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
February 27, 20269
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
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 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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What the Interviewer is Really Asking
The interviewer is assessing your ability to handle failure, demonstrate resilience, and learn from mistakes. They want to see how you can recover from setbacks while maintaining leadership qualities,...
Strong Answer Structure for This Question
- Situation: Describe the project and the specific failure encountered.
- Task: Explain your role and responsibilities in that context.
- Action: Detail the steps you took to addres...
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