Question: Describe a time when you spotted a mistake in an assignment that was hard to spot or not apparent at first.

Alternative Question Phrasing:

Describe a time where you found an error that was not immediately obvious.

Follow-up questions:

What was the impact of that error?
What did you do after you spotted the error?
How do you ensure that such errors are avoided in the future?

Question Details:

Question Type:

Behavioral

Skills:

Basic – Monitoring (Making observations of self and environment),Basic – Science and Logic,Systems Analysis,Systems Evaluation

Abilities:

Cognitive – Deductive Reasoning,Cognitive – Flexibility of Closure (Pattern Detection),Cognitive – Inductive Reasoning,Cognitive – Problem Sensitivity (Problem Recognition),Cognitive – Visualisation

Work Activity (Task):

Information Input – Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events,Information Input – Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings,Mental Processes – Analyzing Data or Information,Work Output – Quality Improvement

Work Context (Person-Job/Team/Org Fit):

Job Structure – Consequence of Error,Job Structure – Work Accuracy (Importance of Being Exact or Accurate)

Work Style (Person-Job Fit):

Adaptability/Flexibility,Attention to Detail,Handling Ambiguity,Initiative

Question Frequency

Question Difficulty

What to look for in an answer:

You are looking if the candidate has attention to detail.
If the candidate comes up with a logical plan to correct the error and has developed strategies to avoid such errors.

Red Flags to Watch For:

If the candidate flaunts about spotting the error but not about finding a solution.

Sample Answer:

N/A

Question Source: https://www.totaljobs.com/advice/most-common-competency-based-interview-questions