Think about a difficult boss, professor, or coworker. What made them difficult? How did you successfully interact with this person?

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

Show the interviewer that you work well with most personalities even though you recognize some folks out there are pretty difficult to please. The interviewer wants to hear that you are easy to get along with and possess patience and conflict-resolution skills.

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 focus on ending your response on a positive note.

"I once worked at a small medical facility where the primary physician was very demanding. When he would walk into the facility, employees would quietly announce that he was in the building so that everyone could be prepared for his arrival. This physician 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 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 did have 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 when it came to group projects. It didn't take much time before our department head noticed this particular individual was slacking. In most instances, the underachievers will weed themselves out over time, and it's rarely worth making a fuss over."