Why You Need a Story About Failure Before Your Next Interview

Hey friends,

Let’s talk about what can sometimes be one of the scariest, yet most important, interview questions: “Tell me about a time you failed.”

If your stomach just dropped reading that, you’re not alone. It’s tempting to panic. It’s tempting to spin a “fake” failure into a humblebrag. Or worse, to say you can’t think of an example.

(Spoiler: Not being able to come up with an example is a red flag for employers.)

But here’s the thing:

When interviewers ask about failure, they aren’t looking for a perfect answer. They’re looking at how you own your mistakes, learn from them, and move forward.

The failure itself isn’t what matters. It’s how you respond that defines you.

Why Talking About Failure Matters

Every professional, at every level, stumbles sometimes.

The real question is:

• How do you respond when things don’t go your way?
• What do you learn from the experience?
• How do you grow?

Employers aren't hiring people who have never made mistakes. They’re hiring people who can reflect, adapt, and bring emotional intelligence to the table.

Owning a failure, without blaming others, without sugarcoating, shows three things:

• Self-awareness
• Coachability
• Resilience

And guess what? Those three traits are more valuable than ever in today’s job market.

How to Prepare Your "Failure" Story

Here’s how to build a strong answer:

• Be Honest (but strategic). Choose a real moment where something didn’t go as planned, preferably something from a while ago, not last week.
• Own It. Avoid blaming your boss, your coworkers, or “the situation.” Take personal accountability.
• Show What You Learned. Share the “aha!” moment. What changed because of this experience?
• Connect the Dots. Explain how you applied that lesson to future projects, work habits, or decision-making.

Quick Failure Example Response Structure

“In [situation], I [what happened]. I realized [lesson learned]. Since then, I’ve [how you’ve grown or improved].”

Simple. Honest. Powerful.

Final Thought

You don’t need to be perfect to be a great hire. You just need to be real, and ready to grow.

So, the next time someone asks you about failure? You’ll be ready, and you’ll own your story, not shy away from it.

If you found today’s newsletter helpful, feel free to forward it to a friend who’s prepping for interviews!

Sound Off!

1. What's one way you’ve turned a setback into an opportunity?
2. What advice would you give someone who’s afraid to talk about failure?

About the Author: Sarah Blankenship is the Director of Talent & Career Strategies for A People Partner, LLC , she is also the founder of the Gen X Nation community on LinkedIn. Contact Sarah for 1v1 career or business consultations, or speaking engagements.

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