Tell me about a problem you've had with a previous supervisor.
Your interviewer is curious whether you work well with your team leaders and are looking for assurances you don't have issues with positions of authority. Additionally, your interpretation of a 'problem' with your supervisor will be informative. One candidate might offer a problem with their supervisor as a personal conflict, whereas another might interpret the question as a problem they worked on with their supervisor. Try to keep your reply as positive and constructive as possible. They're likely not interested in hiring a candidate who complains about a boss in an unconstructive manner.
"I had a supervisor in my past role who was great at leading meetings and meeting with us one-on-one on a weekly basis. I really wish he would have come out of his office more often to walk around our cubicle area. I think he would have built more meaningful relationships by doing this, and it would have made him feel more approachable. He is a good leader, and I think he could have been a great leader by allowing himself to be more relationship oriented."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
I always strive to move work forward in the most efficient manner, but sometimes this causes friction with the current state and those deeply entrenched in the current state.
Providing a path forward that is clearly marked with success milestones helps alleviate this friction.
Rachelle's Feedback
You offer a good intro; however, 'Tell me about a time' style questions are behavioral-based and do require the offering of a specific example. I recommend utilizing the STAR framework to keep your answer full, informative, and on track (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
