How to answer "a time you failed" question?

[bestestmench]

Not sure how to answer without making myself look bad.

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[LizzyM]

The point of the question is to determine if you have the ability to be self-reflective by identifying a time when you failed. The point is to make yourself look bad. You will be asked to self-assess and find areas in need of improvement during medical school and beyond.

 

[PieOHmy]

Behavioral type questions are common interview questions. Learn how to answer them, and turn the tables on the inverview.
And if they ask you, where do you see yourself in 5 years? Your answer: In your chair asking better questions.

Visa Hunter » How to Answer the 150 Most Common Job Interview Questions

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Just go to that site and memorize all the questions before your next interview.

You're welcome.

 

[longhaul3]

Have you never failed at anything? Your status says "reapplicant." I think that would be a great thing to talk about. That is a significant failure (no judgment here) that was presumably not the result of a red-flag type situation like a moral, ethical, or legal incident. I interview med school applicants, and while I don't tend to ask questions like this, I would like this answer if I did.

The whole idea is that you can spin it into a conversation about what you learned from your failure, how you have improved, etc. Plus in the case of being a reapplicant it addresses the elephant in the room and you can make your case directly.

Interviews are all about painting yourself in the best light, but acting like you have no shortcomings or vulnerabilities is not the best light.

 

[bestestmench]

Have you never failed at anything? Your status says "reapplicant." I think that would be a great thing to talk about. That is a significant failure (no judgment here) that was presumably not the result of a red-flag type situation like a moral, ethical, or legal incident. I interview med school applicants, and while I don't tend to ask questions like this, I would like this answer if I did.

The whole idea is that you can spin it into a conversation about what you learned from your failure, how you have improved, etc. Plus in the case of being a reapplicant it addresses the elephant in the room and you can make your case directly.

Interviews are all about painting yourself in the best light, but acting like you have no shortcomings or vulnerabilities is not the best light.

Wow okay, not sure why that didn't immediately come to mind. I was told to avoid talking about MCAT or failed grades and extrapolated to not talk about med school in general. But there are definitely a wide variety of reasons why I wasn't a good fit last year that I realized through self reflection... thank you very much!

 

[bestestmench]

Behavioral type questions are common interview questions. Learn how to answer them, and turn the tables on the inverview.
And if they ask you, where do you see yourself in 5 years? Your answer: In your chair asking better questions.

Visa Hunter » How to Answer the 150 Most Common Job Interview Questions

www.visahunter.com

Just go to that site and memorize all the questions before your next interview.

You're welcome.

i love you

 

[NickNaylor]

No one is perfect. You have made mistakes before - everyone has. I agree with @LizzyM in that the purpose of the question is to probe your ability to identify that you made a mistake and be able to take something from that experience to improve moving forward. This is something that is critical in your to-be role as a trainee. Quite possibly the worst kind of medical student/resident is someone that has no ability to recognize mistakes and/or attempt to prevent making mistakes in the future.

 

[Goro]

Have you never failed at anything? Your status says "reapplicant." I think that would be a great thing to talk about. That is a significant failure (no judgment here) that was presumably not the result of a red-flag type situation like a moral, ethical, or legal incident. I interview med school applicants, and while I don't tend to ask questions like this, I would like this answer if I did.

The whole idea is that you can spin it into a conversation about what you learned from your failure, how you have improved, etc. Plus in the case of being a reapplicant it addresses the elephant in the room and you can make your case directly.

Interviews are all about painting yourself in the best light, but acting like you have no shortcomings or vulnerabilities is not the best light.

We like to see self-reflection that doesn't involve academics. Not getting into medical school is only a failure to Tiger parents and thier kids.

 

[bestestmench]

We like to see self-reflection that doesn't involve academics. Not getting into medical school is only a failure to Tiger parents and thier kids.

yup. this is what i thought. so back to the drawing board i go

 

[LizzyM]

We like to see self-reflection that doesn't involve academics. Not getting into medical school is only a failure to Tiger parents and thier kids.

I would disagree. For a reapplicant, not getting an offer in the first cycle is a failure. Likewise, not getting a goal MCAT score and needing to retake is a "failure" that could be fodder for a question about a time that you failed and what you learned and what you did to improve.

 

[keelhaul]

yup. this is what i thought. so back to the drawing board i go

I realize Goro has more experience in this than me, but I’m also gonna disagree— I think if you spin it right then you can still use failing to get into med school as a good answer. After all, your ability to handle failing at something that you have worked so long and hard to get to— and especially your ability to pick yourself up, improve, and try again— is a quality worth noting. I’m a reapplicant and I used not getting in last year as an answer in “time you failed” secondaries to schools that later gave me an II, and I also brought it up as an answer to this question in interviews at schools that ended up accepting me. So, at least in my mind, it is very valid as long as you’ve learned from it and can reflect properly on it. Just my 2 cents though!

 

[longhaul3]

We like to see self-reflection that doesn't involve academics. Not getting into medical school is only a failure to Tiger parents and thier kids.

I disagree. For most younger applicants, not getting into medical school is probably the biggest failure of their lives. It's not like failing a test. It involves putting a significant amount of time, effort, planning, and money into reaching a lifelong career goal. It's more than academics.

 

[bestestmench]

I realize Goro has more experience in this than me, but I’m also gonna disagree— I think if you spin it right then you can still use failing to get into med school as a good answer. After all, your ability to handle failing at something that you have worked so long and hard to get to— and especially your ability to pick yourself up, improve, and try again— is a quality worth noting. I’m a reapplicant and I used not getting in last year as an answer in “time you failed” secondaries to schools that later gave me an II, and I also brought it up as an answer to this question in interviews at schools that ended up accepting me. So, at least in my mind, it is very valid as long as you’ve learned from it and can reflect properly on it. Just my 2 cents though!

can i PM you??

 

[Jungkookie]

i saw someone post earlier today this page for failure/challenge type questions, really helpful tips:"What is your greatest limitation?" Or "What's your greatest weakness"

 

[allyallyoxenfree]

great points here!! It's definitely weird to have talk about your shortcomings or failures but it's a necessary skill to be able to reflect on your experiences, communicate them, and be dedicated to growing and learning

 

[DrWhom]

just don't do the "my greatest weakness is I'm too much a perfectionist" lol