Can you walk us through a time when a case you handled failed? If you would be given the chance to redo it, what would you do differently?

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Interviewers know that not all endeavours end up as a success. Do not be afraid to share failed experiences but always ensure to add what you learned from the experience and to share what you are doing so that you won't fail again in the future.

"I remember the first time I had to talk to a parent regarding a student who was caught pushing another student. However, the parent was not that amenable to meeting with the school due to her busy schedule. I was a bit too assertive when talking to her which angered her, and so she didn't attend our initial meeting altogether. I apologized sincerely, and explained to her the urgency of the meeting, and we were able to settle the issue. So if I could redo that incident, I would have been more diplomatic when I first talked to her so we could have settled the issue sooner. Because of that, I realised that I should also learn how to talk to parents because it is a part of my job."

Anonymous Answer

"I recall having the opportunity to work with an elementary school student that I had initially started working with when he was in the 3rd grade. He had difficulty controlling his anger and would often take his frustrations out on peers and teachers verbally and sometimes physically. He did not like being told what to do and often times wanted to be left alone to do what he pleased. During my three years of working with this student before going off to middle school, I attempted to gauge his interests and build a solid relationship with him. I succeeded modestly on this front and saw his behaviors fluctuate over time. He had a lot of problems stemming from his home life, and although I tried to empathize with his situation, I feel that overall, his behaviors did not improve noticeably over the three years. In this regard, I feel I failed him to an extent. However, I do not think, if given the opportunity, that I would change any aspect of what I had done to help this student because every decision I made was to help guide him and get him to realize that a person can succeed despite the obstacles out of his/her control."

Rachelle's Feedback

It is excellent that you have taken accountability for the outcome while standing behind your approach. This is exactly what the interviewer would be looking for.

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Anonymous Answer

"I was working with a teen, who had been in and out of hospitalization due to the threat of harm to others, usually his parent. The parent was authoritarian and was triggering much of the teen's aggression. It was a volatile situation, and I believed it was important for me to address, so I pointed out some of the issues that I was seeing. She got upset and walked out of the room. I did not have a good enough rapport with the parent for her to accept my assessment. This taught me to make sure I am more gentle and build rapport before offering criticism, even if it's constructive."

Stephanie's Feedback

This is a tough situation, but you use a great example and do a good job of showing how you've learned and improved your work as a result.

How to Answer: Can you walk us through a time when a case you handled failed? If you would be given the chance to redo it, what would you do differently?

Advice and answer examples written specifically for a School Counselor job interview.

35. Can you walk us through a time when a case you handled failed? If you would be given the chance to redo it, what would you do differently?

How to Answer

Written by Ryan Brown on August 12th, 2014

Answer Example

Written by Ryan Brown on August 12th, 2014

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

Rachelle's Feedback

It is excellent that you have taken accountability for the outcome while standing behind your approach. This is exactly what the interviewer would be looking for.

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

Stephanie's Feedback

This is a tough situation, but you use a great example and do a good job of showing how you've learned and improved your work as a result.

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About the Author

Krista Wenz

I began my career in emergency medical services (EMS) over 30 years ago, working as a Firefighter-Paramedic, EMS Captain, Mental Health Technician, ER Technician, EMT and Paramedic Adjunct Instructor, and EMS Educator. During my career, I served on over one thousand interview panels to help various organizations choose the right candidate for the job.

My interview experience includes hiring emergency medical technicians, paramedics, firefighters, professors, school counselors, nurses, medical assistants, school support staff, home health aides, and physician assistants. I have created curricula and training materials to prepare candidates for interviews and held mock interview courses for healthcare and educational professionals. I have coached paramedic and EMT students to pass their licensing exams and counseled and mentored many other healthcare professionals in providing compassionate patient care.

As a coach and contributor for MockQuestions, I am excited to help you navigate your upcoming school counselor interview. While these questions assess your critical thinking and communication skills, interviewers also ask these questions to gain insight into your personality to determine if you will be a good fit with the company culture. Remember to be relaxed and be your authentic self. Best of luck in acing your interview!

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