Tell me about something you did – or failed to do – that you now feel a little ashamed of.
There are some questions your interviewer has
no business asking, and this is one. But while you may feel like answering,
“none of your business,” naturally you can’t. Some interviewers ask this
question on the chance you admit to something, but if not, at least they’ll see
how you think on your feet.
Some
unprepared candidates, flustered by this question, unburden themselves of guilt
from their personal life or career, perhaps expressing regrets regarding a
parent, spouse, child, etc. All such
answers can be disastrous.
ANSWER: As with faults and weaknesses, never confess
regret. But don’t seem as if you’re stonewalling either.
Best
strategy: Say you harbor no regrets,
then add a principle or habit you practice regularly for healthy human
relations.
Example: Pause for reflection, as if the question
never occurred to you. Then say, “You
know, I really can’t think of anything.”
(Pause again, and then add): “I would add that as a general management
principle, I’ve found that the best way to avoid regrets is to avoid causing
them in the first place. I practice one
habit that helps me a great deal in this regard. At the end of each day, I
mentally review the day’s events and conversations to take a second look at the
people and developments I’m involved with and do a
Double-check
of what they’re likely to be feeling.
Sometimes I’ll see things that do need more follow-up, whether a pat on
the back, or maybe a five minute chat in someone’s office to make sure we’re
clear on things…whatever.”
“I also like
to make each person feel like a member of an elite team, like the Boston
Celtics or LA Lakers in their prime.
I’ve found that if you let each team member know you expect excellence
in their performance…if you work hard to set an example yourself…and if you let
people know you appreciate and respect their feelings, you wind up with a
highly motivated group, a team that’s having fun at work because they’re
striving for excellence rather than brooding over slights or regrets.”
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