How do setbacks emotionally affect you and your work?

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Everyone handles the stress and disappointment of setbacks differently. When you work in the medical field, those setbacks can be amplified, and even more so while attending university because your grades can significantly determine your future career's success. Discuss with the interviewers how you typically cope with setbacks.

The interviewers want to hear that you can recover quickly from setbacks and not let them derail your work. Let the interviewers know you are mature enough to look at the setback, analyze the reason, and find a solution.

"Experiencing a setback is always disappointing and can be very disheartening, especially when involving a project that I have put a lot of time and effort into. I understand that setbacks happen to everyone - despite their level of expertise or years of experience. If I experience a major setback, I take a few moments to debrief internally, get some fresh air, or discuss what I could have done differently with a mentor. Then, I move on. Rather than dwell on my mistakes, I choose to learn from them."

Anonymous Answer

"Setbacks used to challenge me because they tested how capable I felt. In the past year, I have worked hard to change my view of setbacks and learn from my mistakes. While I still hold myself to a certain standard, I am sure not to be too hard on myself and move on. My favorite way to handle a setback is to discuss how I feel with a close friend or a counselor."

Marcie's Feedback

Is there an example of a setback that you can include here to show that you can successfully handle them? This will make your answer more meaningful to the interviewer. Otherwise, your response is strong, and it sounds like you have processes in place to handle and learn from any setbacks you encounter. Great job!

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Anonymous Answer

"When I experience a setback, such as getting waitlisted last year, it is devastating because I worked so hard to achieve my goal. I will give myself a few moments to dwell on it, but then I will move on and learn from my mistakes because it is ineffective to dwell on setbacks forever."

Stephanie's Feedback

You definitely express a positive growth mindset here! My only suggestion for improving this response is to be more specific about the actions that you do to move and learn from your mistakes. For example, do you speak with a mentor or make a list of ways you could improve for the future? Do you practice self-care following a setback, such as giving yourself a day to regroup or reminding yourself of everything you're good at? Providing a few more specifics will personalize your response, making your answer more impactful and memorable to your interviewer.