Tell me about a time when you . . . experienced failure, or when things didnt work out.

This is one of the most common behavioral interview questions. Were asked those questions because prospective employers want to know how youll respond when things go sideways when you work for them.

They ask such questions knowing that we all make mistakes, things go wrong, we fail. Sometimes it is entirely our fault, sometimes it is not, but almost always, we are expected to do something about it and do our best to improve in the future. One career expert describes failures in this way: it is every employees responsibility to anticipate and avoid mistakes when possible and make things right when they occur.

When asked such a question, it is wise to think of and share a past challenge rather than pending or just happened. Why? Because you can better show and explain the

1. Context and what happened. 2. What you did in response, including who you may have consulted. 3. How it helped you develop. 4. Why you are unlikely to make a similar mistake in the future.

This is about change and development. Put differently, look at and communicate failures in terms of opportunities for change and growth. Not only will this make you more successful in interviews, but it will help you cope with what can be painful experiences.