There is one question I always come back to in an interview:
"Tell me about a time you failed – and what you learned from it."
Not to see whether the candidate is flawless. But the answer tells you everything about self-awareness, honesty, and the capacity to grow.
The best candidates answer without hesitation. They own their failure, describe what went wrong, and what they actually changed afterward. That is not weakness – that is maturity.
I have asked that question hundreds of times. And I still learn something new every time.
Those who lack self-awareness suddenly cannot find an example. Or they describe a "failure" that was really someone else's fault.
One question. An extraordinary amount of information.
Try it in your next interview.
If you have thoughts, questions, or simply want to talk something through – feel free to get in touch.
Magdalena Hagström Ståhl
By M Consulting AB
Right person. Right place. Everything changes.