Think about a difficult boss, professor, or coworker. What made them a challenge to be around? And, how did you successfully interact with this person?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Focus Your Answer On
1st Answer Example
2nd Answer Example

The interviewer wants to gain insight into your interpersonal and communication skills. They want to see if you call this person out on their behavior or if you find another way to work with them without causing a scene.

Show the interviewer that you work well with most personalities even though you recognize some folks are pretty challenging to be around. Think about that one person at work who is seen as hard to please. Perhaps there is someone at work who tries to intimidate others. Talk to the interviewer about what made this person challenging and their relationship with you. Avoid speaking poorly of anyone, and be sure to end your response on a positive note.

"I once worked at a small medical facility where the primary physician was very demanding. When he walked into the facility, employees quietly announced that he was in the building so everyone could be prepared for his arrival. This physician had great intentions; however, his people skills were a little rough. I saw that he meant well and recognized that he wanted to do many 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."

"In my previous position, I had a coworker who didn't pull their weight. This unmotivated coworker created more work for the rest of the team by being slow and unresponsive. Our team started to complete most of the tasks regarding group projects. It didn't take much time before our department head noticed this particular individual was slacking. I feel like, in most instances, the underachievers will weed themselves out over time, and it's rarely worth making a fuss over."