Question: Describe a time when you made a wrong decision because you made the decision too quickly. What happened and what went wrong?

Alternative Question Phrasing:

Tell us about a decision you made too quickly and got wrong. What made you take that decision?
Describe a time when you made a decision too quickly which resulted in a negative outcome.
Are there any occasions when you feel you make up your mind too quickly or too slowly?

Follow-up questions:

Why did you make that decision?
If you were in the similar situation today, what would you do differently?
How will this different approach give you success?

Question Details:

Question Type:

Behavioral

Skills:

Basic – Critical Thinking,Basic – Monitoring (Making observations of self and environment),Systems – Judgment and Decision Making,Systems Evaluation

Abilities:

Cognitive – Problem Sensitivity (Problem Recognition),Cognitive – Speed of Closure (Thinking Speed)

Other Factors:

Self-Awareness

Work Activity (Task):

Information Input – Estimating Characteristics of Objects, Events, or Information,Information Input – Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events,Information Input – Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings,Mental Processes – Developing Objectives and Strategies,Mental Processes – Judging the Value of Things, Services, or People,Mental Processes – Making Decisions and Solving Problems

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

Interpersonal Relationships – Responsibility for Outcomes and Results of Others,Job Structure – Handling Time Pressure,Job Structure – Level of Responsibility (Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Organization Results),Job Structure – Structured versus Unstructured Work

Work Style (Person-Job Fit):

Achievement/Effort (Action/Result Orientation),Analytical Thinking,Attention to Detail,Innovation

Question Frequency

Question Difficulty

What to look for in an answer:

The candidate’s decision-making skills.
If the candidate considers all the possible repercussions before taking an important decision.
If the candidate has developed patience over the years to think before acting.

Red Flags to Watch For:

The candidate’s poor decision-making skills.
If the candidate’s response focuses on correcting the problem rather than taking out time to think about a decision again.
If the candidate does not point any major skill which they have developed to handle such a situation effectively.

Sample Answer:

Last month, I’ve decided to enroll in an online course without realizing that we are working on a major project at work. It’s difficult to juggle time but I am learning to manage it. I am a multi-tasker, after all.

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