Job Interview Question and Answer: What Do You Dislike About Your Current Job?

The purpose of this question is twofold: to find out about your professional dislikes, and to gain some insight into why you are looking for another job. The interviewer will assume that there must be something you dislike about your current job, because otherwise you presumably wouldn’t be looking for another one.

It’s always best to present yourself in the most positive light and not to whinge about your employer or workplace, but certain dislikes are legitimate and can even reflect well on you. For instance, if you say you dislike the inefficiency of certain systems in your office, that will tell the interviewer that you value efficiency and accuracy. But don't just stop there – explain how you have suggested ways of improving the systems or demonstrate what changes you have made to improve processes in your current workplace so you come across as being solution- rather than problem-oriented.

If you’re going for a job as a sales rep, it might be alright to admit that you don’t love paperwork, while also emphasising that you understand its importance and are willing to do what is necessary. However, it might not be such a good idea to say you don’t like paperwork if you’re applying to be an office manager – it could very well cost you the job. Similarly, a sales rep who says they don’t like dealing with people probably wouldn’t get very far.

Whatever you say, try to frame your decision to leave your current role in positive terms. Instead of saying that you hate your job and just want a change, you could say that while you learned many valuable skills in your current position, you are now seeking a role that would challenge you and enable you to better use all your capabilities, in an environment in which you could really thrive and grow – a win-win situation for both you and your potential employer.

You should also use this opportunity to demonstrate how well suited you are to the role you are applying for, as well as the company. For example, if you are applying for a job with a larger company, you could say that while you love your current job, you would welcome the opportunity to work with a larger organisation – or anything else that explains why you would prefer to work for the company you are applying with. Positive reasons to switch to a different company could include its corporate culture, size, structure, industry, working conditions or schedule. 

Here is an example:

'While I really enjoyed working at Carlton United, unfortunately it offered few opportunities for growth and development. I volunteered for multiple projects for other teams on my own time in order to grow my project management abilities, but these were limited by the size of the company. At a larger company like Pacific, I believe that I would have the opportunity to make greater use of my team management experience, and continue to refine my project management skills.'

See our full list of interview questions and answers to help you in your next interview!