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.