Victoria asked us on YouTube how to answer the job interview question "What annoys you?"
Well Victoria, I'm glad you asked. The employer is asking you this to make sure you are a good fit for this position.
Answers to avoid:
I hate picky customers. I mean, just make up your mind already. Seriously, they really bug me.
People. They all annoy me. I'm always right and for some reason most people can't realize that. I mean if everyone listened to me all the time, the world would be a better place.
My MOM! I mean, OH EM GEE! She’s always bothering me about getting a job!
All of these answers basically tell them that you would make a pretty bad employee and they should probably keep you away from all customers.
So, what should you do to make sure your answer doesn’t hurt your chances of getting the job? Concentrate on two things:
1) What you say - Is it something that you will have to face a lot on the job?
2) How you say it - Do you get really upset when you talk about what annoys you? How will you respond to a coworker or customer? Are you going to flip out on them?
You want to keep your answers to something that will show that you will be an asset to their team.
Answers to give:
Boredom. I'm the type of person who always needs to be working on something. I hate being bored and think I really thrive in a fast-paced environment.
Laziness. I'm always trying to better myself and push myself to the limit. It annoys me when I see people wasting away potential by being lazy. I'm a pretty motivated person.
Tardiness. I really don’t like to be late to things. It really bothers me so I tend to show up about 15 minutes early.
These answers really show the employer that you are not only going to be a hard worker, but that you are motivated to do the best you can and grow in their environment.
I hope that answers your question, Victoria! Let us know what you think.
About Kim Costa
I love this information…By the way…I hate being bored!!!
what annoys me ? People who only put in “minimum efforts”. just enough to stay with the job and get paid…I am a high-energy positive person, have worked in a variety of environments, and always give 100% of my efforts. there is always something to straighten out, refill, clean up, etc., or customers you could be talking to. Don’t stand around and play with your phone while customers are waiting for service.
Right. I have skills in all these things but for some reason, I still find it hard for me to get hired even if it is an easy retail job. I just get brushed away into non-existence. what do i do to interest employers more and land the job on the spot?
Employers who are looking for help but don’t have the coutesy to sit down and talk to you. They just take the application and walk away. They say they will be in touch and you never hear another word from them and yet they are still advertising for help.
The bad attitude of employers bothers me too. I think it’s a function of the recession (which is still alive and well where I live, in South Florida) — so many qualified applicants that some employers no longer feel they need to offer even basic courtesy. We need to remember the problem is them, not us, and also remember employers always show you their very best at the first contact. So if they’re going to be mean or indifferent at the start, they would only be worse to actually work for. Best of luck in your search!
They could be “just taking applications at this time”. (Been told that employers are required to keep their candidate search open for a certain amount of time as part of their requirements for following procedures to meet state and national employment rules and regulations. Also, if an employer posts a job in the newspaper, they will sometimes tell you they have paid for the ad to appear for a full two weeks even though they also say “the position has been filled”.)
Recently interviewed for a seasonal position at a major store. The interviewer knew I had been hired by Sephora’s, but I missed out on the training date due to an issue with our phone. The new interviewer was in Fine Jewelry. I have had extensive dental work done (implants and a complete lower permanent denture. However the top right side of my mouth is missing the eye tooth and first molar. I am very self-conscious of this however I have found a way to smile without showing the whole mouth of teeth.
She kept asking me that she noticed I wasn’t smiling and wondered if I was perhaps embarrased about something. I wrote it off and answered with saying that I found that odd since that is the one thing that stands out to most people is my smile (in a good way). I thought her question was unethical and belittling. One of my first priorities when I do get a job is getting the two missing teeth replaced.
What would you suggest the best way to handle a situation like this would be?
Hi Delinn – Interesting situation. I don’t think there’s a problem with telling them that you are about to get some dental work done and you guarantee that you are normally a smiley person. This will show them that it you are honest and that you have no problem normally smiling. What do you think?
The video on tips on how to get a job, interview, resumes etc. was acceptional. I’m an older person and have lost contact with the right way to interview. These videos were very helpful. Thank you.
all employers that say they will get back in touch with you and never do. They are not the type of people that you want to work for anyway. right off the bat it shows you that they are rude and unprofessional. they have no consideration for the company that they work for. i would not want to work under someone like that
last month iapply for a job with the city. it starts at 11.00 hour .i was interview -3-times.some one else got the job. the first 2-times.i do not why the first two people left the job.they called me in for the third time. this time they gave me the job.i pass the background check-i pass the drug test.but i fail the physical. so the people in human dept – turn my application down. what they done was not right. they should have done -let me get this physical promble fix.then give me the job. what they did was-wrong.
They job posting should have listed the physical requirements of the job.
i have been looking for a job put all my info.out there and only get callls from schools.i am 62yrs just need a job please.
Hi John! If you accidentally opted in to be called by our educational partners, ask to be put on the do not call list and they will stop. Thanks!
I appriecate this shrt video. It helps with a questions that be potentially awakward. Is there a way to answer the fllowing question, “Why did you leave your last job ?” Any advice on how to deal with this one ? Any video ?
Vicky! Great question and great timing. We actually just wrapped up filming that video and will have it posted this week! Stay tuned
. In the meantime, check out this article: http://www.snagajob.com/resources/why-do-you-want-to-leave and let me know if you have any questions!
Hi my is SamElla , I dislike When ,Employers see that you have a good work history an a background . They Still Have A hard time giving you the job .The community must for give because,God allready Has . give a second chance ,That should be the new motto an Three strikes no uno your out ps .Ms Divine SamElla
I hate it when an interviewer starts asking me my personal and background info without explaining what the job is all about. I’m not even sure I’m interested in the job yet!
It is discrimination to hire or not because of age. And on every application I have filled out, I must put the year I was born and the year I graduated from high school. I know how it works, but they don’t know how I work and I believe that is an unfair practice. So when you pass this along to your clients, Snag-a-Job, remind them that they my take someone younger with very little job history, train them and let them go within 90 days just to fill a gap in their work schedule. Hiring a seasoned, stable older person, one who is reliable, makes better sense. The question they should be asking is, How’s your health? Number of Doctor visits in the past 12 months. This age discrimination practice is against the law.
As to the interview video with Kim Costa on “what annoys you during the interview,” she could be understood but most of the others being interviewed could not, which brings me to the point, “what bugs me doing interviews,” is this, people generally speak to rapidly to be clearly understood, thus failing to get their point across to the listener. Slow down!
As I was reading alot of these job posts I”ve noticed alot of negativity and self doubt,and I just want to let everyone know that I too am 53yr old job seeker,and I feel I have no time for negative thoughts in my mind when it comes to searching for a job. Alot of what concerns me is that I know alot of employers out there will be taking my age into account when making a decision as to if they should hire me or not,now I could look at my age in two ways.,one is in a negative sense and think to myself,well,they will never hire me over someone younger,but I choose to look at my age in a positive aspect,such as I say to myself,53 yrs is not that old,plus I have exp.in alot of differant areas as to where a younger applicant could not match up with,plus I always tell myself everyday that I am just as good as the next person,no better,no worse,and when I dont get hired somewhere my attitude is it is that company”s loss,and then proceed to knock on the next door,because I know that one yes,you are hired,will erase a thousand no”s,if I can be of encouragement to anybody,I would say this,lets keep on keeping on,and never ever give up,and just believe that we are valuable just because we are human beings and we deserve to show employers what we are made of,which when we have been out here several months looking for work and we still wont give up until we here the words,your hired,I think that makes us very tough and determined people,so I wish all my fellow job seekers the very best and who knows someday we might be working beside eachj other and look back at things and be able to just have a good belly laugh about it all as we pick up ouir paychecks,God-Bless.
T.J.Lynn
Totally agree with you. I choose not to look at my current experience (and turnover), even though I have heard principals have said that’s a red flag. I choose to say I have diverse experiences, (and though I have to be careful how I word my last experience) that the right company is looking for my skillset to add to their organization’s function and worth.
What annoys me? Fake people who give fake answers to suck up to the hiring manager. Fake managers who are too dull to see fake answers given by fake people who are just trying to suck up to them,
(by no means suggesting all hiring managers are dull, nore that every person who answers ‘TARDINESS!’ is fake. Just most of them.
I enjoy these interviews questions I turned 50 last year and been unemployed for now over a year -14 months and I had no idea how to handle rude questions that years ago wouldn’t even been asked to your face! I have a question Every job I have worked at in the last 30 years of my life and there been 4 jobs, One for 10 years, 1 for 3 years and the last 2 which was going from one store to another as a job transfer that lasted 13 years. Every job on my resume has closed down, no longer in business. I stayed with each till the business died. How do you deal with this? I actually had one employer said we can’t hire you it looks like you are a jinx! So now I wonder if that is what is preventing me from being hired anywhere? Any suggestions here?