First Jobs

How to talk about mistakes in an office runner interview

Added to the archive on 15 November 2026.

Prepare a short answer that shows how you spot and correct errors.

Start with a fictional situation where two envelopes are addressed to departments with similar names. In a real interview, use something that actually happened. Explain when you noticed it, who needed to know and what you did next. Keep the background short and make your own part clear.

Practise the follow-up

A sensible first response in the practice scenario is to confirm the recipient before delivering and record the handover. The interviewer may ask what you would change to catch the same error sooner. Consider whether adding one check to a handover register would help. Use a real example and explain the lesson you still apply today.