How do you handle working under very close supervision?

Question

Rachelle Enns · Accepted Answer

"In my current role, I work closely with my boss. Our offices are next to each other, and we meet at least once per day to discuss the status of our projects. Could you share with me what close supervision means to you?"

Rachelle Enns · Answer

The interviewer wants to know more about the workplace environment you desire. The goal of your response should be to describe your ideal work environment clearly, and ensure that this job opportunity is a two-way fit.

Keep in mind, the term 'close supervision' can be code for micromanagement in the workplace. If the interviewer asks a question similar to this in your interview, consider digging deeper to determine how the hiring company interprets the term 'close supervision.'

Rachelle Enns · Answer

If possible, give an example of when you worked closely with a boss, professor, or someone in a position of authority. Then, finish your reply by asking what the interviewer means by the term 'close supervision.' Your responsibility is to ensure that the workplace culture aligns well with your own needs as an employee.

Rachelle Enns · Answer

Since this question begins with 'How do you...' it is acceptable to use a hypothetical story example, giving a general overview of how you would react in this situation. However, if you want to use a real-life example, try forming a response using the STAR method. STAR is an acronym for Situation, Task, Action, Result. Organizing your response using this framework will ensure that you provide the interviewer with the right amount of information and detail to form a compelling answer.

Rachelle Enns · Answer

Avoid giving an answer that casts a negative light on being supervised. Very few people appreciate being micromanaged; however, avoid assuming that the term 'close supervision' means being micromanaged. Ask the interviewer as many questions as you need to gain a full scope of what type of supervision you'll be under in this role.

Rachelle Enns · Answer

"I work at the front desk in my current position, which means that I am accessible to my boss and most of the team all day long. Everything that I do is within this close-knit environment, and I work just fine. Could you further explain to me what 'close supervision' means to you, and what that would look like in this role?"

Rachelle Enns · Answer

"My boss is in another city, but we work closely through daily emails or meetings via Google Meet. I am close with my team but do not hover over them when it is time to get the job done. I believe in offering employees room to work. Do you believe in close supervision here? And, if so - could you further clarify what that looks like in your day-to-day operations?"

Rachelle Enns · Answer

"I can work well under any amount of supervision, as long as communication is clear and expectations are well-set. I am always able to speak for my work because I am confident in the quality that I deliver. What does close supervision look like here at your company?"

Rachelle Enns · Answer

"I believe in accountability in the workplace, so I certainly do not need someone checking in. With that said, I am a fantastic employee, so you will not feel the need to supervise my every move. When you speak of close supervision, are you referring to micromanaging, or are you speaking of close working relationships?"

Rachelle Enns · Answer

"Close supervision is a requirement at times, depending on the project stage and other factors. I do not mind close supervision as long as it's an effective working method. There should be some flexibility in sales, however. Getting calls hourly asking for updates, I would consider a little too much micromanaging.

Can you share with me how you define close supervision within your organization?"

Rachelle Enns · Answer

"As a teacher, I am not accustomed to overly close supervision by the principal, for instance, but I am accustomed to working closely with the parents of my students. I like it when parents are highly involved in their kids' education; however, nobody enjoys micromanagement. Can you please explain to me what you mean when you speak of close supervision?"

Anonymous User · Answer

"In my current role, I work mostly on my own with little supervision. When my supervisor is tasked with riding along with us, I can still perform my job in the same capacity as if he weren't with me. Also, our jobs are inspected at random, so it is expected of us to perform the same level of work at every job, which has never been an issue for me."

Anonymous User · Answer

"I don't do very well in such situations, but I will again try to see what the drivers (one level removed assessment of micromanager, then make it easy for them to get the information they need without coming to me necessarily) behind this behavior from management is and try to provide information that supervisor is looking for in a way they can get self serve access to it which reduces the need for direct close supervision. Once I understand their motivations on the need to have close tabs, I can work to mitigate that effectively."

Anonymous User · Answer

"My last job was an internship, so I was supervised closely. I looked at it as an invaluable resource and aimed to get as much out of it as possible. Ultimately, I was able to shorten my learning curve and start providing meaningful contributions to the cases I was assigned."

Anonymous User · Answer

"At my current employment, my manager sits in a different office, but we are in close touch via email, teams and skype conversation. My manger prefers me to send him my workload and the work planner of the day daily. I am happy to provide the detail he wants as I am always on top to finish my target and workload on time and happy to help the team achieve the team goal when needed."

Anonymous User · Answer

"In my previous job at ______, we had a store manager that we barely saw, and later, he was replaced by a manager that was in the pharmacy the majority of the time. I handle it the same as not having any supervision. I am a self-motivated worker, and I generally exceed the expectations for the tasks assigned, so I would be doing the same job whether a manager is watching me closely or not."

Anonymous User · Answer

"I thrive in situations where I work closely with a supervisor. I find it exciting to work closely so I can learn from my supervisor. That being said, I can also work very efficiently without direct supervision, thriving in an environment where I receive feedback."

Anonymous User · Answer

"I pride myself on building good relationships with my bosses, so I think I'll do good whether he is micromanaging me, although I prefer to be independently working. One time, my boss's boss would ask for my opinion rather than others. He told me that I'm the only one who isn't afraid to speak up and call him out whenever he makes the team uncomfortable."

Anonymous User · Answer

"Close supervision is a requirement at times, depending on the project stage and other factors. I do not mind close supervision as long as it's an effective working method. There should be some flexibility in sales, however. Getting calls hourly asking for updates, I would consider a little too much micromanaging.

Can you share with me how you define close supervision within your organization?"

Anonymous User · Answer

"I'm probably an outlier in this as I deeply appreciate supervision and scrutiny. I believe being open is one way to show my supervisors I have their best interest at heart. In addition, as a consummate professional, I am a self-motivator, which means I will perform to the best of my abilities with or without supervision. Given this is the case, I feel like I am giving myself the best chance to get even better by being open to feedback."

Anonymous User · Answer

"In my current role as a grad student, I and my advisor work very closely with each other. Our offices are very close in the department and he has my personal number to reach out about my progress. I can work with any amount of supervision from my advisor as I always keep updating my status to him. I can work independently and always meet deadlines. As a result, my supervisors usually don't need to check up on me."

Anonymous User · Answer

"¢	I can work well under any amount of supervision, so long as communication is clear and expectations are well-set. I am always able to speak for my work because I am confident in the quality that I deliver. What does close supervision look like here at your company?"

Anonymous User · Answer

"¢	I can work well under any amount of supervision, so long as communication is clear and expectations are well-set. I am always able to speak for my work because I am confident in the quality that I deliver. What does close supervision look like here at your company?"

Anonymous User · Answer

"I have a terrific manager, who gives me a lot of autonomy and really values what I say. Even if he is more hands-on and wants to supervise, I will not feel like I need to work any differently than if he's not around. I do my job well and having someone watching over me will not deter me from giving my best at work."

Anonymous User · Answer

"we had a daily meetingI do not know what to answer"

Anonymous User · Answer

"I can work well under any amount of supervision, so long as communication is clear and expectations are well-set. I am always able to speak for my work because I am confident in the quality that I deliver. What does close supervision look like here at your company?"

Anonymous User · Answer

"I don't mind working with close supervision. It is another person that can help and give input."

Anonymous User · Answer

"Close to boss look for more room."

Anonymous User · Answer

"I met my supervisor on a daily basis because we share the same office area. I normally provided an update on the progress daily. Whenever I ran into a problem and I didn't know how to solve it myself, my supervisor was always there to help. This had improved my efficiency at work and minimized miscommunication or lack of communication."

Anonymous User · Answer

"I work very closely with my manager, their office is very close to mine and they call me anytime they need my help. However she always gives me space to perform my duties, I work very well under close supervision as long as I am not micro-managed."

Anonymous User · Answer

"In my prior role, I work closely with my supervisor. Our offices were across from each other, and we meet at least once per day to discuss the status of our projects as well as emailed a daily log."

Anonymous User · Answer

"In my current role, I work mostly on my own with little supervision. I also sat across my supervisor and she can talk to me whenever she wanted. I can work well with any amount of supervision, as long as the expectation is clear and the communication is open. My supervisor and my stakeholders always appreciate that I meet my deliverables on time."

Anonymous User · Answer

"I am a reliable officer who works hard, no matter who is watching. You can be sure that I deliver great work at all times. I work well under very close supervision, as it is always nice to see a boss around and know he will be there when needed. In addition, I like to offer a good amount of supervision for my team, but I also give them the flexibility to do what they do best without unnecessary interference. I believe that both parties could gain a lot from supervision because I see it as a way of collaboration in order to achieve our tasks.Also, our way of working is inspected at random, so it is expected of us to perform the same level of work at all times, which has never been an issue for me."

Anonymous User · Answer

"I am a reliable employee who works hard, regardless of whether it is close supervision or a more hands-off approach. You can rest assured that I deliver great work at all times."

Anonymous User · Answer

"I always welcome working with a manager or supervisor. I believe I can learn a lot from their vast experience in the industry. I once worked closely with my manager on an extensive sales pitch for a very large pharmacy. It was a unique pharmacy as it was an HIV clinic. He closely supervised me as I created our sales pitch. With his help, we landed this large unique account."

Anonymous User · Answer

"Do you mean micromanagement or close supervision? I am confident in my work performance whether I am supervised or not."

Anonymous User · Answer

"At my last job, I worked closely with my boss. He would critique my work and make suggestions for improvement all the time. It was relaxed, It didn't feel like micromanaging. What does close supervision mean to PTSB?"

Anonymous User · Answer

"I am confident enough in my abilities to work under close supervision without being worried about meeting my supervisor's expectations."

Anonymous User · Answer

"One summer, when I worked in a sailboat business, I was assigned to build boat trailers. The owner always kept a close eye on me to ensure that the trailers were assembled correctly. At the time, I consulted the owner when I had a new or different type of trailer. The owner was flattered that I sought out his guidance, and we had a good and close relationship from there on out."

Anonymous User · Answer

"I handle it the same as not having any supervision. I am a self-motivated worker, so I would be doing the same job whether the boss is watching me closely or not."

Anonymous User · Answer

"I don't mind working alongside supervision. Currently, I work closely with my immediate supervisor, where there is only one office between us, and I give him informal project updates in the morning and before the end of the day."

Anonymous User · Answer

"I am a self-starter and prefer to work with little supervision, so this is a challenge for me. The times I have felt good about close supervision is during the first few weeks at starting a new job. It is during this time that I am learning about the product, new customers, and the corporate culture, and I set up several meetings with my peers as well as leaders so that I know I'm focused on the right things."

Anonymous User · Answer

"We enjoy it when our boss is around. She is always very helpful when needed, so I handle that well."

Anonymous User · Answer

"I have no issue with close supervision, as it might give both parties a chance to form a closer bond and learn from each other. I am a hard-working person and taking my responsibilities very seriously. I like to keep my manager informed of any business updates. In this way, I can be given immediate assistance if my way of working needs to be adjusted. I am also happy to prove myself when I have established my credits from my manager."

Anonymous User · Answer

"Very well, that's the way I was taught, under very close supervision. During my clinical rotation, my clinical instructor would say I am always watching you. She was present for every task. She would tell us we are the future, and she was not letting just anyone become a nurse. Although daunting at first, I believe she made me the cautious nurse I am today."

Anonymous User · Answer

"I am a confident and hardworking employee in my profession. I don't have any supervision, but I have to report to my manager on daily basis. I don't mind working under supervision because I am consistent in delivering services, with or without supervision."

Anonymous User · Answer

"In my current role, I work closely with my boss. Our offices are next to each other, and we meet first thing in the morning, and during the day he requests updates to discuss the status of the projects for the day."

Anonymous User · Answer

"I am a reliable employee who works well under pressure regardless of whether it is close supervision or more hands off approach. I make sure results are delivered accurately and on time."

Anonymous User · Answer

"My work ethic does not change whether I am under close supervision or not. At my previous position, I did work very closely with my supervisor as we were the only 2 people in the accounting department. How does close supervision apply to this position?"

Anonymous User · Answer

"In my previous role, I worked closely with my boss. Her office was in front of my cubicle. She could talk to me whenever she wanted. She didn't call or email, she talked to me face to face. I can work well under any amount of supervision, so long as communication and expectations are clear. I can work independently and always meet deadlines. As a result, my supervisors usually don't need to check up on me."

Anonymous User · Answer

"Working under close supervision is not an issue. Being in sales and having the flexibility to manage your business with a strategy that works best for you is what has made me successful. If constructive and strategic discussions are encouraged for growth, it is certainly allowed to ensure a successful career."

Anonymous User · Answer

"I believe in accountability in the workplace, so I certainly do not need someone checking on my performance. Currently, my cube is right next to my boss. However, I can work well under any amount of supervision, so long as communication is clear and expectations are well set. I am always able to stand up for my work because I am confident in the quality that I deliver."

Anonymous User · Answer

"I am a reliable employee who works hard, regardless of whether supervision is close or hands-off. You can rest assured that I deliver great work at all times. I always welcome working with a manager or supervisor. I believe I can learn a lot from their vast experience in the industry."

Anonymous User · Answer

"This is something I faced when working as a research student in the field of neuroscience. My professor was always supervising my work, and I found this to be daunting at first. But I think this also pushed me to always be doing the best I could. I was meticulous with my methods and was always prepared to answer any questions regarding why I was doing a certain protocol and what I was expecting to see with the results. I find that I truly grew from this experience, as having close supervision gave me the opportunity to ask lots of questions and learn a great deal about not only my area of research, but the field of research in general."

Anonymous User · Answer

"While working under close supervision, I make sure I document everything and keep myself organized, as much as possible. I generally use Asana, making sure I am clearly documenting my progress and milestones. I utilize close supervision as a time to get as much feedback as I can."

How do you handle working under very close supervision?

How to Answer: How do you handle working under very close supervision?

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