How do you feel about performing monotonous and repetitive work?
"I am happy to perform whatever work is required of me. I often enjoy such work, especially when I can develop a system and get a rhythm going. Once I can add a pulse to repetitive work, it becomes fun. It is a sort of dance, moving along a charted routine with a meter. Sometimes I even come up with a little song to entertain myself."
"I'd say I would feel honored to be doing the work. If the work is assigned to me, it is because I am trusted to complete that work better than anyone. Besides, if you have a lousy attitude about it, you won't enjoy the work, and that's a choice. I pride myself on having a great attitude. It's what guides me through my day, my decisions, and my interactions."
How you answer this question could indicate whether you enjoy this type of work or are leaving your last job due to burning out on your career. Too often, a person will quit their job hoping the grass is greener on the other side, but their job dissatisfaction follows them, putting off an inevitable career change.
Communicate that you know how challenging this aspect of the job can be, but you are adaptable. Communicate how you thrive on such work or how your systems implementation contributes to your track record for success, which is correlated with your job satisfaction. When the monotonous or repetitive does wear you out, share the tools you implement to help you cope and continue without burning out.
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 am fine with performing this type of work because the more you do something, the better you get.
Jaymie's Feedback
Good job! If there are techniques you use when performing these kinds of tasks (i.e., listening to music, taking breaks to ensure accuracy, setting pace goals, etc.) you can share those in your response as well.
Anonymous Answer
We don’t always have fun exciting work or tasks but even the monotonous and repetitive are essential to the function of our departments' success. Like a cog in a clock if I keep doing my part in any form of work I can contribute to the continued progress of my team.
Jaymie's Feedback
Interviewers want to know that you are comfortable doing these types of tasks and understand the value of these tasks to the organization. It sounds like you have no problem doing such tasks. If you have techniques you use (listening to music, taking breaks, breaking the tasks into smaller sections or goals, etc.), feel free to share those to demonstrate how you stay focused and motivated.
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