Tell me about a time you made a mistake and how you handled it.

Situation: I underestimated the complexity of a data migration, leading to a 2-week delay. Stakeholders were depending on the new system. Task: Deliver quality while rebuilding trust. Action: I communicated the delay as soon as I realized it, with a revised plan and root cause (e.g., schema drift I hadn't accounted for). I sought help from a senior engineer, reprioritized work, and updated estimates. I delivered with high quality; no shortcuts. I later improved our estimation process (added buffer, historical comparisons). Result: Migration completed 2 weeks late but with high quality. Trust recovered. I'm more conservative with estimates and seek input earlier. Lesson: Honesty, ownership, and proactive communication. Fix the process, not just the project.