Job Interview Questions and Answers

Tag: worst

  • Evaluate the worst supervisor you’ve ever had?

    This question is very similar to the question that asks you to describe the best supervisor you have ever had. Both questions are quite common when interviewing, regardless of the type of job you are interviewing for. The interviewer is attempting to find out whether you are the type of employee who would blame others or who might carry a grudge when they ask this type of question.

    There are many different ways in which this question can be answered, but your answer should not focus on discussing the supervisor in a negative fashion. That is not the goal in answering this question. While you very well might be able to ramble on about how your worst supervisor was and precisely why he or she was such a bad boss, this is not the correct way to answer this question. Instead of focusing on why your boss was unsatisfactory, you should instead focus on what you learned from that experience. Even when a supervisor is not the best, there is still something that can be learned. This is what you need to demonstrate when answering this type of question.

    If you go into too many negative details about previous managers, it is going to alert the interviewer that you may have a problem with supervision and authority. This could be interpreted to mean that you might be a difficult employee. Keep in mind that even if there was something negative about a prior boss, you should always try to find something positive to focus your answer on. Also, remember that you answer should be based in fact and should not be based on just your own opinion.

    For example, you might state that your prior supervisor preferred for staff to be able to work in an independent manner. As a result, this meant that you needed to learn how to work independently quickly and learn how to find solutions on your own. This type of answer demonstrates positive facts about your supervisor. In addition, while those facts could have been negative, you are turning them into something positive while also demonstrating what you learned from that experience. Through this answer you have not criticized your supervisor but at the same time you have utilized the opportunity to focus on your own abilities and how you used that situation to grow professionally.

    This question is very similar to the question that asks you to describe the best supervisor you have ever had. Both questions are quite common when interviewing, regardless of the type of job you are interviewing for. The interviewer is attempting to find out whether you are the type of employee who would blame others or who might carry a grudge when they ask this type of question.

    There are many different ways in which this question can be answered, but your answer should not focus on discussing the supervisor in a negative fashion. That is not the goal in answering this question. While you very well might be able to ramble on about how your worst supervisor was and precisely why he or she was such a bad boss, this is not the correct way to answer this question. Instead of focusing on why your boss was unsatisfactory, you should instead focus on what you learned from that experience. Even when a supervisor is not the best, there is still something that can be learned. This is what you need to demonstrate when answering this type of question.

    If you go into too many negative details about previous managers, it is going to alert the interviewer that you may have a problem with supervision and authority. This could be interpreted to mean that you might be a difficult employee. Keep in mind that even if there was something negative about a prior boss, you should always try to find something positive to focus your answer on. Also, remember that you answer should be based in fact and should not be based on just your own opinion.

    For example, you might state that your prior supervisor preferred for staff to be able to work in an independent manner. As a result, this meant that you needed to learn how to work independently quickly and learn how to find solutions on your own. This type of answer demonstrates positive facts about your supervisor. In addition, while those facts could have been negative, you are turning them into something positive while also demonstrating what you learned from that experience. Through this answer you have not criticized your supervisor but at the same time you have utilized the opportunity to focus on your own abilities and how you used that situation to grow professionally.

  • Describe the worst job you’ve had?

    This is the type of question that you will need to be very careful answering. This question is actually a lot like a question where you are asked to describe your ideal or dream job. Your response to this question should be similar to that of the dream job question for the same reasons. When you describe the worst type of job that you have ever experienced you do not want to mistakenly describe the type of job environment for which you are interviewing. For example, you do not want to say that the worst job you have ever had was one in which you had to work in a team environment and everyone on the team got on your nerves. If the job for which you are applying is one which you will have to work as a team it is likely that this type of answer could cost you the job.

    Unless you are very well versed about the job for which you are applying, it is better to stay away from specifics when answering this question. Instead, you should rely on providing an answer that is generic in nature. For example, you might state that the worst job you’ve ever had was one in which you were not able to contribute as much as you would like due to a lack of opportunity. Steer away from describing employment situations you hated because of the attitudes of the supervisor, co-workers or something specific that related to that job.

    You can easily find yourself in murky waters when answering this question if you do not prepare properly. One of the benefits about this question is that it is easy to practice and prepare your answer. There is no standard right or wrong answer to this question, but it is a good idea to practice so that you feel comfortable giving an answer that is detailed enough to provide the interviewer with the information they seek while at the same time remaining generic enough to ensure that you do not accidentally say the wrong thing.

    When you are preparing for an interview it is important to make sure that you practice a response to this question because it is one of the more common questions that are commonly asked during interviews so there is a good chance that you will encounter it at some time.