To ask you to answer this interview question?

[Somanystairs]

I still don't know how I should have answered it. I had an interview recently for a job similar to the one I am doing, I work in a health-related role.

The question was, what part of your job do you find most difficult? It doesn't seem like a very complicated question but I was really thrown by it. I came up with a response but felt I rambled about something that wasn't actually my honest answer. But when I have thought about it since I really don't know how I should have answered.

On the surface of it there are plenty of "difficult" things about my job but I don't really find them that difficult after working in the area for years. The objectively "difficult" parts are also the most interesting and worthwhile parts so I don't really think they're the most difficult thing. What I dislike is the tedious stuff like admin and sitting in meetings, but maybe it's more the case that I don't enjoy that stuff rather than finding it difficult, as I am perfectly capable of doing it so I don't think that's a good answer either. If I was completely honest then my alarm going off at an ungodly hour in the dark winter mornings and dragging my arse into work is probably the toughest thing, but again I don't think I can say that to an interview panel.

I wondered is there a way to approach this type of question? In an interview situation how do you think you would answer? Thank you!

i’m not sure how I would answer it (too tired to think), but I would finish my answer with a description of how I would get around the problem.

I think your Your third paragraph in fine, where you say that although there can be difficult parts of your job your experience in the role has means you no longer find it unduly problematic. Give examples.

Thank you @Silverbirchleaf I will bear that in mind. If I can think of a good "difficult" thing I will try to add "and here's how I deal with it".

Thank you. I just didn't want to sound ridiculous by saying "nothing about my (objectively challenging) job is difficult" but I feel like the genuinely difficult things are the things I really don't want to get into discussing in an interview! Like how exhausted I sometimes am and the effort it takes to get up in the morning and do it!

The "full" question they're asking is "what part of your job do you find most difficult, and how do you deal with it". They're trying to gauge resilience and how you approach challenges.

I'd talk about one of the objectively difficult parts and explain why it's difficult, and then go on to explain why you enjoy the challenge, how you tackle it and what you learn from tackling it. It shows a positive approach and a growth mindset to discuss what you've learned while also acknowledging that you're aware of the challenge but face it head on.

Can you think of an example that you did find difficult when you started the job but you can now do because you worked hard / learnt a new skill

I think everything in your OP is the perfect answer!!

Really?! I usually do ok in interviews but I get a horrific cringe factor afterwards and this interview in particular I felt a bit thrown by some of the questions as I hadn't been asked anything similar before. Do you think it's ok to say I find it hard to do the boring tedious stuff like paperwork and sitting in meetings? Presumably I shouldn't mention the moment of pure horror on a dark winter morning when my alarm goes off and how that is in fact the hardest part of my job.

And just to add, what I put above is not what I actually answered at the time, I just don't want to not have something considered up my sleeve if I ever get asked this again!

I wouldn't call it the "boring tedious stuff", but you could definitely say that you find the administrative side challenging because you like work to be varied and thrive under pressure, but you adapt to the challenge by X, y and z...

Most jobs involve some sort of balance. For me, I need to balance the need to take robust decisions against the need to take timely decisions while being subject to resource constraints. Finding that balance is hard but also rewarding, and I approach it by doing x, y and Z.

On the surface of it there are plenty of "difficult" things about my job but I don't really find them that difficult after working in the area for years. The objectively "difficult" parts are also the most interesting and worthwhile parts so I don't really think they're the most difficult thing. What I dislike is the tedious stuff like admin and sitting in meetings, but maybe it's more the case that I don't enjoy that stuff rather than finding it difficult, as I am perfectly capable of doing it

I interview lots of people and would think this was an excellent, sensible and considered answer. If you followed it up with a (more appropriately worded) joke about the real difficulty being getting your arse out of bed in the mornings, I’d be very amused. 😆

Use it as an opportunity to show off. Choose a challenging part of your job and describe how you tackle it and give examples of good outcomes from the steps you took. Every question should basically be answered with this formula - what the challenge was, how you approached it, what the outcome was. Making a list beforehand of 10-15 examples should keep you covered for most questions.

For me I look at my personal difficulties and also state how I manage them. 'i have always found time management and organisation something I have to actively concentrate on, it doesn't come naturally, to manage this I've found keeping a notebook at all times to keep track of patients I need to follow up, a spreadsheet for any orders I'm awaiting and setting aside a small window of time each week to review all of these helps me keep on top of myself and subsequently reduce the stress involved'

I work as a Project Manager but I would have said something like;

The hardest part of my job is navigating different time zones in order to ensure that different stakeholders can remain onboard with the project. It’s important that teams receive information promptly no matter whether they are U.K. or US based so I ensure that meetings are arranged at the correct time to suit all colleagues in order to keep the project on track.

That’s the bones of it and I’m sure I could flesh it out but that’s basically it.

Thank you!! I like to have some rough answers prepared because I struggle sometimes to think on the spot. Then I feel like I’m just talking but not making very clear points.