How to Answer: Tell us about a time that you made a mistake at work and what steps you took to correct the mistake.
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Laboratory Assistant job interview.
2. Tell us about a time that you made a mistake at work and what steps you took to correct the mistake.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
The interviewer wants to hear that if you make a mistake in your work, you will take the necessary steps to correct the error. The interviewer wants to hear you take accountability here.
Written by Lindsay Williams Ortega on April 7th, 2022
What You Should Say
Think about a time that you made an error at work. Talk about what steps you took once you realized your mistake and what action you took to correct the error. Discuss what you learned from your mistake and how you have made sure not to repeat the error in the future.
Written by Lindsay Williams Ortega on April 7th, 2022
Answer Example
"During my first week after training, I was working with a senior-level scientist. The scientist told me to go ahead and release the testing that we had worked on. I thought that the employee was referring to releasing the data to the client so I went ahead and sent the testing over. What the scientist meant was for me to release the testing documentation to the data review team for review. When I figured out that I had made the error, I immediately told the senior scientist and my manager and then contacted the client to apologize and explain what happened. The client was very understanding. Moving forward, I always double-checked what the next step was releasing any information."
Written by Lindsay Williams Ortega on April 7th, 2022