Describe when you tried something risky and failed

Understanding the Question

This interview question, “Tell Me About a Time When You Tried Something Risky and Failed”, aims to assess your risk-taking ability, resilience, and learning mindset. Interviewers want to know if you’re willing to take calculated risks and how you handle the outcomes, successful or not. It reveals your approach to innovation, problem-solving, and your ability to learn from setbacks.

How to Answer the Question

Step 1: Select a Relevant Example

Choose an example where you took a significant risk that did not pan out as expected. Make sure it demonstrates positive attributes like innovation or courage.

Example: “In my previous role, I advocated for a radical change in our marketing strategy to include a new digital platform.”

Step 2: Describe the Risk

Explain the risk you took and why you decided to take it. This shows your decision-making process and ability to identify opportunities.

Example: “I believed that embracing newer digital platforms could significantly boost our brand presence among a younger audience.”

Step 3: Discuss the Failure

Detail the outcome of the risk and why it didn’t work out. Be honest about the failure while maintaining a positive tone.

Example: “Despite thorough preparation, the platform didn’t resonate with our target audience as expected, leading to lower engagement than our traditional channels.”

Step 4: Reflect on Your Learning

Describe what you learned from the failure. Focus on how the experience contributed to your personal or professional growth.

Example: “This experience taught me valuable lessons about market research and audience targeting. I learned the importance of pilot testing before a full-scale roll-out.”

Step 5: Conclude with Future Application

End by discussing how you would apply these learnings in future situations, demonstrating your ability to adapt and improve.

Example: “I now approach new initiatives with a balanced view of innovation and feasibility, ensuring comprehensive market testing is conducted.”

Takeaway Messages

1. Willingness to Take Risks: Show that you are not afraid to take calculated risks for potential benefits.
2. Learning from Failure: Emphasize your ability to learn valuable lessons from unsuccessful attempts.
3. Resilience: Demonstrate your capacity to recover from setbacks and stay motivated.
4. Innovation and Creativity: Highlight your innovative thinking and creative problem-solving skills.
5. Future Application: Illustrate how your past experiences have shaped your approach to future challenges.

This question provides an opportunity to showcase your courage to innovate, your resilience in the face of failure, and your capacity for learning and growth.