How to Answer Interview Questions About Bosses

How to Answer Interview Questions About BossesHow to Answer Interview Questions About BossesMostjob interviewswill include a few inquiries about your baboes both past and future. Commoninterview questionsabout supervisors include asking you to describe the best and the worst boss youve worked for, what you expect from a supervisor, how you handle a boss whos wrong, and other questions related to relationships with your superiors. Answering Questions About Previous Bosses Above all else, no matter how much you disliked a previous boss, dont say so In fact, dont say anything negative about your bosses no matter what your experiences were. Negativity, insults, or defamatory comments about a bad boss serve as a red flag for a hiring manager who may wonder what you will say in the future if youre hired. You neednt lie about your previous supervisors. Be truthful but remain positive. Frame your answer so that you shine a light on your professionalism and the insight you developed abou t the circumstances. The same holds true for the company - if you hated working at a company, keep that information to yourself. Be Very Careful How You Respond Why is it important to be mindful of what you say? There are so many reasons to watch your tongue. For example, an old boss might actually be a friend or acquaintance of the interviewer, especially if theyre in the same industry. Or he or she may be a client or customer of your prospective company. If you burn that bridge, youll probably destroy your chance at getting the job. If youre asked about a situation with a boss you didnt like, take a breath, pause a moment, and prepare your answer in a positive, or at least neutral, manner. At this point, how you deal emotionally with these types of questions may be important. This is notlage the time to fly off the handle and get upset or go into too many details about how bad your boss was. Shoulder the Blame and Show Growth If you think about it, there are always at lea st two sides to every story. Have you had a conflict with a supervisor? Disagreements about your work? First, realize that nearly all employees have had some kind of difference of opinion with their manager, which is a normal part of a relationship, on the job or off. Thus, its totally reasonable to talk about the situation. Convey what you learned and how the problem was resolved. In fact, dissenting opinions can be positive in that they lead to brainstorming and new ideas and solutions that advance the company. Perhaps you could explain how a difference in opinion led to some sort of improvement. Heres One Approach to Taking Personal Responsibility Take a look at these examples on how to answer the question while taking on at least some of the responsibility. I didnt see eye to eye with my brde boss and that led to a breakdown in communication. However, now I realize this was also due to my lack of experience in the industry and I worried that asking questions would be per ceived as weak and indicate that I was unable to do the job. Now Ive learned to ask questions immediately if I need further explanation and that it demonstrates my initiative and dedication to getting the job done right. An answer like that frames a bad situation in a better way and shows you improved yourself as a result. While its clear you had a disagreement with your boss, you didnt cast him or her in a negative light. Interview Questions and Answers About Bosses Want mora examples? Here are sample interview questions about managers and some of the best answers. Review these questions and answers and choose those that pertain to your previous situations, tailor them to your needs and practice answering those questions. Describe your best bossDescribe your ideal bossHave you ever had difficulty working with a manager?How would your supervisor describe you?How do you handle it if the boss is wrong?If you know your supervisor is 100 percent wrong about something, how would you handle it?What was it like working with your supervisor?What do you expect from a supervisor?What is the biggest criticism you received from your boss?Who was your best boss and who was the worst?More questions about supervisors While were on the subject of bosses, its important to find the one thats right for you when youre considering a new job, especially if youve had some terrible bosses in the past. Hereshow to find and work for the best boss.