackle the biggest aspect of an overwhelming project first, since that was what I felt most daunted by. It was good general advice, and I listened to it. However, in this instance, I should have taken a different approach. I lost focus on the priorities of the project, where instead of focussing on the locations one by one, I should have looked more closely at the broader view of the problem at hand, which was the messaging of what the company's priorities were. As a result, I didn't manage my time right and should have approached the project differently. I missed that target, but never made the mistake again."
Written by Kevin Downey on May 16th, 2022