Job Interview Question and Answers: “How Would You Feel Working for Someone Who Knew Less Than You?”
Why Do Interviewers Ask About Working for Supervisors with Less Experience?
Hiring managers often ask candidates how they might handle working for someone less knowledgeable in their field. Interviewers use this question to gauge a candidate’s ability to take direction and keep an open mind. Negative responses may indicate that an interviewee doesn’t work well as part of a team and may not be suitable for the role.
Preparing Your Answer
When responding to a question about working for someone who has less experience than you, it’s important to focus on the positive aspects of working with others who have different skills or knowledge. Emphasize that you know people can have or gain expertise in various ways, and answer the question in terms of your willingness to learn and grow in any environment.
Responses to Avoid When Answering “Would You Work for Someone with Less Experience?”
Hiring managers often ask about working for less experienced people to find out if a candidate is resistant to authority. Sometimes interviewers also use this approach with older job seekers to see how they might respond to younger supervisors.
Avoid focusing on how your experience could assist a hypothetical boss, which could sound arrogant. Interviewers asking this question want to know that you’ll take direction from the person in charge, so you shouldn’t zero in on your advanced skills. Instead, use your response to demonstrate your willingness to be a team player.
Sample Answers to “Would You Work for a Supervisor with Less Experience?”
Job seekers with extensive knowledge in a certain field often fumble in interviews when asked about working for a less-experienced boss. Use the sample responses below to help you frame a strong answer to this common question:
Sample Job 1- Department Store Customer Service Representative
“I’ve worked in retail customer service for a long time, but I enjoy it because I get the opportunity to work with people from a wide range of backgrounds. Everyone has something they can bring to the table, and I’ve learned a lot from others when it comes to assisting customers in a friendly yet effective manner.”
Sample Job 2- Pet Store Trainer
“I’ve been a dog trainer for private clients as well as in stores, and I’ve discovered that anyone who loves the job can offer new and interesting skills. My last supervisor hadn’t been in the training game long, but her ideas and enthusiasm inspired me. I love learning new approaches to training, so I’m always on board to work with others regardless of their level of experience.
Important Takeaways
The critical thing to remember when a manager asks you about working for someone with less experience is that their goal is to find out if you’re a team player that can take direction. Answering this question is less about your acquired skills and more about your ability to get along with a team and keep an open mind.
C. Thompson says:
When I am asked this question, normally I would say, this person may not know as much as me, but I was in their place at one point and we have to treat each other with the same respect and share each other’s experiences.
Katrina says:
At the end of the day, the goal is overall success of the company, and it is my duty as a member of this company to give my best performance. Whether my supervisor is more qualified than me, is really beyond the point of the expectation that I need perform my job successfully. Hard work and patience always pays off, and keeping this mindframe will one day place me in the position, that I could have otherwise been envious of. After all, what makes a good leader out of a poor follower?