Can you give an example of a time when you have had to deal with a difficult or disappointing outcome? How did you handle this and move forward?
"When I was working at X Company, I was involved in supporting a manager with an investigation into an issue identified with an employee being continually late. I gathered all the data from logging-in reports and even analyzed CCTV to cross reference these. I put a lot of effort into collating this information. I was then told that everything had been dropped because the employee was related to a senior manager. This was disappointing as we all knew that any other employee would have been held accountable to the company standards. However, that was the decision made and I had to respect that.
Afterward, I spoke with my manager about my work and whether there were any issues with it. I received confirmation from my manager that there was no issue with my work and he was in fact very impressed with the attention to detail and robustness. From that point forward, I was utilized in further investigations to gather the factual information and analyze such, which was great because I love this type of work."
Think of a time in which you had expectations for a certain outcome, but ended up on a different and disappointing path. Your example can be personal or professional, but it should be appropriate for discussion during a job interview. Here are a few examples:
- A time when you felt you deserved a promotion and did not receive it
- An unexpected move
- Your project was canceled
- Your budget was cut
- An unexpected financial strain caused a delay in your plans
- You experienced a physical hardship that caused a disappointing outcome toward a goal
- You thought action would be taken based on integrity and another decision was made
Describe the details of the situation and the end result. Let your interviewer know what you did to cope with the outcome and be sure to mention any lessons you learned along the way. In the event the situation was preventable, convince your interviewer that you have grown and know how to prevent a similar situation from occurring in the future.
"I was working toward a promotion last year with the support of my manager. I was handling all of my work in a quality manner and I was taking on tasks regularly for the role I would receive if promoted. I did all of the right things, but the budget for my department was cut unexpectedly. It became clear that I would not receive the promotion that year and there was no indication that it would be an option in the future.
I was disappointed, but I know that things don't always go as planned. I was grateful that I had the opportunity to gain more experience over the year and decided to research other opportunities that might reward my hard work. The admin position here at XYZ University is a great fit for my skills and recent experience. I look forward to the opportunity to join the team and demonstrate my ability to handle a greater level of responsibility if hired."
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Anonymous Answer
We ordered toner for a copy machine, but when the order arrived, it was the wrong kind. My boss needed to print his presentation for a very important meeting. Everybody thought I order the wrong toner and blamed me for the inconvenience. I did not respond or try to explain. I just went to the print center, printed the presentation, and gave it to my boss. I also gave him my apology for any inconvenience this caused and promised to be more careful next time. After the presentation, I sent an email to my boss as proof that I ordered the correct toner and that the mistake was entirely the supplier's fault.
Rachelle's Feedback
You took all the right steps, including responding calming, fixing the situation, and then backtracking to the original issue. Well done! I recommend adding just a bit more information to set the stage for your interviewer. I have offered an example, below.
SITUATION: While working at (company name), the office had a printer that required a special toner. One day, the order arrived it was the wrong toner. My boss was supposed to print his presentation for a very important meeting that day, and could not because we had the wrong toner.
TASK: Since I was the (job title), it was up to me to place the office supply orders. Everybody (who was everybody?) thought that I order the wrong toner, and I took the blame for the inconvenience.
ACTION: I knew that it was not my error; however, I chose not to become defensive. Instead, I simply took a USB with the presentation to the print center. I printed the presentation and gave it to my boss. I also apologized for the inconvenience the situation caused and promised to be more careful next time. After the presentation, I sent an email to my boss with proof that I ordered the correct toner and that the mix-up came from the supplier.
RESULT: (how did your boss react to this information? what did you learn?)
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