TRAPS: Thereare some questions your interviewer has no business asking, and this isone. But while you may feel likeanswering, “none of your business,” naturally you can’t. Some interviewers ask this question on thechance you admit to something, but if not, at least they’ll see how you thinkon your feet.
Someunprepared candidates, flustered by this question, unburden themselves of guiltfrom their personal life or career, perhaps expressing regrets regarding aparent, spouse, child, etc. All suchanswers can be disastrous.
BEST ANSWER: As with faults and weaknesses, never confessa regret. But don’t seem as if you’restonewalling either.
Beststrategy: Say you harbor no regrets, thenadd a principle or habit you practice regularly for healthy human relations.
Example: Pause for reflection, as if the questionnever occurred to you. Then say, “Youknow, I really can’t think of anything.” (Pause again, then add): “I would add that as a general managementprinciple, I’ve found that the best way to avoid regrets is to avoid causingthem in the first place. I practice onehabit that helps me a great deal in this regard. At the end of each day, I mentally review theday’s events and conversations to take a second look at the people anddevelopments I’m involved with and do a doublecheck of what they’re likely tobe feeling. Sometimes I’ll see thingsthat do need more follow-up, whether a pat on the back, or maybe a five minutechat in someone’s office to make sure we’re clear on things…whatever.”
“I also liketo make each person feel like a member of an elite team, like the BostonCeltics or LA Lakers in their prime. I’ve found that if you let each team member know you expect excellencein their performance…if you work hard to set an example yourself…and if you letpeople know you appreciate and respect their feelings, you wind up with ahighly motivated group, a team that’s having fun at work because they’restriving for excellence rather than brooding over slights or regrets.”