Can you tell us about a time where you received unpleasant feedback?

Question Analysis

This question is designed to assess your ability to handle criticism and learn from feedback. Employers want to see that you can respond constructively to negative feedback, which is a crucial skill in any professional setting. Your response should highlight your self-awareness, adaptability, and commitment to personal and professional growth. The STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is an effective way to structure your answer.

Answer

Situation: In my previous role as a project coordinator, I was responsible for managing several projects simultaneously. During one of our quarterly performance reviews, my manager provided feedback that my communication with team members wasn’t as clear as it could be, leading to occasional misunderstandings.

Task: My goal was to improve my communication skills to ensure that all team members had a clear understanding of their responsibilities and deadlines, thereby improving overall project efficiency.

Action: To address this feedback, I took several steps. First, I asked my manager for specific examples where my communication had fallen short. I also enrolled in a communication skills workshop to enhance my abilities. Additionally, I started to implement regular check-ins with my team to clarify tasks and gather feedback on the clarity of my instructions.

Result: As a result of these actions, there was a noticeable improvement in team collaboration and project delivery times. My manager acknowledged the improvement in my communication skills in the following performance review, and it also helped in building stronger relationships within the team. This experience taught me the value of constructive feedback and the importance of continuous improvement.