Tell me about a time when your supervisor criticized your work. How did you respond?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
What to Avoid
Answer Example

There will be times that a supervisor will criticize your work, and how you accept criticism is what the interviewer wants to hear. No one likes their work to be criticized, but if you look at the criticism as constructive feedback to improve, you will become better at your job. Describe how you view criticism as an opportunity to grow into a better construction manager and how you responded when your supervisor critiqued your work in the past. If you have not been criticized as a construction manager, use another job where you were given feedback about your work.

When being critiqued or criticized about your work, it is common to become angry or defensive. You must avoid letting the interviewer know if you became angry or lashed out at your supervisor, and keep your response to the situation on a positive note.

"I have not had a supervisor criticize my work as a construction manager, but I have had work critiqued in the past. I worked as a stonemason apprentice, and my supervisor criticized my first attempt at building a rock wall. He said the wall was uneven and looked like a five-year-old made it. At first, I was embarrassed because he said that in front of the entire crew, and everyone laughed, but then I responded by using humor and said that my three-year-old could probably do a better job than me. The supervisor laughed and said he was joking with me but that I had room for improvement in choosing the correct rocks. I asked him to demonstrate what he meant because I wanted to do the best job possible. I view criticism as feedback which helps me improve in any role I am in."

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How to Answer: Tell me about a time when your supervisor criticized your work. How did you respond?

Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Construction Manager job interview.

4. Tell me about a time when your supervisor criticized your work. How did you respond?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

There will be times that a supervisor will criticize your work, and how you accept criticism is what the interviewer wants to hear. No one likes their work to be criticized, but if you look at the criticism as constructive feedback to improve, you will become better at your job. Describe how you view criticism as an opportunity to grow into a better construction manager and how you responded when your supervisor critiqued your work in the past. If you have not been criticized as a construction manager, use another job where you were given feedback about your work.

Written by Krista Wenz on December 14th, 2021

What to Avoid

When being critiqued or criticized about your work, it is common to become angry or defensive. You must avoid letting the interviewer know if you became angry or lashed out at your supervisor, and keep your response to the situation on a positive note.

Written by Krista Wenz on December 14th, 2021

Answer Example

"I have not had a supervisor criticize my work as a construction manager, but I have had work critiqued in the past. I worked as a stonemason apprentice, and my supervisor criticized my first attempt at building a rock wall. He said the wall was uneven and looked like a five-year-old made it. At first, I was embarrassed because he said that in front of the entire crew, and everyone laughed, but then I responded by using humor and said that my three-year-old could probably do a better job than me. The supervisor laughed and said he was joking with me but that I had room for improvement in choosing the correct rocks. I asked him to demonstrate what he meant because I wanted to do the best job possible. I view criticism as feedback which helps me improve in any role I am in."

Written by Krista Wenz on December 14th, 2021

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