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."