8 “Tell me about a time” interview questions

“Tell me about a time when” interview questions ask candidates to describe previous experiences related to specific situations or skills.

Consider asking the following questions during your next interview:

Can you tell me about a time you reached a goal at work?

Talking about achieving goals starts the interview on a positive note because you’re asking the candidate to reflect on their accomplishments. It gives you the opportunity to assess their strengths and their thought process when solving problems.

When evaluating the interviewee’s response to this question, you may want to look for:

• What they view as success, indicating their values
• What kind of goals do they set for themselves
• Whether they actively work to achieve those goals
• Their level of confidence when discussing their successes
• Positive attributes they possess that allowed them to reach the goal

2. Can you tell me about a time when you led a team?

This question encourages interviewees to demonstrate their leadership qualities by discussing previous experience leading a team. It can be beneficial to ask this question if the position requires managing other employees. Even in an entry-level position, it’s valuable to hire people who exhibit leadership qualities because they may be more likely to qualify for future promotions.

When candidates answer this question, pay attention to or ask follow-up questions to get insight into:

• How they felt about managing a team
• Whether they understand collaboration and communication
• The size of the team they managed
• Duration of the leadership position and its outcome

3. Can you tell me about a time when you had a miscommunication with a coworker?

Asking about a time when a candidate experienced a miscommunication with a coworker can help assess interpersonal skills. Be sure to ask about the communication medium. A misunderstanding via email differs from an in-person conversation and may require a different solution.

A candidate’s answer to this question can tell you:

• Whether they’re capable of admitting potential fault
• Their preferred method of communicating with other employees
• How they approach conflict resolution
• Their level of accountability and self-awareness

4. Can you tell me about a time when you had to solve a challenging problem?

Problem-solving capabilities are important in many jobs, and you may want to ensure that your potential new hire possesses critical thinking skills to handle issues effectively. Asking about a time they had to solve a challenging problem lets the candidate reflect on past challenges and how they overcame them.

An interviewee’s response to this question can give you insight into:

• What they view as a problem
• Whether they can remain calm in the face of adversity
• If they appear to think critically or outside the box
• How successful they were at resolving the issue

5. Can you tell me about a time you made a mistake at work?

Human error is unavoidable, and mistakes do happen in the workplace. However, it’s important to admit and learn from mistakes so they don’t recur. You might phrase the question as, “Can you tell me about a time when you made a mistake at work and what you did about it?” Candidates who cannot provide an example might need additional questions to help them identify examples.

When assessing the interviewee’s response to this question, look for:

• Honesty about past errors
• Desire to correct the mistake rather than cover it up
• What they learned from the experience

6. Can you tell me about a time when making the right decision didn’t benefit you?

Having employees on your team who care about the company’s greater good can contribute to your business’s long-term success. Asking this question can help you narrow down which candidates could make responsible choices, even when it’s not the most convenient or easy thing to do.

Pay attention to a candidate’s answer to this question and see if they exhibit:

• Company loyalty
• A good sense of right and wrong
• Accountability
• Compassion

7. Can you tell me about a time when you had to multitask at work?

Today’s workplaces are predominantly digital and fast-paced. Employees often need to multitask efficiently to complete the job on time while still delivering high-quality work. You can phrase the question as, “Can you tell me about a time when you had to multitask at work? What was the outcome, and how did you feel about it?”

The answer to this question may tell you whether a candidate has:

• The ability to understand multitasking
• A desire to provide high-quality results under a tight deadline
• Examples proving they can do this successfully

8. Can you tell me about a time when you took initiative at your job?

Even if you manage employees closely, hiring someone who can show initiative and start tasks with minimal instructions can improve efficiency. Asking the interviewee to provide an example of a time they took initiative allows you to evaluate this ability. This can be particularly important in small teams, where each employee may need to handle a broad range of tasks.

When evaluating the interviewee’s response, consider looking for:

• An understanding of what it means to be a self-starter
• A desire to be proactive
• Someone who asks questions and looks for opportunities without being told what to do
• An understanding of how their actions impact the company or team as a whole

How to create your own “tell me about a time” interview questions

Whether you’re preparing for a face-to-face orvirtual interview, it can be beneficial to create your own “tell me about a time” interview questions tailored to the specific position you are hiring for. Follow these tips to help you write effective questions:

1. Focus on key job skills and qualifications

Use your job descriptions as a guide when crafting “tell me about a time” interview questions. Review the skills and qualifications list and develop specific situations where your new hire may rely on those characteristics.

For example, if a bookkeeperposition requires extensive familiarity with accounting software, you might ask, “Can you tell me about a time when you had a technical issue with your accounting software? What did you do to resolve it?”

2. Strive for brevity and clarity

Keep your “tell me about a time” interview questions brief and to the point. Describe scenarios in as few words as possible while still making your question clear to the candidate.

3. Use inclusive language

Be mindful when choosing the wording of your “Tell me about a time” interview questions. Select words that don’t accidentally exclude specific individuals. For example, “observe” or “notice” may be preferable to the verb “see.”

4. Seek input from your team

After you’ve created your list of “tell me about a time” interview questions, consider sharing them with other members of the management team, your human resources department and your employees. Getting feedback from others can help you spot potential issues with your questions.