How to Answer Interview Questions About Your Previous Job

How to Answer Interview Questions About Your Previous JobHow to Answer Interview Questions About Your Previous JobIts easy to talk at interviewabout what you liked about your previous job, but you need to be careful when responding to questions about the downsides of your brde position. Its leid the time to vent, so heres what you need to know about answering this type of question. Some of the common ways interviewers inquire about previous jobs include What did you most like and dislike about your previous job?What did you enjoy most in your last role?What did you dislike about your last role?What were the best and worst aspects of your last employer? What the Interviewer Really Wants to Know By asking about your feelings toward a previous job, ahiring committeeoften isnt that interested in the list of actual likes or dislikes you can provide. Rather, theyre trying to judge your character by listening to the tone and attitude with which you respond to a tricky question. Details of your likes and dislikes can also reveal whether youll be agood fit culturallyat the company at hand. How to Answer Questions About Your Previous Job Thebest strategy to use in this case is to focus on the positives of your previous job and totalk about how your experiences there have prepared you to assume a progressive and challengingnew role with a different employer. You dont want the interviewer to think youll also speak negatively about this job or the company should you eventually decide to move on after they hire you. Neither do you want to provide them with the first impression that youre a complainer, hold grudges, or are difficult to work with. When youre asked at ajob interviewabout what you didnt like about your previous job, try not to be too negative. If the interviewer presses you to say something negative- or if you feel that your answer will not be complete without a nod toward the negative aspects- keep it focused on tasks, situations, or company structure, and not on people. Bonus points if its something that will be easier at the new company. For example I often found myself frustrated by the limitations of our content management system- it was slow and also prone to crashing. Thats why I was so relieved to hear you say that ABC Companys had recently been updated. Examples of the Best Answers I enjoyed the people I worked with. It was afriendly and fun atmosphere, and I actually enjoyed going to work each morning. I felt thatthe leadership team was great too. They knew all of their employees on a first name basis and tried to make those personal connections. I also enjoyed the fact that the office tried to do community outreach with local organizations. ExpandWhy It Works This answer is so revealing Personal connections are clearly a priority for this candidate. This honest-seeming response says a lot about the candidates values as an employee. Plus, the overall tone is really positive. One of the reasons Im leaving is that I fel t I was not challenged enough at the job. As a new employee in the working world, the company offered me a great opportunity for a good entry-level position- one that Ill always be grateful for. However, after being there for so many years, I felt I wasnt able to fulfillallofmy potential because of a real lack of challenge. There was no room for advancement in the company. While I did enjoy working there and appreciate the skills I developed, I feel myskill setcan be better employed elsewhere.Somewhere my capabilities are more recognized, and wherethere is the opportunity for growth. ExpandWhy It Works Seeking more challengingwork makes a candidate seem like a hard worker. This person also seems quite loyal (After being there for so many years). Thats a good thing, since employers can be wary of hiring people who wont stick around. Through my experience at ABC Company, I learned a lot aboutdifferent management stylesand strategies for maintaining cooperation in a large group project setting. I feel that as valuable as that experience has been, I am eager to work on more specialized projects onwhich I will have the opportunity to be more of a leader than was going to be possible there. ExpandWhy It Works This answer keeps the focus on the positive aspects of the previous job. In a situation where the new role offers leadership opportunities, this answer will make a candidate appear a strong fit. While the people at XYZ Company were terrific to work with, I felt that the opportunities for me there were limited by the structure and size of the company. I believe that a larger company with an international presence can offer challengesandopportunities unavailable at a smaller firm. The position with your company is a great match for my skill set, and I feel that I would be an asset to your marketing (or HR or IT) department. ExpandWhy It Works This answer focuses on a negative structural aspect, making it clear why this job would be a better fit. Tips for Givin g the Best Answer Display positive energy.Your skills matter a lot, but employers are also looking for candidates who have enthusiasm, dedication, and energy. Avoid complaining in your response. Instead, focus on good experiences at your current (or former) employer. Mention positives that demonstrate your culture-fit or skills.Your mention of a positive aspect of your former job should ideally advance your candidacy. If what you liked was Free bagels on Thursdays that may be honest, but it does not show youre a good fit for the job at hand. End on a positive noteabflug off by mentioning a positive. Then mention the negative and try to pivot back around to something positive. You can do that by talking about how you managed the aspect you disliked, or bymaking a connection to the job youre interviewing for. Focus on tasks over peopleThis is not the time to complain about coworkers or your manager. Instead, talk about structural problems or characteristics of the company, unavailabl e opportunities, or tasks that were frustrating. What Not to Say Dont bad-mouth an employer or your peers.When an interviewing committee sees that you refuse to bad-mouth your previous employer, theyll trust that youll offer the same respect and loyalty to them if you become their new employee. Dontchoose a negative aspect that isnt common in the industry.Mention a dislike thats present at the company youre interviewing with, and you could disqualify yourself as a candidate. Be honest.As you can see, you want to be strategic in your response. But make sure also tobe genuine. If you truly loved your job let that shine through, and be specific about what made it so great. And if an aspect was frustrating, do mention it- without letting it overpower your response. Possible Follow-Up Questions Being asked what you liked and disliked about your former employer isnt the only question where you may have to tread carefully during a job interview. Here are othercommon interview quest ions and answersthat an interviewer will ask not only tolearn more about your skills and work background, but also to measure your personality and positivity What wasthe most/least rewarding at your last job?Why are you leaving your job?What interests you about this job?How is our company better than your present employer? Key Takeaways STAY POSITIVE.Do not vent or complain in your response. Keep it positive to help show that youre easy to work with and not prone to holding grudges.FOCUS ONWHATOVERWHO.Reference negative aspects that will be solved in the new job and avoid bad-mouthing the company or its employees.SHOW YOUR FIT WITH THE COMPANY/JOB.When you talk about both the positive and negative aspects of previous roles, you have an opportunity to further your case as a candidate. Take advantage