Page 272 - Marky Stein - Get a Great Job When You Don't Have a Job-McGraw-Hill (2009)

Fearless Interviewing

and then I got a degree in physics, with highest hon-
ors. I guess it didn’t turn out so badly.
Or . . .
ANSWER: Well, you know, I was entered in a tricounty
triathlon, and I trained for over six months for the
race. I even hired a personal trainer and radically
altered my diet and weight-training program. When
the day of the race came, I was totally prepared and
“psyched up” to win. I was sure I could place in the
top three, if not take home the blue ribbon. I did the
race in less that 1 hour, 32 minutes, 7 seconds. I gave
it my best shot, but I came in fourth.
Or . . .
ANSWER: Once I decided to plant an elaborate vegetable gar-
den in my backyard. I went to the hardware store to
buy all the tools and seeds. I also bought a book on
how to grow a vegetable garden, and I even took a
county parks and recreation course on how to grow
your own food. I followed all the directions I had
learned, and I planted six kinds of vegetables, but
the only thing that ever came up were the tomatoes.
I guess I’m really much more of a corporate execu-
tive than a gardener!

With responses like the ones above, you’re pointing out “failures”
that are little more than minor disappointments. You’ll also
notice that you’re actually calling attention to some good qualities
like diligence, persistence, willingness to try something new, or
even excellence. This approach works well since this is only a
stress question to test your reaction.
If you have good rapport with the interviewer and can see
that he or she has a good sense of humor, you might give it a
lighter touch:

ANSWER: I suppose my greatest failure was not being able to
take those three strokes off my golf game. [laughs]
ANSWER: I think . . . not being able to make a perfect soufflé.
[chuckles]

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