Do you consider yourself a patient person? How do you increase your patience in challenging situations?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Focus Your Answer On
What to Avoid
Entry Level Example
Experienced Example

The interviewer would like to know if you consider yourself a patient individual. "We're equipping our employees with even more tools to support their wellbeing. More joyful lives through better health applies to the body and the mind. By meeting the needs of our team, we are better equipped to meet the needs of our customers and patients." Impatience can cause a lot of stress and anxiety in customers and coworkers, so it is essential that you can showcase your ability to remain patient and professional in workplace situations. They want to see that you can handle angry customers, project deadlines, and the demands of working in retail and customer service.

Interviewers want to hire patient employees who can remain calm in challenging situations. Focus on letting the interviewer know you are patient and professional and can increase your patience during difficult times.

You want to avoid saying you are not a patient person. It requires patience to work with customers and coworkers, and the interviewer wants to see that you can remain calm and professional under pressure.

"I consider myself an incredibly patient person. Sometimes I'm so patient it makes others impatient."

"I can be patient, but it's more of a learned skill than something innate. I have worked to become more patient and not demonstrate my frustration or impatience with others. I know when others are pushing me, it's counterproductive, so I remind myself of that when dealing with others. Also, I know when I'm running out of patience and am proactive in asking for some time to regroup when appropriate."