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Answers to Interview Questions - what to look for in a boss
Acing the job interview takes preparation and practice. Here is an answer to “What do you look for in a boss?”
Posted to:
Career+Work
Topics: Interviewing
To perform well in an employment interview, a job candidate has to possess effective interviewing skills. One of the best ways to prepare for an interview, is by holding mock interviews, answering the seven commonly asked interview questions. In the series on “Answers to 7 Common Interview Questions,” here is a possible response to “What do you look for in a boss?” For today’s question, the interviewer is trying to determine the job seeker’s personal leadership style, to find out if it aligns with the organization’s culture. It’s also a way to discover if the interviewee is promotable - that’s if he or she is leadership material. Another way to ask this question is, “Tell me about your current boss.”
It’s a well-known fact that the most common reason for someone to leave a job is because of the people they work with. People quit people, they seldom quit jobs. In the event that you are leaving your job because you cannot get along with your boss, do not say that in the interview. No mention of major personality flaws either. Focus on your boss’ strengths, because everyone has strengths. Everyone is good at something. Your response to “What do you look for in a boss” should be short, direct, cover four to five traits, and should take no more than two minutes to answer. A possible answer to the question is below.
“I’ve found I work well with a lot of different management styles. Now, having said that, I think it’s admirable for bosses to show interest in their direct reports, know each team member’s strengths and weaknesses, listen to what team members have to say, and give praise when appropriate. It’s very important to me that an ideal boss is approachable, someone who speaks plainly. I’d also like to know that I can talk to my boss about any workplace situation without feeling scared or fearful of his reaction. And my ideal boss provides timely, and honest feedback.”
The response above will take less than two minutes to deliver, but it touches on several traits of the greatest leaders. That’s the kind of person who you’d ideally want to work with. Since interviews are a two-way street, when you get the opportunity to ask questions, make sure you ask questions such as, “Tell me what you like best about your job” and “What’s your management style?” Additionally, also pay attention to non-verbal cues since this gives important insights into the boss’ personality.
This response to the common interview question, “What do you look for in a boss?” is only a guide. How would you change your answer to make it best highlight your experience and leadership strengths?
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