Tell me about a time when a colleague you have been working with has made a mistake. What happened, and what steps did you take to rectify it?
At interviews, the best type of employee is the one that helps other employees succeed. When problems arise, employers want to see that you know how to deal with the problem and that you use your problem-solving skills to handle it yourself without being a tattle tale. That means that you have to choose an example that isn't too serious (ideally a mistake anyone but you could have made) and that you dealt with it in a way that the colleague would have appreciated.
"In my previous role, I noticed that my colleague was submitting information over to our manager (from a joint task) which contained incorrect figures. The colleague was also not allowing me to input into the task and ultimately, as it was incorrect, it would fall on me. To resolve it, and since I was new, I didn't want to start telling people how to check for errors, so I asked the coworker that made the mistake a question as if I was confused about it, in order to check it through thoroughly."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
I believe that helping co-workers and contributing to a teamwork environment is extremely important because mistakes can happen. There was a freak accident that occurred at the hospital. A dog got out of its kennel and jumped onto the counter where medications for treatment were lying. The dog ate all of the pill pockets containing pills for other animals. Once I found out, we immediately called the veterinarian, and we gave medication to make the animal throw up. Luckily, most of the medicine the animal ingested was dasuquin, metronidazole, etc.
Rachelle's Feedback
That's one adventurous and curious dog! It seems you handled this situation well and did what was necessary to help the animal. Glad it was a positive outcome.
Anonymous Answer
During swim lessons, a teacher was allowing the swimmers to swim in the deep end without a floatation aid. I knew that these swimmers might struggle. So to avoid any panic or accidents, I quietly mentioned to the teacher that I had taken this class previously, and the swimmers couldn't manage well out of their depth. This avoided any accidents or humiliation for the teacher.
Rachelle's Feedback
It seems that you handled this situation swiftly but respectfully. Good approach!
Anonymous Answer
A time that a colleague of mine has made a mistake while working was when they accidentally performed the urinalysis incorrectly. When I noticed it, I just nicely told them the step they performed incorrectly and showed them the correct way. Everyone makes mistakes, so it is important not to get angry or frustrated with the person and instead work as a team.
Rachelle's Feedback
You sound like a true team player and someone willing to lend a hand. Your patience and kind attitude will be noticed!
Anonymous Answer
In my time as a veterinary assistant, I was bitten by different dogs while the same colleague was holding the dog. The dogs had been muzzled and lightly sedated both times. However, I found that my colleague was not paying attention, which put me in danger. I never blamed my colleague for being bitten. I believe it was my fault for not assessing their control of the animal. After I was bitten a second time, I went over how they were holding the dogs and made sure they were comfortable holding certain animals when it was needed.
Stephanie's Feedback
Oh no! I am sorry to learn that you were bitten. While this response clearly shows a mistake made by your colleague, I suggest that you further develop the steps you took to rectify this. Did you coach your colleague on how to hold the animal better to ensure safety in the future? What was the outcome?
Anonymous Answer
When I was working in a small animal hospital, I noticed that a colleague of mine was not correctly spinning the blood samples in order to prepare them to be shipped to the outside lab. I quietly pulled her aside and demonstrated the correct settings to spin the samples at. This way, there were no future diagnostic errors. Sometimes we all need reminders for how to accomplish tasks.
Chad's Feedback
It sounds like you handled this situation in a tactful and respectful manner, which was undoubtedly appreciated by your colleague. Excellent approach!
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