Tell me of a time when you didn’t meet your goals
- Interview
- January 3, 2024
Understanding the Question
Interviewers ask this question, “Tell Me of a Time When You Didn’t Meet Your Goals”, to assess your ability to handle setbacks and your approach to challenging situations. It reveals your self-awareness, resilience, and capacity for critical self-evaluation. Employers are interested in how you respond to failure and your strategies for bouncing back.
How to Answer the Question
Step 1: Choose a Relevant Example
Select a situation where you failed to meet a goal, but ensure it’s one that also demonstrates your positive traits and ability to learn from mistakes.
Example: “In my previous role, I set an ambitious target for increasing sales by 20% in one quarter, which I did not meet.”
Step 2: Describe the Context
Provide background on the goal and why it was important. Explain the circumstances that contributed to not meeting the goal.
Example: “The goal was set to capture a new market segment. However, unforeseen challenges in market conditions impacted our strategy.”
Step 3: Explain Your Response
Discuss the actions you took after realizing you wouldn’t meet the goal. Focus on your problem-solving approach and adaptability.
Example: “Upon realizing the target wouldn’t be met, I reevaluated our strategy, sought feedback, and adjusted our approach to focus on more achievable targets.”
Step 4: Reflect on the Outcome
Share what happened as a result of your actions and any positive outcomes or lessons learned.
Example: “While the original goal wasn’t met, the revised strategy led to a 10% increase in sales and provided valuable insights into the market.”
Step 5: Conclude with Lessons Learned
End by discussing how the experience has shaped your goal-setting and problem-solving strategies going forward.
Example: “This experience taught me the importance of setting realistic goals and being flexible in my approach.”
Takeaway Messages
- Resilience: Show your ability to remain motivated despite setbacks.
- Learning from Failure: Emphasize the lessons learned from not meeting goals.
- Adaptability: Highlight your capacity to adjust strategies in response to challenges.
- Problem-Solving: Demonstrate your ability to identify and rectify issues that prevent goal achievement.
- Realistic Goal Setting: Reflect on the importance of setting achievable targets.
This question allows you to demonstrate that you can face challenges positively, learn from your experiences, and adapt your strategies for future success.
