HireVue Mock Interview
Master 30 HireVue interview questions covering on-demand video, AI assessment, and live interview formats.
Question 5 of 30
Tell us about a time you failed. Describe what happened, your approach, and the outcome.
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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 steps you took to remedy a mistake in a professional setting hold as much, if not more, significance than the mistake itself. Someone who is an experienced professional will be more likely to perceive a mistake as a learning opportunity and immediately take ownership of it. They'll use this error to enhance their attention to detail and to make adjustments to ensure a greater likelihood of success in the future. Whereas someone with little to no experience will more likely fear the discovery of their error and will not seek guidance when remediating the mistake, meaning they will expend unauthorized payroll hours to cover their tracks. Therefore, the assessment model wants to evaluate your experience level and determine whether you would be an asset or a liability as an employee.
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.
Someone who grows nervous or anxious when admitting to a mistake more likely fears being discovered or judged. Whereas someone who fearlessly admits to their mistakes displays strength by taking ownership of and learning from such mistakes when they happen. So consider this when relaying your answer. Not only do you want your choice of words to relay the confidence of being within your comfort zone, but your body language as well. By choosing an appropriate example, positioning yourself in a confident and relaxed state, and communicating at ease, the algorithm will more likely classify your response to this question as an expert rather than a novice.
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.
Remember, the HireVue algorithm will evaluate your verbal and nonverbal responses for consistency, from question to question and answer to answer. The point of any interview is for them to get to know you. Make sure you present an accurate portrayal of who you are, without giving them any unintended signals that could be misinterpreted by the algorithm.
When your nonverbal cues are inconsistent with your narrative, it suggests a lack of self-awareness, limited emotional intelligence, or burnout syndrome, and your non-verbal cues will hold more weight than what you're communicating verbally. Those non-verbal cues will almost always be interpreted as the speaker's true feelings, intentions, and attitudes. So not only do you want to ensure your answers are consistent throughout your interview, but your performance as well. The goal is to maintain a degree of friendly and confident professionalism throughout your interview.
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
"(Situation) My former employer put me through a last-minute advanced Excel course that I failed. (Task) I was unprepared for the course's challenging content and should not have agreed to begin with an advanced-level course. (Action) I told my manager that I was not excelling in the class. We discussed this failure together and realized I was not ready for the advanced-level coursework. I was more of an intermediate-level user. To fix the situation, I studied online for a few weeks and then retook the course when I felt more prepared. (Result) This approach worked much better, and I finished with 92% the second time around."
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.
If you have any personal habits or tics that could be misinterpreted by the algorithm or recruiter, such as fidgeting or biting your fingernails, it is best to be aware of them and curb them as best as you can. Record yourself answering many of these questions, and be on the lookout for any of your verbal and non-verbal tics. Keep practicing until you come across as clear as you aim to seem.
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Jaymie
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Anonymous Answer
My former employer put me through a last-minute advanced Photoshop. I was unprepared and I felt that it was too early for me such an experience. I was at an intermediate level at that time. Eventually, I didn't pass the exam. After this, I decided to sign up for individual classes to improve my knowledge of Photoshop and retake the exam. Finally, I passed the test and gained 91%.
Jaymie's Feedback
This is a good example to use, as it's nothing major that would cause the interviewer to have concerns about your abilities. You were able to acknowledge your skill level, and you put a plan in place to overcome the obstacle. Well done.
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