How to Answer: Have you ever had a difficult boss, professor, or coworker? What made them difficult to work with, and how did you successfully interact with this person?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for an Air Canada job interview.
2. Have you ever had a difficult boss, professor, or coworker? What made them difficult to work with, and how did you successfully interact with this person?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
While the airline industry and Air Canada focus on serving their passengers in the best way possible, being a great colleague is also vital. As in any other industry, you will join a passionate and robust workforce in this role and likely encounter some strong and even difficult personalities. It will be important that your interviewer is confident in your ability to work effectively with personalities that clash with you.
Written by Ryan Brunner on March 10th, 2023
How to Answer
Before your interview with Air Canada, think back to that one person you worked with who was seen as hard to please. Perhaps they tried to intimidate others or had to have the last word. Talk to the interviewer about what made this person challenging and their relationship with you. The key to your answer here is describing how you worked to make the relationship a positive one and the steps you took to do so. Avoid speaking poorly of anyone, and be sure to end your response on a positive note.
Written by Ryan Brunner on March 10th, 2023
1st Entry Level Example
"Last year, I was on a large group project, and it didn't take long to see we had a person with a very dominant personality on the team. Both in our in-person meetings and email communications, she put down the ideas of others and would only use her ideas. I took it upon myself to approach her one-on-one to talk about the issue and how I felt about it. My approach was direct and friendly, speaking from the heart. While a bit taken aback, she let me know she appreciated the feedback, and she became a more cohesive teammate moving forward."
Written by Ryan Brunner on March 10th, 2023
1st Answer Example
"I once worked at a locally owned shop where the owner was very demanding. When the owner would walk into the store, employees would announce over their headset system that the owner was in the building, so that everyone could be prepared for his entrance into their department. The owner had great intentions; however, his people skills were a little rough. I could see that he meant well, and I recognized that he wanted to do a lot of good things. When we interacted, I always took his feedback with the understanding that he didn't mean things as harshly as he might say them."
Written by Rachelle Enns
2nd Answer Example
"I struggled most with the new VP of Sales at my previous company. She was brought on with no experience in our industry and seemed to have little interest in it To win her over, I invited her on a business trip for an out-of-town client. I wanted her to meet my clients and spend one-on-one time together. We bonded as humans, mothers, and sales executives. She learned a lot about the company and industry, and I learned a lot about what skills she brought from her previous roles."
Written by Rachelle Enns
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