Are You Willing To Fail?
This is one of the common questions that can come up in any interview.
How you answer questions like these in the interview give recruiters an insight into how mature you are as a candidate. Although you might be reluctant to acknowledge your failures or weaknesses in an interview, there are certain ways to answer this question that will further your chances instead of killing them and demonstrate that you are the perfect fit for the role. In this article from the How To Answer Series by Your Legal Career Coach, we bring you guidance and tips on how to answer ‘Are You Willing To Fail?’ during an internship or job interview. Read on!
WHY DOES A RECRUITER ASK THIS QUESTION?
- TO LEARN ABOUT YOUR RESPONSE TO A FAILURE
Most people feel comfortable speaking about their achievements and successes, but not so comfortable talking about their failures and mistakes. This is understandable, as people often think that talking about failures and mistakes will highlight their weaknesses. So, they shy away from, thinking that speaking about them might hurt their chances of getting the job. However, speaking about failures and mistakes can have the exact opposite effect—they can highlight your strengths.
Read our article on ‘How To Answer- Describe Your Work Ethic’ HERE.
- TO UNDERSTAND HOW FAILURE INFLUENCES YOU
Not everyone can be Harvey Specter (and once in a blue moon, even he does fail!). When something goes wrong or if you make a mistake, it is important to take responsibility. Those who are willing to fail are typically more able to admit their missteps without fear of embarrassment or repercussions. Often, this confidence comes from a workplace’s culture but it can also derive from the accountability and integrity of an individual. Employers might ask this question because they want to learn if you can accept when plans go awry and respond appropriately.
TIPS TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION
- HIGHLIGHT YOUR WILLINGNESS TO LEARN
The most important part of your response is to clearly convey that your failures are lessons to learn for you. You have to stand out from the class of people who repeat mistakes, show that you are quick to learn and adapt.
Read our article on ‘How To Answer- Do You Take Work Home With You’- HERE.
- USE THE QUESTION TO YOUR ADVANTAGE
You can prepare your answer in a way that portrays the soft skills you possess that enable you to deal with pending failure. These might include competencies such as strategic planning, process analysis, time management, flexibility, and active problem-solving.
An ideal answer may look something like:
While I work hard to avoid errors in my work, I am willing to push myself to complete new and challenging tasks that I might be unable to accomplish. For example, I was once working on a team project, when three of our six team members had to leave the group to complete a different assignment. With half of our team gone, we thought the project might fail. However, I led our group in revising our team plan and setting new daily goals. We ended up completing the task on time and received praise from our company CEO for our thorough work. When I am faced with a challenge like this, one that has the potential to fail, I always step up to the plate.
HOW NOT TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION
- While answering this question, one must refrain from mentioning or going into details on recent failures. The question deals with your approach to failure, not actual instances. In case you do want to pick to example, cite something from the distant past to demonstrate that you have learned and grown from your mistakes.
- Pointing the fingers is a strict no-no. Blaming someone for your own mistakes is strongly discouraged as it shows that you have a tendency to avoid being held responsible. This trait is a liability for any team, and serves as a red flag for recruiters.
- It is recommended not to mention a failure related to an important part of the job you’re applying for. For example, if you are applying for a job as a junior advocate, do not mention that you once lost important case files or forgot to attend a hearing. Always try to pick an example that is less directly related to the job.
- Mistakes or failures with serious consequences for the workplaces is again something you should never mention. A situation where financial loss for the company or losing a client was your fault is better left not said. Instead, pick a smaller mistake that you were able to repair or compensate for with relative ease.
- Never say ‘no’. Saying that you are not willing to fail means you are not inclined to take risks and is likely to be interpreted as insincere.
YLCC would like to thank Sachet Labroo for his valuable insights in this article.
