Job application questions:

[ghostrunner]

I'm trying to make a career change and I filled out an online application last night. One of the questions was regarding the current or most recent job "What responsibilities did you enjoy most?", which was then followed by "which responsibilities did you enjoy least?"

How am I supposed to answer the second one without coming off as a complainer, or [expletive] about my employer. What I wrote was "Sales." That's it.
I partly wonder if it's not a test to see if I will trash my current employer. Has anyone here ever asked this question of an applicant? If so, what did you hope to learn?

[Leroy]

I would say for a favorite: "Making love to the cleaning lady on my desk".

Least favorite: "Having to clean up after making love to the cleaning lady on the desk."

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Seriously, just say what they want to hear. That you are a team player, and struggled with what was less than a good team atmosphere blah, blah, blah, and laugh yourself all the way to the bank.

[Socnorb11]

How about something like "it wasn't always as challenging as I would have liked it to be".

Makes you seem ambitious, in my opinion.

[planet planet]

I've been asked numerous questions like this, eg. why are you leaving, what don't you like about your job, what's your biggest weakness. It's a delicate issue and I think they just want to see how you respond. Obviously you wouldn't be looking if there weren't shortcomings in your current job. In reality, you usually need to "craft" a response which is based upon reality and stick to it. In other words, there's spin involved, but it should be based in fact.

[Leroy]

I've been asked numerous questions like this, eg. why are you leaving, what don't you like about your job, what's your biggest weakness. It's a delicate issue and I think they just want to see how you respond. Obviously you wouldn't be looking if there weren't shortcomings in your current job. In reality, you usually need to "craft" a response which is based upon reality and stick to it. In other words, there's spin involved, but it should be based in fact.

Planet's right. I always just say that my wife stripped at our last Christmas party, and I've been ostracized.

Seems to get results.

[sighyoung]

I've been asked numerous questions like this, eg. why are you leaving, what don't you like about your job, what's your biggest weakness. It's a delicate issue and I think they just want to see how you respond. Obviously you wouldn't be looking if there weren't shortcomings in your current job. In reality, you usually need to "craft" a response which is based upon reality and stick to it. In other words, there's spin involved, but it should be based in fact.

Planet's right. I always just say that my wife stripped at our last Christmas party, and I've been ostracized.

Seems to get results.

For you or for her?

[Leroy]

I've been asked numerous questions like this, eg. why are you leaving, what don't you like about your job, what's your biggest weakness. It's a delicate issue and I think they just want to see how you respond. Obviously you wouldn't be looking if there weren't shortcomings in your current job. In reality, you usually need to "craft" a response which is based upon reality and stick to it. In other words, there's spin involved, but it should be based in fact.

Planet's right. I always just say that my wife stripped at our last Christmas party, and I've been ostracized.

Seems to get results.

For you or for her?

Yes.

[docellis]

In my experience people that are doing the hiring are mostly looking for red flags. If you don't wave any of them and you have the experience and skills to do that job then those types of questions don't matter much in their decision. Unless you write something that waves the red flags.

[ThatGuy]

Something along these lines should do the trick...

Favorite: undermining authority
Least Favorite: putting up with incompetence all around me

[Fat Strat]

I've been asked numerous questions like this, eg. why are you leaving, what don't you like about your job, what's your biggest weakness. It's a delicate issue and I think they just want to see how you respond. Obviously you wouldn't be looking if there weren't shortcomings in your current job. In reality, you usually need to "craft" a response which is based upon reality and stick to it. In other words, there's spin involved, but it should be based in fact.

I think you're right. In my opinion and experience, you almost always formulate a better answer when you actually just tell the truth or enough truth that you come off strong, confident, self-aware, and thoughtful. You shouldn't trash your old job, but tell the truth about why you're leaving, and always lead that into why the place you're applying would fit with exactly what you're looking for in a career. I've always thought that the job vs. career answer to those questions come off well.