How to Answer: What rubs you the wrong way at work? What do you do when you feel this way?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Boilermaker job interview.
19. What rubs you the wrong way at work? What do you do when you feel this way?
How to Answer
Your first instinct might be to talk about how it upsets you when others aren't safe at work. While this may be true, it is also a pretty generic answer. Give a specific example of something that is slightly annoying to you, but doesn't go against safety policy or procedures. When discussing how you feel, be sure not to be too extreme one way or the other.
Written by Elizabeth Engler on May 27th, 2021
Answer Example
"I find it annoying when people take breaks longer than they are supposed to. I know that this is a small thing, but it also means that we might not finish the job and have to leave it for the next shift to finish. I like to see a job through from start to finish. If this happens frequently, I talk to the person privately about how his behavior is affecting the job.
OR
I find it difficult when coworkers are repeatedly late for work. We often have to delay the start of a team meeting or safety huddle because of this. It also means that we might be standing around for an extra half hour when we could be starting the job. If this happens frequently, I would talk to the coworker in private first about how their tardiness affects the entire team."
Written by Elizabeth Engler on May 27th, 2021