Interview Tips: How To Answer Questions About Your Former Boss

By Elizabeth Benu,

Answering interview questions well is the best fighting chance to a job. What would you say when the hiring manager asks you about your former boss? Even with a former boss who was terrible you can still answer the question and land the job without having to lie.

Naomi Kituku a Human Resource Officer at Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) says that it is a question that is rarely asked.

“You can therefore plan for it. Remember at an interview you are going to present yourself so it is best if you have an answer. When asked this question say something positive,” she adds.

Why is this question asked? I ask

Ms. Kituku says that when it is asked, the employer wants to know where your loyalties lay, your sense of belonging, your character and maturity level.

“They also want to know if you are somebody who keeps grudges. An employer wants to test you and see the kind of person coming to work for them. They also want to know if you can keep company secrets. If you blub everything out they will not hire you. It will mess your interview,” Ms. Kituku adds.

What if the former employer was mean and a job seeker feels they have nothing good to say about them? I inquire further

Ms. Kituku advices that, “Do not lie. Find something positive about them even if it is just one thing. Saying something negative will ruin your chances of getting in.”

“For example you might say something like ‘My boss was a bit tough.’ Do not end it there. Add something positive on top of it like ‘…but I know he meant well and I understood where he was coming from,’” she explains further.

Ms. Kituku affirms that saying negative things about your former boss will leave the hiring manager with negative thoughts of you.

If you are wondering how long this answer should be, Ms. Kituku says that, “Let this answer be short and to the point. Do not drag it on. Being brief can allow you too repeat it again and again if asked to.”

What advice does she have for job seekers who might face this question at an interview?

“Tell the truth. Be honest and positive when answering this question. It depends with how your employer was. If it is negative, cover it with something positive on the top. Do not burn your bridges. Even if they were not good refrain from negative comments,” she concludes.

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