The Interview Question

Maria had been in Calgary for six months when she finally got an interview for a job she really wanted: an administrative assistant at a busy dental clinic. In Mexico, she had worked in an office for eight years, but this was her first interview in English. The night before, she practised her answers in front of the mirror. She prepared stories about organizing schedules, dealing with difficult customers and learning new software. She felt ready. The interview started well. The office manager, Mr. Evans, asked about her experience, and Maria answered clearly. Then he asked a question she hadn't expected: "Tell me about a time you made a mistake at work." For a moment, her mind went completely blank. She wanted to say she never made mistakes, but she knew that wasn't a good answer. So she took a breath and told the truth. Once, she had booked two important meetings at the same time. When she noticed the problem, she called both clients, apologized and found a new time that worked for everyone. After that, she started checking the calendar twice every morning. Mr. Evans smiled and wrote something in his notes. "That's exactly what I wanted to hear," he said. "Everyone makes mistakes. I want to know what people do next." Two days later, Maria received an email. She had the job. On her first day, Mr. Evans told her that her honest answer was the reason he had chosen her.