How to Answer “What Do You Like Least About Your Job?” In The Job Interview

Interview questions are rarely what they seem. Many candidates have not gotten that fateful job offer because of not understanding an interview question and resorting to aimlessly talking to get through it. Recently, I was a victim of this. I practiced for days on what I would say. I researched the company and who would be interviewing me, but it didn’t matter. My mouth opened and nothing came out. My mind went totally blank. So, I decided to research what certain questions actually meant and what the recruiter was actually trying to get out of me. Out of all the questions I’ve heard over the years, this one usually floors me.

“What do you like least about your job?”

Why would anyone ask this? Do they really want me to tear apart my job and let it all hang out? Or is it a trick? I usually go back and forth in my mind before I realize that the recruiter is staring at me expectantly. Though a cathartic exercise, trashing your former job is always a no-no. The easy trick to understanding and answering this question is seeing the opportunity it gives you. Every interview question is a two-sided blade. You must be honest, but not too honest. You have to give a little truth and have some humility but immediately turn it around and showcase your strengths.

This question gives the recruiter the opportunity to see what bothers you, ticks you off, but more importantly how you handle it. When employers ask you this question, they want to hear about a real struggle you deal with     in the workplace. It could be job-specific or something you have had trouble with throughout any job. Make sure it is easy to explain and not too personal. Show them that this is something real and that you are striving to overcome. Don’t whine about it but don’t downplay it either. You want to tell a story about how this affects you but how you will grow to overcome it and how you deal with it now. The most important part of your issue is how you deal with it.

Let’s say you are in sales. You have a hard time keeping your momentum up after a customer completely turns you down. This is a perfect example of a problem every salesperson experiences, but only few work through. You can tell your recruiter you have a process for when you feel discouraged. You can tell them that you find it in yourself to try harder with the next customer. Another example: Your least favorite part of your job is deadlines. What do you do? You do everything in your power to make sure you hit your deadlines before they come up. You hate that feeling of something closing in on you, so you plan ahead and work smart to get your work done efficiently and correctly.

These kinds of answers will have recruiters fawning over you. Make it personal. Make it real. Make them sympathize with you and believe that you can handle any problem. Make them root for you and you won’t have any issue getting job offers.

So, remember, when answering “What do you like least about your job?”, be honest, tell a story and be confident in how you can overcome challenges.

This post was written by Eliud Rivera.
Eliud Rivera of Vineland, New Jersey is ecstatic to begin his career in writing after graduating from Rowan University with degrees in Advertising and Public Relations. Over the last few years, he has taught at-risk high school students at his hometown Boys & Girls Club how to market themselves to employers, write resumés, and prepare for job interviews. He is passionate about educating others on how to spot a job posting that is an ideal fit, so everyone involved can benefit from a great working relationship.