Question forms part of
Civil Service Question Bank
Project Manager Question & Answer Sheet
Other interview questions that are similar
- What tasks or responsibilities do you find most challenging?
- Can you tell me about a work situation that you found difficult to handle?
- What types of tasks or projects do you try to avoid, if any?
- Can you describe a task or responsibility that you didn’t enjoy in a previous role?
- What aspect of your previous job did you find the least satisfying?
- Are there any tasks you find monotonous or uninteresting? How do you stay motivated in such situations?
- If you could delegate any part of your job, what would it be and why?
- What type of work environment do you find least appealing?
- Can you tell me about a time when you had to work on something you didn’t enjoy? How did you handle it?
- What are some areas you feel you need to improve on, and how do you plan to address them?
What the interviewer is looking for by asking this question
There are probably an infinite number of questions that the interviewer could ask you on the day. Some questions are incredibly common appearing in almost every interview you will have, while other questions you might hear once and never again regardless of how many jobs you apply for.
Fundamentally though all interview questions are really trying to find out one of 3 things:
1 – Can you do the job? (Do you have the skills/experience needed?)
2 – Will you do the job? (Do you have the drive/motivation to get the job done?)
3 – Will you fit in? (Does your personality match the workplace culture? Are you likeable?)
That’s it. Those are the 3 things that the interviewer is trying to ascertain. Every question that is asked of you will fundamentally be trying to resolve one (or more) of these 3 things.
1 – Can you do the job? This question can help the interviewer identify whether the tasks you dislike or find challenging are critical to the role. If your least favorite tasks align with the primary responsibilities of the position, it may indicate that you’re not the best fit for the job. However, if these tasks are only a minor part of the role, your answer could provide insight into your potential areas for growth and development.
2 – Will you do the job? By understanding what you enjoy the least, the interviewer can gauge your motivation and commitment to handle less appealing aspects of the job. Every role has its less enjoyable tasks, and demonstrating your willingness to tackle them effectively despite your personal preferences can show your dedication to getting the job done.
3 – Will you fit in? Your answer to this question can reveal aspects of your personality and work style, which can help the interviewer determine if you’re a good fit for the company culture. For example, if you dislike working in a highly collaborative environment and the company prioritizes teamwork, there might be a mismatch in expectations. Alternatively, if your least favorite tasks involve working in isolation and the company offers a collaborative atmosphere, it might be an indication that you’ll fit in well with the team dynamics.
How Best To Answer ‘What do you enjoy doing the least?’
Unless the question you are asked is a straight ‘up or down / yes or no’ style question then you are going to need to learn to describe, expand and elaborate on your answers. The best way of doing this is to follow the B-STAR technique for answering interview questions, which can also be applied to the question “What do you enjoy doing the least?”.
Answers using this method follow the below structure:
B – Belief – What are your thoughts and feelings with regard to the subject matter? In this case, discuss your perspective on the least enjoyable tasks, recognizing that every job has its ups and downs.
S – Situation – What was going on? Briefly explain a scenario where you had to perform the task you enjoy the least. Keep the situation simple to understand and easy to describe, as the focus should be on your role and actions.
T – Task – What was your role in the action? Describe your responsibility related to the task you dislike and any challenges you faced. Make sure to present yourself as actively engaged in addressing the issue.
A – Activity (or action) – What did you do? Detail the steps you took to complete the task despite your lack of enjoyment. Explain your approach to staying motivated and focused, and any strategies you used to overcome your disinterest. This should take up the bulk of your time answering the question.
R – Result – How did everything end up? Share the outcome of your actions, focusing on any positive results or lessons learned. Use figures if possible (e.g., completed the task ahead of schedule, improved efficiency by 15%, gained new skills, etc.).
Remember though that the B-STAR technique is descriptive, not prescriptive. You do not need to follow this flow strictly. Adapt the structure to your answers and experiences, allowing you to communicate your point effectively and showcase your capabilities.
What You Should NOT Do When Answering Questions
Do not avoid the question.
Do not describe a failure (unless specifically asked).
Do not downplay the situation.
Do not overhype the situation.
Do not say you have no experience with the subject matter.
Do not reject the premise of the question.
Do not have a passive role in the situation.
Do not give a one-sentence answer.
Do not overly describe the scenario and miss the action
What do you enjoy doing the least? – Example answers
Financial Analyst Examples
I believe it’s important to stay adaptable and open to various tasks in a work environment. However, I’ve found that tasks requiring extensive data entry tend to be less enjoyable for me. In my previous role as a financial analyst, our team was responsible for updating and maintaining a large database containing financial information on our company’s clients.
My responsibility was to input new client data, update existing records, and ensure the accuracy of the information. This required a significant amount of time spent on data entry, which I found to be monotonous. Despite the repetitive nature of the task, I understood its importance in maintaining accurate records for our company.
To make the process more engaging, I set personal goals for efficiency and accuracy, and I took short breaks to stay focused. I also listened to music or podcasts to keep my mind stimulated during the data entry process. Additionally, I developed a system to double-check my work to minimize errors.
By employing these strategies, I was able to maintain a high level of accuracy and efficiency in my data entry tasks. My efforts contributed to an overall improvement in our team’s record-keeping, and I even received positive feedback from my supervisor for my dedication and accuracy. This experience taught me the value of staying motivated and finding ways to make even the least enjoyable tasks more engaging and productive.
Customer Service Example
In my previous role as a customer service representative, I found that dealing with rude or irate customers was the least enjoyable aspect of my job. I understand that customer satisfaction is crucial to the success of any business, and addressing customer concerns is an essential part of my role.
During a particularly busy period, we had a high volume of calls from customers who were experiencing issues with their orders. I was responsible for handling these calls, resolving problems, and ensuring that customers were satisfied with the outcome.
To handle challenging interactions with upset customers, I focused on remaining calm and empathetic, actively listening to their concerns, and finding the best possible solution to address their needs. I made it a point to treat each customer with respect, regardless of their demeanor, and focused on the bigger picture of maintaining a positive relationship with them.
As a result of my approach, I was able to successfully resolve the majority of customer issues and received commendations from my supervisor for my professionalism and dedication to customer satisfaction. Additionally, our team’s overall customer satisfaction ratings improved during this time. This experience reinforced the importance of staying composed and patient, even in the face of difficult situations, and taught me valuable skills in conflict resolution and customer service.
Graphic Designer Example
Other Interview Question and Answers
79 Civil Service Interview Questions (And Example Answers)
94 Project Manager Interview Questions (And Example Answers)
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