What is the worst thing a previous manager could say about you?

"When I was first out of school I had issues with getting to work on time. Chalk it up to youth, laziness, whatever, but my boss told me then and would tell you now, that my inability to get to work on time was a noticeable shortcoming. I have since resolved this problem and assure you I will arrive to work ten minutes early every day!"

"The most critical thing a manager has said to me is my need to slow down and stop chomping at the bit for the next big thing. I always have my eyes on the prize for the next position to move up the ranks. I know it's great to be goal oriented and driven, but I also know that I need to take time to slow down and truly learn all of the foundational tasks that will help me succeed in that next position. I think I've learned that this time around, and while I am always planning for the future, I know I am building the skills to help me be a better leader when the time comes, too."

"The most critical thing a manager could say might be that I need to thicken up my skin a little. I always want to learn and improve, so I take comments very seriously and to heart when they come from someone I respect. Occasionally, this can dampen my morale when negative feedback is said. I know that I need to work on taking their feedback in stride. I already work on incorporating it immediately, I need to skip the middle step of letting it bring me down or letting others notice that it has brought me down."

"I'm happy to report that I've had mostly great reviews in my tenure as a teacher. That said, I believe my boss would report that my area for improvement would be being more accepting of how the system wants us to do things. I struggle greatly with the standardized test era in which we live. I'm working on it, but it's a bitter pill to swallow when the bulk of teachers as a whole are like-minded and think the way our policies are changing is in the disinterest of the students."

"I think the most critical thing a manager could say about me would be that I can sometimes be too emotional about work. I am very passionate, so I advocate fiercely for what I believe in, but I know that it is an area for improvement. I'm working on this, taking the emotion out of it. Follow my gut but lay out the facts in a matter-of-fact way, leading to the conclusion with facts, money, and "what's in it for me" for the other person to see my side, without emotion on the line."

"I think the most critical thing a manager could say about me would be that I can sometimes be too emotional about work. I am very passionate, so I advocate fiercely for what I believe in, but I know that it is an area for improvement. I'm working on this, taking the emotion out of it. Follow my gut but lay out the facts in a matter-of-fact way, leading to the conclusion with facts, money, and "

Nobody is a perfect employee! Think about some mistakes you have made at work or any suggestions for improvement received. If a manager were to provide you with feedback or criticism, what might they say? Keep your answer brief and be sure to finish on a positive note by discussing your willingness to improve and take constructive feedback.

"When I started my most recent job I had a pretty big learning curve. The software and my daily tasks were all very new to me. I made a lot of mistakes in the beginning because I felt rushed and wanted to learn as quickly as I could. My manager suggested I slow down and not worry so much about keeping up with the people who had been there for a while. He was understanding, and it helped me to learn that it's okay to take my time to avoid mistakes."

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.