How to Interview for a Job in American English, part 5/5

Can you tell me about a time when you suffered a setback

and had to maintain your enthusiasm?

Sure. One definitely comes to mind.

Last year a project for a new toy was in its final stages

after two years of work.

As we were looking at the branding

and working up a final marketing plan,

a competitor launched a version

of the exact same toy that we were launching.

As the leader of the project, I knew that my reaction would set the tone for the group.

I acknowledged that it was a setback,

but challenged the group to think of this as a blessing in disguise.

I asked them to go out and buy the competitor’s product

and make a list of anything they wished the toy could do that it didn’t.

It turned out that the list was pretty long.

We added these items to our toy,

and launched a far superior product 6 months later.

So, in many ways, the competitor’s product became the key to our success.

That sounds like a great victory.