Is there a right answer to this question that doesn’t either 1) out you or 2) make you look like a brown noser? Yes! That’s what Philly.com wanted to get to the bottom of, and I was one of the experts they asked. When I interview potential employees, I’m looking for honesty. Own up to the mistake, because everyone makes them. Don’t choose the biggest blunder you’ve ever made, but choose one that’s feasible and that others can relate to.
It’s not the mistake, but how you get past it that really matters. Humility matters in employees, and I want to see it during the interview process. Once you explain the problem, talk the person through how you fixed it. What the interviewer really wants to know is how well you adapt and how flexible you are. The best way to show this is by explaining a faux pas.
Go into the interview prepared with a couple of examples, as well as details about how you corrected them. This can do wonders for your job prospects, and just might help you relate to your future boss on a deeper level.
