| The CV Centre
A question often asked at interview is “how would you describe your current boss”. This can be phrased as “what do you think of your current boss?” or “what kind of relationship do you have with your current boss?”
However phrased, this is a loaded question, so beware! Understand what the interviewer is trying to find out with this question. Whilst it may be the interviewer is genuinely curious as to what your current boss is like, don’t bet on it! Much more likely, they are trying to understand your perceptions of authority and how you handle it! If the interviewer identifies you as having problems with authority, then you will be marked down immediately.
Whilst you may personally dislike your current boss, their attitudes, style or behaviours, do not talk about these issues to a potential employer. Not only will it raise questions about your attitude to authority, but raise doubts about your ability to fit in, and work with the new company. After all, if that is what you say about your current boss, what might you say about the interviewer behind their back if you come to work for them?
The best way to answer such a question is to give a reasonably complimentary answer, emphasising the positive working relationship between the two of you.
Example: I’m lucky to have a pretty positive relationship with my boss. He gives me a high degree of freedom to get on with my job while always being there to help me any unusual or difficult situations – to lend me the benefit of his experience. Like many managers, he’s often pretty busy but he does a good job of closely supervising his team, steering us in the right direction and helping us achieve the results that are expected of us, I know he appreciates the work that I do, and this obviously helps to motivate me and strive to achieve my very best”.
Whilst statistics suggest that having problems with their boss is the most common reason for people changing jobs, this is not the time to bring this up. Honesty is definitely not the best policy here!
