Good Answer for Interview Question

What did you like least about your prior job?

Sometimes this question is also phrased this way:

If you could change anything about your current/past company, what would that be?

They are basically asking you to criticize your current employer. This is a fair question for a couple of reasons:

• You must be unhappy about something, or you wouldn't be sitting here in this interview. What are your beefs?
• If the same problems from your current employer exist here, why should we hire you?

Before we go over a good answer for interview question # 6 on our list of top 10 interview questions, I need to clear up some myths about being negative.

It's ok to share with your prospective employer problems and issues that are beyond your control and possibly insurmountable.

For Example:

• Your company has been downsizing for the past 2 years and their future is uncertain.
• Your travel requirements have gone from 50% to 75%, and you don't have a life anymore.
• Your company is losing money, recently filed for bankruptcy protection, or was purchased by a venture capital company.
• The quality of your company's products are declining, and management is slow to respond to positive improvement measures.
• You feel you are promotable, but the managers over you are younger and unlikely to leave the company anytime soon.

It is not ok to be negative about your boss, co-workers, or say anything of a personal nature about them--even if it is the main reason you want to leave.

It's also a bad idea to tell prospective employers that you feel you are underpaid, or unhappy with the benefits at your current company.

Why?

Two reasons:

1. Companies worry you will just use their offer as leverage to get a raise from your current employer.
2. Companies worry you will be an easy recruiting target the minute someone waves some money at you.

Neither of these reasons may apply to you, but being underpaid usually does not sit well with most prospective employers.