How to Answer: Give an example of a time when you made a mistake because you did not adequately listen well to what a colleague or superior had to say.
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Summer Law Clerk job interview.
12. Give an example of a time when you made a mistake because you did not adequately listen well to what a colleague or superior had to say.
How to Answer
Answer this question by providing an example of a situation when you, e.g., misunderstood what a team member had told you. Mention what contributed to the miscommunication and how you found a successful resolution to this problem while ensuring to nevertheless complete the task at hand in a timely fashion.
Answer Example
"When working for (X firm) as a/an (X position title), we had to complete a project (... what happened in this project which resulted in X mistake on your end). I soon realized this was due to miscommunication as I did not adequately understand my colleague's points she had communicated via email - and I should have instead requested an in-person meeting or a phone call as soon as possible as I had doubts about what needed to be done next. To resolve the situation, I (... what you did to resolve the situation and successfully complete the project in a timely fashion, and what was the final outcome)."