How to Answer: Tell me about a time you experienced failure in a professional setting.
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Northwestern University Kellogg MBA interview.
5. Tell me about a time you experienced failure in a professional setting.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
There are two main reasons I include a question like this in an interview. Interviewers at Kellogg are likely to ask for similar reasons.
First, great leaders identify failures, learn from them, and take steps to avoid the same mistakes in the future. They also help lead their teams during times of failure. This question helps me weed out leaders who are unwilling or unable to address failure in the workplace.
Second, I ask this question to test the character of the person I am interviewing. I look for candidates who provide answers that resonate with me as authentic and humble.
Written by Karrie Day on January 30th, 2023
What You Should Say
Briefly detail the scenario and describe what you learned from the failure scenario described in your response. Your interviewers have been in your shoes, and they do not expect perfection. However, they do expect you to know how to reflect, determine what can be learned from the experience, and take steps to avoid a similar situation in the future. Focus on that aspect of the story rather than any mistakes you may have made.
If you happen to be one of the few individuals who have never experienced failure in the workplace, be sure to maintain a humble spirit and outline your plan for addressing a failure scenario should one occur in your future. Interviewers are likely to view those unwilling to expand on the subject as perfectionists. While that can sometimes be positive, it may not be the best fit for a primarily leadership-focused and team-based experience at Kellogg.
Written by Karrie Day on January 30th, 2023
Answer Example
"My team missed several of our operational goals during an economic downturn. It hit harder and faster than we expected, and there were several aspects of it we did not see coming. For example, several of our logistical partners had to reduce their staff which meant that our downstream services experienced delays. We didn't have a plan for that, and our metrics suffered.
I led a series of meetings with our local and regional managers. We developed a comprehensive list of problems and a handful of causes. We then partnered on ways to improve operations despite the contributing factors that were out of our control. We identified several creative operational changes that got us back on track for the next quarter. I am grateful to work with such a flexible and talented leadership team. We maintained a positive attitude and focused on how to move forward while also ensuring that we did not end up in the same boat in the future."
Written by Karrie Day on January 30th, 2023