Say you’re asked this in a job interview:
Describe the boss who could get the very best work from you.
What will you say?
This question is looking at fit—how you’ll fit into the organizational culture, and how you’ll fit with the person who would be your boss. Your answer shows your personality, your work style, and your communication skills. It also sheds light on your past relationships.
I would say, “I always give my best work, no matter what. But I would enjoy a boss who….”
Or, “I always give my best work, no matter what, but I’ve had some great bosses over the years that really inspired me because…”
It’s important to note that you always give your best, no matter what the circumstances around you are. And then just point out 2-3 things you particularly enjoy in someone who supervises your work.
The key here is balance:
- You want to be honest, because you don’t want to say you love being micro-managed if you really hate it, because it would affect you and your work negatively.
- But you also don’t want to pin yourself down to a specific list of ‘must-haves’ in case this person doesn’t have them all. Even if you’d be fine working without them, now they feel that you’d be unhappy and a bad fit.
If you are talking about a future boss, a nice safe thing to do is to mention 2-3 qualities that are broad enough to fit many people, and that managers strive for as a general rule:
- “I love a boss who communicates with me on a regular basis, letting me know expectations and goals.”
- “I love a boss who knows a lot about the industry, because I can learn so much from them.”
- “I love a boss who trusts me enough to let me work independently but helps me when I need it.”
If you talk about a boss who inspired you in the past, mention something they did that helped you be successful in the job, or made you better, stronger, or more effective than you were before:
- “I always give my best work, no matter what, but I’ve had some great bosses over the years that really inspired me. One in particular was a time management genius, and she really showed me how to learn to prioritize my tasks in order to manage my time and increase my productivity.”
(Give a specific example of this, with quantification of how much your productivity increased.) Your example could be a boss who taught you organization, communication, management skills, or anything else that has resulted in you being better at your job.
————————–
This question and answer is just one of the 101 job interview questions and answers in my ebook How to Answer Interview Questions II, available on Amazon.
If you know there’s a job interview in your future, I encourage you to get this book (How to Answer Interview Questions II) as well as the first book, How to Answer Interview Questions. Both books have 101 job interview questions and answers that will have you ready to stand out in any job interview and get the offer.
