Which statement sounds more like you: 'I hate to lose' or, 'I love to win'?
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TOP ANSWERS
OUR COACH SAYS
There isn't necessarily a wrong answer to this question; however, the interviewer would like to see that you are not a sore loser. Speak a bit about your competitive side and show that you offer a great mix of the two options.
Example #1
"Everyone loves to win, but I fully believe that we learn a lot from losing as well. I am not a sore loser; however, I will do what it takes to ensure that I win as often as possible."
Example #2
"I think that of the two, 'I hate to lose' is more descriptive of me. I am a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to the work that I deliver, which means that I dislike disappointing my boss and myself. With that said, I know there is always something to learn from losing."
Example #3
"Oh, I love to win! Moreso, I like to help my team members to succeed. Winning and coaching a winning team is a massive part of what drives me. Losing is inevitable at times. When I am not winning, it's essential that I learn from the experience, and implement changes from it, rather than dwell on it."
Example #4
"I believe that everyone loves to win, but the most important part is how you react when you win and when you lose. When I win, I look at what I did right and then implement that strategy more often. When I lose, I analyze where I went wrong and then pivot my approach as needed."
Example #5
"I love to win more than I hate to lose. What I mean by this is that I don't hate losing. There is always something to learn from a loss, right? I am a gracious winner, at the same time, and understand there are learning opportunities in every situation - win or lose."
Example #6
"As a salesperson, the love to win is what drives me. It's a natural inclination to want to win, but I do also learn a great deal from losing. When I lose, I will take the lesson and implement changes immediately."
Example #7
"When teaching impressionable students, it's important that I show a gracious attitude - win or lose. I do not enjoy losing, but I am great when it comes to seeing the lesson in every loss."
Anonymous Answer
"I see it as being a player in a soccer game. I love to win! I like to help my team members to succeed. A winning team is a huge part of what drives me. But losing is inevitable sometimes and, when it happens, it's essential that I learn from the experience, and implement changes from it."
Rachelle's Reply
Excellent response!
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Anonymous Answer
"Who doesn't love to win? I love winning when it comes to patient care and satisfaction."
Rachelle's Reply
Nice, energetic response that, once again, shows how much you care for the well being of your patients. Well done! Your positive attitude will continue to take you places :)
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Anonymous Answer
"I love to win. I take losses personally because I am a people pleaser. I am also very service-oriented, so a win for me usually means a win for my customers and those who depend on me."
Rachelle's Reply
Try replacing the term 'people pleaser' with something more positive. The last sentence is perfection; however, I have added a slightly tweaked answer below.
Rachelle's Reply
"I love to win. I take losses personally because of my internally competitive nature. I am also very service-oriented, so a win for me usually means a win for my customers and those who depend on me."
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Anonymous Answer
"I love to win more, so I love it when the company succeeds by meeting its business objectives and that the Legal department supported the business in achieving its goals. Never a failure; always a lesson. Part of these lessons are what have made us successful in our day to day job."
Rachelle's Reply
Nicely said! Your answer shows a lot of insight.
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Anonymous Answer
"Everyone enjoys winning; the winning part is easy. When I do lose, I try to learn from my experience of why I lost and to grow my professional abilities to help me the next time around."
Kristine's Reply
Excellent response! Your answer will convince the interviewer you want to learn and grow anytime you "lose."
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Anonymous Answer
"I hate to lose. Of course, who does like losing. I also love to win. I do think it is important to learn how to be a good loser."
Rachelle's Reply
You are correct - it's very important to learn how to lose with grace! What does being a 'good loser' mean to you?
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Anonymous Answer
"I love to win, and that's because I enjoy knowing we met the milestone and that the project is fulfilling the clients' goals though I think that it's also ok to make a few mistakes as long as it strengthens our abilities."
Rachelle's Reply
I really like how you made the connection between your success, and your clients' success. Very good answer!
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Anonymous Answer
"There two sides to this question. One is that I am a proven success story, and the other is that I am usually not too proficient. I have enough life experience to know that I am a proven winner. This being said, I also know that not everyday could be a success and that little "loses" shall creep into an occasionally rare day."
Kristine's Reply
Great answer! You reveal a lot about your mindset in your response. To round out your answer, briefly explain the benefits of a "losing" day. E.g. learning and growth or opportunity for change
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Anonymous Answer
"To me, life is not about to lose or to win. I believe there are losses and gains in any decision we make. The most important thing is to assess every situation as a unique event with rational thinking and risk assessment. My deduction has never been made based on personal preference but which direction maximizes the outcome."
Rachelle's Reply
You sound highly pragmatic, which can be a valuable quality when making tough or even competitive decisions.
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Anonymous Answer
"I love to win." It's important to sound positive. Sure, we all need losses in our lives to appreciate our wins more."
Rachelle's Reply
This is a great answer! Well said.
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Anonymous Answer
"I love to win.
When I win I know I’ve done the best that anyone could expect and it pushes me to keep my expectations high and keep winning."
Rachelle's Reply
Awesome! The interviewer will be happy to hear that you take this positive approach to your work.
Rachelle's Reply
"I love to win. When I win, I know I’ve done the best that anyone could expect of me. Winning pushes me to keep my expectations high and keep winning."
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Anonymous Answer
"I love to win! There's a great sense of achievement, and a real feel-good factor when you win. Especially when I've really worked hard at something, and the work pays off. I wouldn't be a sore loser.
Having been in sales a long time I found myself being constantly compared directly to others month-on-month, so you have to be gracious in defeat. Water off a duck's back!"
Rachelle's Reply
Wonderful response! You sound full of energy and drive.
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Anonymous Answer
"That's a quiet philosophical answer. It depends on how you define 'win.' If winning is about achieving a team goal, I love to win!"
Rachelle's Reply
Good! It's nice that you gave the response some thought :)
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Anonymous Answer
"I would be surprised to find anyone in this world who doesn’t love to win; I strive to be the best version of myself at everything I do. However, sometimes, a loss can be a chance to learn a valuable lesson. Therefore, as much as I don’t like losing, my approach is to embrace a loss and take it as a lesson."
Rachelle's Reply
This is an awesome response, and well thought out! Great work.
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