Tell me about a time you failed and how you recovered

Last updated: February 27, 2026

Quick Overview

Use the STAR method to answer. Be specific about the situation at Atlassian, your actions, and measurable outcomes.

Atlassian
Behavioral & Leadership
Software Engineer
Atlassian
February 27, 2026
Software Engineer
Behavioral Round
Behavioral & Leadership
Medium

9

7

4,467 solved


Use the STAR method to answer. Be specific about the situation at Atlassian, your actions, and measurable outcomes.

Behavioral questions at Atlassian are weighted heavily in the hiring decision. This question appears in the Behavioral Round and is designed to assess your past experiences and how they align with Atlassian's leadership principles and culture.

What the Interviewer Expects
  • Share a compelling story with specific details and measurable outcomes
  • Demonstrate leadership skills: influence without authority, mentoring, decision-making
  • Show empathy and emotional intelligence in conflict situations
  • Reflect on lessons learned and how you applied them going forward
  • Quantify your impact with concrete metrics where possible
Key Topics to Cover
Mentoring and team development
STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result)
Handling ambiguity and making decisions with incomplete information
Project management and prioritization
Leadership and influence without authority
Cross-functional collaboration
How to Approach This
  1. Use the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, Result.
  2. Be specific about YOUR actions, not just the team outcome.
  3. Quantify your impact whenever possible (e.g., "reduced latency by 40%").
  4. Prepare stories for: conflict, failure, ambiguity, leadership, and technical trade-offs.
  5. Show growth mindset. Explain what you learned and how you changed your approach.
Possible Follow-up Questions
  • How did you get buy-in from stakeholders who disagreed?
  • What would you do differently if you faced this situation again?
  • How did you measure the success of your actions?
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Sample Answer
How to Structure Your Response

Use the STAR method to structure a clear, compelling answer: **Situation** (2-3 sentences): Set the context. What was the project, team, and stakes? ...

Example Answer Framework

"At my previous company, we were building [specific product/feature] and faced [the specific challenge from the question]. The team was [size] and the...


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