Approximately one-fifth of employment decision-makers express a desire to learn about an applicant's past professional missteps.
If you've got a job interview upcoming, it's crucial to consider what the interviewer might ask. However, recent studies suggest that you might not be preparing for the right questions as some employers are giving candidates a curveball. The research reveals that employers expect you to be ready to discuss your past career blunders and missteps.
The Reason Behind Asking About Your Previous Mistakes in Interviews
Job interviews are reportedly scarier than a dentist visit, holding a spider, or skydiving. In fact, 72% of job applicants admit that the stress of job seeking has negatively impacted their mental health. With so many factors to consider, such as wardrobe, speech, body language, and how you ask questions, it's no wonder that 70% of job seekers falsify information on their resumes or use AI to improve their resume's appearance.
A study by Kickresume analyzed over 250 interview questions from 50 top companies, including Apple, Unilever, and Google. The research revealed that instead of focusing on your strengths, it might be better to concentrate on your past career errors and mishaps.
The researchers revealed that 22% of companies ask about your past career failures, and 10% want to know about working with challenging colleagues or how you would handle conflict within the team. This line of questioning underscores the importance of teamwork and conflict resolution skills, the study suggests.
More than half (54%) of the companies ask candidates to share anecdotes from their previous experience, using phrases like 'Describe a time when...' to emphasize the importance of backing up your experience with evidence.
Interview questions about how you would perform in a real-world work environment are also frequent. For example, 16% of companies ask candidates about meeting deadlines, while 10% want to know how you handle pressure. An additional 10% of companies include questions about the work environment, focusing on both the company's environment and your preferences.
Other companies are curious about your research skills, and 16% of them ask candidates to name their favorite aspects of the company, what attracts them to joining the company, or their favorite product. Google, for example, might ask you, "What is your favorite Google product? Why? How would you improve it?" These queries present an opportunity to showcase your ideas and demonstrate how you could benefit the company, the research recommends.
Companies often inquire about your positive qualities, with 26% asking candidates to describe an achievement, and 16% wanting interviewees to name their "proudest achievement" or "greatest achievement."
Kickresume's research reveals that a common theme is questions about your future ambitions. For example, 16% of companies might ask what you would achieve if hired. One example is company Square, who asks, "How long will it take you to begin working on projects and make a meaningful contribution at Square?" A slightly smaller percentage (14% of companies) wants to know where you see yourself in five years.
Finally, 10% of employers want to know about your experience with managers, using hypothetical questions about how you would work with managers in the new role.
Kickresume also discoveried that Amazon had the most job openings, with 32,070 advertisements, making it the company with the most job openings. Amazon was the only tech company in the top five, followed by consultancy firms Deloitte (28,966 ), Accenture (28,759), PwC (25,729) and EY (22,933).
In Conclusion About Your Past Mistakes
"Our research shows that common interview questions often ask you to demonstrate the right skills, qualities, and experience for the job," comments Peter Duris, CEO and co-founder of Kickresume. "So, before your interview, take another look at the job description and think about some good stories that show you've got what they're after."
He points out that 22% of companies ask about a candidate's previous failure or mistake and acknowledges that it can feel uncomfortable, but recommends not to let it stress you out. "It’s really about showing how you solve problems and bounce back from tough situations," he concludes. "We’ve all messed up at some point; it’s how you handle it that really matters."
In light of the findings, job seekers should prepare to discuss their past mistakes and failures during interviews, as 22% of companies ask about such experiences. This line of questioning is not intended to highlight your weaknesses but rather to assess your problem-solving skills and resilience, as Peter Duris, CEO of Kickresume, highlights. Furthermore, demonstrating how you've learned from your career blunders and demonstrated growth in your careers can significantly enhance your leadership potential.
