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What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs
17

What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

(OP)
I was interviewed by Company A about 4 years ago and got asked a lot of stupid HR questions like the what are your weaknesses, what are your strengths, etc...
It was a painful 4-hour long interview with 4 different people. I didn't get the job that time.

A few weeks ago I saw similar opening (structural engineer) with the same company so I applied. I got an email from HR for a phone interview.
I'm expecting this will be followed by a 4-hour face to face interview just like last time.
I kinda like the company coz it's huge chemical company.

I was looking at glassdoor review for this company and I'm expecting similar stupid hr questions that might kill my interview.

English is also not my first language so that doesn't help either.

Anyone has experience answering stupid HR questions.

RE: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

(OP)
lol i was googling about HR questions and saw there's "phone apps" for these questions. thank you smartphone

RE: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

All of those questions are designed to _exclude_ you from consideration.
You can probably find a good number of the questions, and prepare answers that are more or less what the interviewer would expect from the mythical perfect person they seek. Don't memorize your answers, but do review them from time to time so they'll be sort of refreshed in your mind, enough to paraphrase them.

A really 'good' HR weenie will not allow this to happen, but you should try to direct the conversation away from their list of psycho-trick questions by following each of your responses with a question of your own. Any interaction with HR _should_ be a conversation, not an inquisition.

You might ask pointedly but politely, exactly what the last stupid question has to do with accomplishing the job under consideration. Well, okay, don't do that, but you'll wish you had.

Better to keep refocusing on the specific job requirements, so you can mentally prepare a short presentation (for when, or if, they run out of questions), outlining how you are particularly well equipped to accomplish each and every aspect of the job (which they have stated, and you have jotted down along the way).



To sort of answer your actual question, I've endured several interviews like you mention, and failed every one.
... and later felt _very_ grateful that I didn't get the job. I wouldn't want to work for an outfit that treated its "most valuable resource" (they all say that) in such a despicable manner.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

RE: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

I got much more success during interviews when I started to stick to the following rules:

- Never prepare an interview. No review, No anticipation of questions.
- Have a quick look to the company website to have a quick familiarization. But that's it.

If I get a question like in the subject, I would reply as follow :

HR: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today?
me: Good question. (Stupid smile)
me: So you mean during my whole career, right ? (Stupid again, to buy more time and think about my answer, if the interviewer take the time to reformulate a bit it would be even better)
me: (Answer - try diversion), well I think that relying on competence and skills is good but I have realized that having solid network is a key. Not sure it is a real error, but clearly something I learned.
HR: Yes good. But this is not really an mistake, it is something that you learn during your career. But is there a mistake (bla bla bla...)
me: Well I am not sure if I can remember a very particular mistake, but to try to reply to your question, for sure I realized for example at many occasions that organizing myself, setting my priorities is really something I would focus on.
HR: (Insisting again)
me: Keep on going...make sure you never give the impression to become nervous or annoyed.
If HR is not happy about the answer (too vague) it is better than giving them something specific which can be at your advantadge or disadvantage, but rare are the people sufficiently smart to appreciate candor and honesty. So I would not take a risk.

RE: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

While I also dislike these canned questions, they are designed to weed-out people with attitudes like yours regarding stupid HR weenies. A large corporation is a buracracy. If you do not like that, then you will be unhappy there.
The question you mention is actually a good one, and is designed to make you think about how you deal with life. I left the corporate world because of the severe limitations inherent with working there. I also gave up a very good salary and benefits. I now have my own business. As a small businessman I would be very leary of hiring someone with your attitude. You will always be unhappy if you expect the world to change to accomodate your desires. On the other hand, the world is not changed by happy people. As, Mike says, perhaps it would be best if you don't get the job. That is for you to decide. That involves a process of introspection, similar to what the HR weenie was trying to start.

RE: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

4
Mistakes from the past: Trusting HR.
Shaping my future: Realize that HR are a function, not your friends.

It's very unlikely that anyone in an HR dept has much of a clue about the job you may or may not be doing. So just smile and don't let them see your gun.

- Steve

RE: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

Im with Mike,

Prepare some "standard" answers to these standard question, but dont memorize them. Make them come out differently every time, the same way that the questions are not always the same. I agree that they are screening questions where the excact story behind the answer is less important than the way you present it, and the fact that you tok the interview seriously enough to prepare a little.

And while we engineers may mock HR, when you are sitting there you should remember who want help, and who already holds a position....

RE: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

"Fresh out of college, in my first job, I made the mistake of completely trusting what a software vendor promised. He delivered a disaster. I learned to trust, but verify. I could have learned about this particular vendor's shortcomings by calling around and finding his recent past clients. It's made me a very reliable project manager ever since."

Best to you,

Goober Dave

Haven't see the forum policies? Do so now: Forum Policies

RE: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

Wow, Goober Dave at 2000Bar (at least). Pin, anyone?

- Steve

RE: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

I dunno.

If I ever had to hide or conceal the truth in an interview, or do anything other than just be myself and answer questions exactly how I wanted to, I suppose I wouldn't want to end up working there anyway. The way I see it, they will find out who I am and what I can do sooner or later. It's either good enough or it isn't. If it isn't, then I guess I don't need them, either.

RE: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

Gosh, Snorgy. You are really revealing yourself today as a fountain of wisdom today. And I mean that sincerely.

RE: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

I believe these questions are just to weed out some of the candidates. There is no right answer, but there are some answers that could potentially eliminate you as a candidate. If you were to get the position, it is likely more based on your past experience, your answer to some of the technical questions, or something along those lines. I'm not in HR, but I would guess that if they interview 10 people, 5 of them probably had satifactory answers to their questions (complete guess). From there they will recommend those 5 and they will move on to the next interview.

I would suggest using Google to go over some of the commonly asked questions, but don't memorize your answers (like suggested by others above). I think this will just help you feel more comfortable when you are asked those questions in the interview.

If you do get asked any original questions, let us know though. Always fun to hear what the new canned questions are.


Cheers

RE: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

Thanks Steve, quite a compliment!

My point was to use the "fresh out of school" line (without telling an untruth, if possible). I think many of us goofed up in the early years in some way, learned a lesson, and never goofed that one up again.

Sometimes they follow up with "How did that situation resolve?" I answer with the truth,"We had to pay the software vendor to write a different interface to our system that wasn't in their contract. It cost us a little more than the original price. Fortunately, the purchase was a small one."

Best to you,

Goober Dave

Haven't see the forum policies? Do so now: Forum Policies

RE: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

Go over these questions then prepare truthful answers based on the most innocuous scenario from your past.

Just like DrWeigs answer to the mistakes you have made question. Most engineers could say to some extent they
had this problem.

It is not really that you 'solved' your past problem they are testing, but whether you can admit to having had problems.

For weakness don't go as far as saying you are too loyal to the company or anything obviously silly.

Find a weakness that isn't particularly relevant to the job you are applying for and then put on your best puppy
dog eyes and confess.

And ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS stay positive, everything that has ever happened to you from toothaches to poison ivy was a
great opportunity to learn and you are a better person for having the experience.

RE: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

What's your greatest weakness? Asian women.

Works every time.

Best to you,

Goober Dave

Haven't see the forum policies? Do so now: Forum Policies

RE: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

Favourite grooming product? ...

- Steve

RE: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

Always remember that in every stage of the interview, they are looking for a reason to NOT hire you, not a reason to hire you. Many of these questions are opportunities to see if you will stick your foot in your mouth given a chance and your objective is to decline the opportunity.

As far as techniques for handling interview styles and how to approach certain types of questions, I like the book Knock Em Dead. I am not crazy about his technique of cold calling to get job leads, but I do like the section on interview preparation and negotiation.

RE: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

Answer: I don't have to make the mistake myself to learn from it. I am always checking with the warranty guy to see what field problems we are having, tuck those away in the back of my head and think about how to avoid them on new projects.

Optional: If I only learned from my own mistakes, I'd be pretty slow to improve!

If pushed for a direct response (HR gives you the "just tell me something to write down in the blank" look): The mistake was taking more than a few weeks on the job to realize what I just mentioned. If you want a head down, tunnel vision guy, that's not me.

RE: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

We have all made mistakes, more than one. If you don't want to admit to any, maybe admit to the one that was relatively inconsequential. To illustrate a point, suppose you:

(1) blew a wall thickness calculation and, as a result, a pressure vessel was destroyed and a massive fireball ensued, followed by a one month shutdown;
(2) goofed on a painting specification for a building, which forced a summer student to re-paint the downspouts and eavestroughs blue instead of white.

Admit to #2; it was the first thing that came to mind. You can always claim that #1 simply didn't come to mind at the time the question was asked.

RE: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

2
That said, I have never gone too far wrong with just being honest and being "me". I still think that's the best way in the long run.

Case in point: when I was interviewed for my current position, one question that was asked was, "Why have you left your previous employer after so many years of service?". I replied, "Well, you are probably going to find out anyway, so I'll be straight with you: here is what happened." (It had not been an amicable parting or a graceful resignation on my part.) They said, "Yep, that's pretty much what we heard how it actually went down. OK, so now we know your references are reliable when they said you were honest. When do you want to start?".

Trust me, I don't make this stuff up.

RE: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

I watch those around me and try to learn from the mistakes of others. I won't live long enough to make them all myself.

Maui

www.EngineeringMetallurgy.com

RE: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

Actually, it was a combination mistake and goldmine. My first Weds. on the job, there was a welcoming party for all the new employees. My first Friday on the job had half of the new employees laid off. The running joke became "we're working at ##### University, where we learn what not to do." One important thing that I learned is that there really isn't a "logic inverter" that upper management uses. We think there's a logic inversion because we mistakenly thought that upper management and we have the same goals and outlook, but that's nowhere near the case.

My second to last general manager, out of 10 in 5 years, was, in my opinion, an absolute sleazoid, but his clarity of thought and purpose was unparalleled for upper management. He recognized that he had about 6 months to generate a profit, and that this was his only time horizon. If he failed, he would be booted out, like all the others, in month 6; if he succeeded, he would be promoted in month 6. Therefore, his actions, which were seemingly at odds with the notion of long-term growth, were in perfect concert with his short term time horizon.

So, when I start to think that there is a logic inverter at work in upper management, I now know that the sh!t's about to hit the fan. So a good lesson to have learned.

TTFN
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RE: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

Quote:

So, when I start to think that there is a logic inverter at work in upper management, I now know that the sh!t's about to hit the fan. So a good lesson to have learned.
It has been my experience that a common indicator of this being about to happen is when middle managers are suddenly having a bunch of closed door meetings with each other.

RE: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

Lots of LPSs to be given in this thread...

Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

RE: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

Bad answer, "None come to mind". Failing to answer shows a lack of humility or an inability to analyze and learn from your own experience.

Honest, but probably a bad idea to answer in an interview, "Well, taking the job at the last place I worked was probably my biggest mistake..."

Smart-ass answer: "Wise people learn from their own mistakes, but the really brilliant learn from the mistakes of others."

Answer honestly, but a little positive spin wouldn't hurt. If you're not a good speaker or quick thinker on your feet, a bit of preparation for this sort of question can't hurt. In fact, it could be a good exercise of self-exploration even if you aren't asked the question.

My biggest work-related mistake? Honestly? Working for free, i.e. giving away huge swaths of my time to a for-profit corporation who was offering me no upside whatsoever beyond my salary. I don't do that any more. But that won't come up if I'm asked that question in an interview!

RE: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

Quote (moltenmetal)

Bad answer, "None come to mind". Failing to answer shows a lack of humility or an inability to analyze and learn from your own experience.
I disagree... it can also show (such as in my case) an inability to quickly recall a mistake. I have learned from every one, but I do not commit the mistake itself to memory as that's not the point of it all. Given some time to mull it over and thinking over the steps taken for specific projects, I could likely come up with many... but to put me on the spot in an interview is not going to garner the answer you want.

Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

RE: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

I would agree that "none comes to mind" is a bad answer. It's not like someone bumped into you on the street and posed this question. You knew you had the interview scheduled, you should have done your preparation, and you should have done some research into what types of questions might be asked, so there's no reason that you would show up empty-handed, as it were, with no clue as to what an answer might be. I would contend that such an answer might be justification for passing on the interviewee, since he obviously didn't do much in the way of due diligence, which would I would wonder whether that carries over into actual work related scenarios.

TTFN
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RE: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

3
I would advise you to answer honestly. If they don't want an honest answer I wouldn't work for them. Think about it.

I interview for welders all the time. Invariably, I sit them down at the welding table and ask them to weld. Very poor welds are common. Then I simply ask, "What happened?" I have heard every excuse imaginable, bad welding machine, bad gas, bad rod, bad this bad that...

I never hire them.

One day a prospective employee meekly replied, after laying down a particularly awful weld, "I guess I'm not as good as I thought I was."

I immediately hired him. I knew he'd always tell me the truth--even if it was seemingly not in his best interest. I hired him years ago and he now runs the entire shop. I know I can trust him. Our questions are asked for reasons.

David
:):):)

www.kirkhammotorsports.com

RE: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

What if your worst mistake was working for people who are jerks?

If you are offended by the things I say, imagine the stuff I hold back.

RE: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

Cass, we've ALL worked for people who are jerks at least once. The mistake isn't taking the job; it's accepting the abuse and staying there longer than you have to.

Maui  

www.EngineeringMetallurgy.com

RE: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

Yes, Maui, I never thought there was really a bad boss out there, well maybe one or two. But after being laid off in 2009, I have come across more than my fair share, three bad ones in a row. Not much I can do about the first (Taiwanese ownership) or the last when I worked as an outside contractor for the US division of a Korean firm, but the middle one is taking it on the chin now. I smell blood in the water.............stay tuned.

My problem is what to tell prospective employers. It's become a serious barrier to employment. The only real usefulness is every rejection is another piece of evidence to hand over to my attorney.

If you are offended by the things I say, imagine the stuff I hold back.

RE: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

Cass, I've read about what you've been through in the Pub over the last several years and I can see that you've had a pretty long stretch of horrendous supervisors. Based on their bad behavior I'd welcome anything that you could share regarding their demise, as I'm sure most of the Pub members would too.

After I had a bad boss who laid me off I wondered about how difficult it would be to get the next job, but surprisingly it wasn't a problem. The problem was simply finding an opening in this horrible job market. It might not be a bad time to offer your services as a professional consultant (if you haven't gone down that road already) - the money is not bad provided you have the necessary connections that could provide you with the work.

Maui

www.EngineeringMetallurgy.com

RE: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

My biggest mistake is making mistakes twice.

Now I document my mistakes which helps me remember them and think about them each time I conduct my work.

One thing I have learnt in interviews is that you shouldn't be afraid to take some time to think of an answer as long as you don't take too long. I had an interview where I took time to think about my answers, sometimes as much as 10 seconds, and they said to me that it was refreshing to interview someone who was clearly putting thought into their answers instead of blurting out things like "can't think of anything" or blurting out rehersed/standardised answers.

It does help if you are in a relaxed environment with decent interviewers.

I once had an interview where I couldn't break eye contact with them. I once broke eye contact with them to think about something (naturally people look up to the left when thinking) and as soon as I looked up the interviewers also looked up asif to say "what are you looking at, why aren't you looking at us". I definetly didn't want or get that job.

RE: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

Quote (BreatheEasy)

I once had an interview where I couldn't break eye contact with them. I once broke eye contact with them to think about something (naturally people look up to the left when thinking) and as soon as I looked up the interviewers also looked up asif to say "what are you looking at, why aren't you looking at us". I definetly didn't want or get that job.
The wife and I had a discussion about eye contact. When she met our daughter's new teacher, the woman didn't spend much time looking her in the eye, which drove my wife crazy. I explained to her that not all people can cogitate while staring at you as that requires a level of attention above deep thought. I'm like that, though I can fake it pretty well these days... when deep thought is required, though, I still tend to look away towards something that is inanimate and still.

But if someone were to call me out on it in such a rude fashion, I would have serious reservations about working for them. Their ability to handle people's quirks and mild eccentricities tells me they're not likely a good manager.

On a side note, I paid attention for a while, and I don't look in any particular direction when thinking... I aim towards something that is static, but that item could be anywhere, not just upper left.

Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

RE: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

A loyal employee is a great asset. As to hours on the job or overtime, out of town work, look forward to it. A valuable employee is one that is not afraid to take on new fields of endeavor, and there always will be them. One bad mistake one can make on the job is not showing full loyalty by a number of things, such as leaving right on the clock, saying "I wasn't hired for that", etc. It's what you can do for them, not what they can do for you.

RE: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

I put a limit on some things, though... I'll do small bits and pieces here and there that are outside my domain, but in the past managers have found it all too easy to peg someone like that as "They'll do anything, so give them the jobs everyone else fights about not doing." Pretty soon all you're doing is stuff you have no interest in and it could last for years. I have several stories like that, until I wised up. Now I give them a few months of it and if things don't change, I start looking for a new job. As I've always said, loyal is a two-way street, and they're not being loyal to you if they pull that kind of stunt.

Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

RE: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

"Pretty soon all you're doing is stuff you have no interest in and it could last for years."

MacGyverS2000: That's how I generally respond to those types of questions.

It always has worked for me in the past when I said I wanted to learn more, but I became so efficient at what I am doing that they wouldn't stop giving me the same stuff over and over again. I am now looking for a place that will help me broaden my skills so I can become even better at what I do. I agree that responding with things off the top of the head is the way to go. You don't look like it was memorized and you look like you know what you are talking about. I think the idea is showing an actual weakness that is positive and finishing it off with something positive that you are looking for. As silly as I am in these things, I would then make a simple proof why I should be hired based on that insane logic. Just be yourself.

B+W Engineering and Design
Los Angeles Civil Engineer and Structural Engineer
http://bwengr.com | http://bwstructuralengineer.com | http://bwcivilengineer.com

RE: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

My personal favorite:
“Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?”
“Celebrating 5th anniversary of this conversation”

RE: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

my past weakness? well... you mean besides ...... Blondes (DrWeig is into Asian women, others into Blondes) - I'd say: Shut the F.ck up and listen.

Oh-MacGtver? what is LPS?

RE: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

LPS = Little Purple Stars

Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

RE: What mistake from your past did you learn the most from and how has it shaped you today? HR Qs

what was the last book you read and why?

Once i sat and talked and answered questions for an hour and during that whole time it had nothing to do with the position. I think they want to see how long you can take the BS before you lose it. Because you will need that fortitude to survive there.


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