Interview Tips and Questions

Describe the most difficult boss you ever worked for and how you dealt with them.

This is the flip side of that coin.

Now they are asking you to describe your boss from Hell.

The word, difficult, is the operative word here. Your perception of difficult may be completely different from mine.

True Story

He intimidated and upset a lot of people.

However, I got along well with this manager despite our opposite management styles.

As I look back on this experience, I realize the main reason we got along is because I did my job well. He didn't have many occasions to chastise me, or my department.

I discovered that when I looked beyond his tirades and tantrums, he was really trying to do the right thing. He also was honest.

For this reason, I didn't take his behavior personally, and could stand up to him without feeling intimidated. We sure had some lively debates though!

I grew from my association with him, even though I would have much preferred to work for someone else.

A mutual respect developed between us.

Here are the good things my interviewers might be thinking about me:

• He can work with demanding managers
• His management style is more participative (which is what most companies want these days)
• He can stand up to a tough boss
• He learned and grew from this experience

Unfortunately, you probably won't know why you are being asked this situational interview question.

Maybe they know you will be facing one or more of the following:

• Your manager is autocratic and few people can work for him/her.
• The owner's daughter will be your manager. She is a poor leader, unorganized, unpredictable, and not well liked.
• Expectations are high, and you will be held strictly accountable. Can you handle the pressure?
• Your boss may be a nice person, but a micro-manager.

Interview Tips and Questions: Usually at some point during your interview you will be asked, Do you have any questions for us?

A good question to ask them is: What is your management style like?

Tough minded, hard charging managers won't be bashful about telling you how they operate. You will quickly get a flavor of what to expect.

Remember...a job interview is a 2 way street. By asking a few tactful questions, you will gain some keen insights about a company's problems, culture, and expectations.

Trust you instincts. They usually are right.

What if you never worked for a difficult boss?

This certainly could be the case if you are early in your career. If you are in mid-career, maybe you've been lucky so far and all your bosses have been angels.

If so, just tell your interviewers that apparently the heavens have smiled down warmly upon you.

Almost everyone has heard of the 80/20 rule.

In this case, 20% of your managers should have been outstanding, 60% average, and 20% lousy. So, with 80% of your managers average to below average, someone in the bunch surely has given you a few headaches along the way.

Interview Tips and Questions: Don't be tempted to weasel out of answering this situational interview question by saying all your bosses were just G-R-e-a-t!