Describe a Time You Gave or Received Very Direct Feedback
Last updated: May 21, 2025
Quick Overview
Cursor values direct, blunt communication. Tell me about a time you gave difficult but necessary feedback to a colleague, or received feedback that was hard to hear but made you better.
Cursor
May 21, 202515
11
2,399 solved
Cursor values direct, blunt communication. Tell me about a time you gave difficult but necessary feedback to a colleague, or received feedback that was hard to hear but made you better.
Cursor's culture emphasizes directness. The interview evaluates whether you can give and receive honest feedback without defensiveness or passive aggression. The best candidates share examples where direct communication led to better outcomes, even though it was uncomfortable in the moment.
What the Interviewer Expects
- Show that you delivered feedback directly and specifically, not vaguely or through a third party
- Demonstrate that the feedback was constructive and focused on the work, not the person
- Explain the outcome and how the relationship or work improved
- If receiving feedback, show that you internalized it and changed your behavior
- Avoid portraying yourself as the hero who saved the day with tough love
Key Topics to Cover
How to Approach This
- Use the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, Result.
- Be specific about YOUR actions, not just the team outcome.
- Quantify your impact whenever possible (e.g., "reduced latency by 40%").
- Prepare stories for: conflict, failure, ambiguity, leadership, and technical trade-offs.
- Show growth mindset. Explain what you learned and how you changed your approach.
Possible Follow-up Questions
- How did you decide when to give the feedback versus letting it go?
- How did the other person react initially?
- What would you do differently about how you delivered it?
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