I think my biggest failure was not being selected as an Indian Army officer because I was diagnosed with night vision problem. I was very determined to go there but I couldn’t.

When answering a competency-based interview question about your biggest failure, it’s essential to approach it strategically to showcase your ability to learn, grow, and handle setbacks effectively. Here’s a structured way to answer:

Acknowledge the Failure: Start by acknowledging the failure without placing blame on external factors. Take ownership of the situation.
Describe the Situation: Provide context about the situation where the failure occurred. Be concise but clear about what happened.
Explain What Went Wrong: Analyze the factors that contributed to the failure. This could include personal mistakes, miscommunication, lack of resources, etc. Be honest but avoid being overly critical of yourself or others.
Highlight the Learning Experience: Discuss what you learned from the failure. This could include new skills acquired, personal growth, or insights gained. Emphasize how this experience has made you a better professional.
Discuss Actions Taken: Talk about any steps you took to address the failure or prevent similar situations in the future. This shows initiative and problem-solving skills.
Reflect on the Outcome: If applicable, mention any positive outcomes or successes that resulted from the failure. This demonstrates resilience and the ability to turn setbacks into opportunities.
Connect to the Role: Finally, tie your response back to the role you’re interviewing for. Explain how this experience has prepared you to excel in the position and how you would apply the lessons learned.

Here’s an example answer:

“Early in my career, I was leading a project with a tight deadline. Despite careful planning, we encountered unexpected delays due to miscommunication between team members. As the project manager, I take responsibility for not ensuring clear communication channels from the outset. This led to confusion and ultimately impacted our ability to meet the deadline.

From this experience, I learned the importance of proactive communication and fostering a culture of transparency within teams. I implemented regular check-ins and established clearer roles and responsibilities to prevent similar issues in future projects. While the initial setback was disappointing, it ultimately strengthened our team dynamics and improved our overall project management processes.

Moving forward, I am committed to applying these lessons to any project I undertake. I believe this experience has equipped me with valuable skills in leadership, communication, and problem-solving that align well with the requirements of this role.”