What Type Of Work Environment Do You Prefer Interview Answers - Career Sidekick

“What Type Of Work Environment Do You Prefer” Interview Answers - Career Sidekick “What Type Of Work Environment Do You Prefer?” Interview Answers Interview Questions and Answers / https://www.edenscott.com/blog Hiring managers and interviewers love to ask questions like:What type of work environment do you prefer?Describe the type of work environment you work best in?What kind of work environment do you like and why?In this article, Im going to walk you through why they ask, how to givegreat answers when they ask about your ideal work environment, and the mistakes to AVOID if you want to get the job offer.Heres why its tricky: Usually you arent 100% sure what they want to hear, in part because youve never seen THEIR work environment first-hand.And if you say you dont like the type of environment they happen to have, they wont hire you.Kind of a trap, right?Dont worry, Im going to walk you through the best interview answers for this question right nowHow To Answer “What Type Of Work Environment Do You Work Best In?”1. Figure out what type of environment the company hasGiving a good interview answer when describing what type of work environment you prefer b egins with research.If you pay attention to previous communication, the job description, the company website, and do a quick search on YouTube just in case they have videos, youll get SOME sense of the work environment.So, make sure you research the company before your interview. I cant stress this enough.Now try to come up with some idea of what they want to hear.Do they seem to micromanage people or do they give their workers a lot of freedom? (I personally would never in a million years work for that first type of company. But do what you want!)Are they very formal or casual? What do they wear?Do they do things together outside of work? Does the team youre interviewing with seem to have a strong bond?Do they trust their employees to make big decisions on their own? Or do you need to get approval for everything?You can also gather clues on some of these things in the interview. Or if youve had a previous interview, think back to what was discussed. (For example, if you already had a phone interview with HR, and now they ask what type of work environments you prefer in the face-to-face interview).Okay, now lets look at exactly how to answer2. Show them youll do well in their work environmentGive them a sense of what you enjoy but lean toward saying you tend to like an environment similar to theirs.If the environment seems relaxed and they give their people a lot of freedom to operate independently, say you enjoy independence and youre great at making decisions on your own.If the job description repeated over and over that they want someone detail-oriented, and the hiring manager looks like shell fire you if you are one single minute late in your life, say that you prefer an environment thats organized, carefully-planned, and systematic.(Again not sure why people choose to work in jobs like this, but there are plenty out there and they always seem to find workers somehow)If the job descriptions mentions a lot of teamwork and collaboration, say that you prefer a collaborative environment, and then give some examples of how youve been in similar situations in the past.Or even better tell them part of why you applied for the position is that it seemed like a great match for the type of work environment you perform well in (and then elaborate/explain). That will show them youve really done your research.3. Talk about what you like, not what you dont likeFocus on describing things you like. I enjoy a collaborative environment. I really like an environment that values problem solving, creativity, and effort because I feel I bring those three things to my job each day. etc.That way, if you happen to say something that isnt quite aligned with how the interviewer views their company, its alright.However, if you had said, I can only work in a highly-collaborative environment and I hate work that involves being isolated or not talking to other people, youre not getting hired if the job is even a little bit like that.So keep it positive and focus on the things you like.4. Follow up your answer with an example if possibleGive PROOF. After you tell them you love a collaborative environment, talk about how youve been successful in this environment in the past. In previous jobs, in school, in projects. Whatevers recent and relevant.If you told them you like an organized, serious work environment, talk about how youve used this type of environment to succeed recently.So the first part of your answer is to directly address their question while staying positive. The second part is to give proof and examples.5. What if you have NO IDEA what their work environment is like?Maybe its a first interview and you didnt have time to do a lot of research (hey, it happens! Ive done it).If you really have no clue what type of work environment the company offers, your goal should be to sound balanced and versatile. You should say that youve worked in both types of environments and are able to adapt, etc.You really shouldnt be in this situation of ten. Research is important. If youve got on multiple interviews and felt like you know very little about the company, its probably the reason youre not finding a job.But it can happen once or twice, so heres an example of what Id say:I do well in a few different types of environments. I can adapt. In my last job, we were given a lot of freedom to make decisions on our own, and I enjoyed that. But Ive also worked in stricter environments and performed well and had no issues. How would you describe the work environment here, and what type of person usually enjoys working for you?(Ending your answer with a question is a great way to turn the interview into a more natural conversation, take the pressure off, and making the hiring manager like you a LOT more. I share more on this strategy with word-for-word scripts in my in-depth interview answer guide).Lets look at a few more word-for-word answer examples nowExample Answers for What Type of Work Environment Do You Prefer?Example Answer #1:Ive worked in small companies as well as Fortune 500 firms. I dont really have a preferred company size. I do think I work best in a collaborative environment. I enjoy working as part of a team, even though I can do independent work, too. I saw your job description mentions a lot of collaboration with other teams and departments, so I think Id excel in this role. Communication and teamwork are strengths of mine.Example Answer #2:I prefer an energetic work environment where people are excited to be there. I immediately got the sense that this is that type of place when I came into the first interview. I love the energy here and I think its the type of place where Id do my best work. My last company had a similar environment and I thrived there. It was where I made the biggest gains in my career, learned the most, and accomplished the most for my team and company.How to Describe What Type of Work Environment You Prefer Quick InstructionsResearch the employer before your interview to learn as much as possible about their work environmentNotice if this employers environment seems more casual or strict; more fast-paced or relaxed, etc.When you describe the work environment you prefer, you want to make it sound like youll excel in THEIR environment, or else theyre unlikely to hire you. So talk about how you do your best work in an environment similar to theirsFocus on the positive aspects talk about why you work well in an environment like theirs instead of bad-mouthing or talking about why you dislike other types of work environments. Its always better to focus on the positives when describing the environment you work best in.Give specific examples if you can. For example, if this work environment is going to be very fast-paced, youd want to tell them you do your best work in a fast-paced environment and then back it up with a real example of a past job that you produced great work in.If you follow these steps youll have a great answer any time the interviewer asks what type of work environment you perform best in, or what type of work environment is ideal for you.