Approach, or if you want attitude. Approach to life, relationships, your job. Some people believe your success in life depends mostly on it. Others even claim that your happiness is determined by your approach to life, to things that happen to you every day. I do not want to philosophize here whether these claims are true or not. In any case, your approach is important, and you will often face at least one question about it in your interview.
Probably the hardest of the pack is the question we will analyze right now: the question about changes you want to make in your approach. Because wanting to make changes implies that you aren’t satisfied with your attitude in your previous, or current job. It implies that you should have done something better, and want to make up for it in your next job. Or am I wrong?
Actually wanting to make important changes isn’t the only possible answer here. You can as well claim that you do not want to change anything, that you are satisfied with your work, and how you approached your daily duties. You have several options for a good answer here. As long as you explain your reasoning, it is perfectly fine saying that you would like to change nothing, or perhaps just something minor. Without prolonging this introduction any longer, let’s move to 7 sample answers. I tried to come up with some variety, and I hope at least one from the answers will resonate with you, and with the message you try to convey in the interviews. Enjoy!
7 sample answers to “What changes in your approach would you like to make in your next job?” interview question
- The most important change I would like to make is to be more proactive, to show initiative. In my current job I have had interesting ideas, but for one reason or another, I haven’t shared them with the mangers. I have always been the quiet person in the meetings. Took care of my tasks, didn’t let others down, but didn’t really share any ideas on improvement with my colleagues, and didn’t show any leadership qualities either. I realize that it isn’t the right approach, for either my employer or myself, and it is something I would like to change.
- I want to approach my tasks with better concentration in the new job. The thing is that I often wasn’t focused on the core of the job. I often got distracted by tasks of secondary importance, or by my own problems outside of work. It reflected on unsatisfactory results, and it was actually one of the reasons why I had to leave the company. But I’ve learned my lesson, and I won’t repeat the same mistakes in my new job.
- I would lime to put less pressure on myself. My present job is incredibly stressful. Everybody is on the edge, some deadline is always looming, we are understaffed. One cannot stay healthy in such an environment. At the same time though, I realize that a big chunk of stress is self-imposed. And this is something I want to change in my next job. It doesn’t mean that I want to have lax approach to things in the workplace. But I want to focus on effort, and not on the results. I believe such an approach will help me lower my stress levels, and perhaps I will also manage to translate this to some of my colleagues.
- Just to try harder, to be honest. I didn’t give my last job a good enough effort. Thinking that my intelligence will carry me through, I often gave things halfhearted effort, and the results were often disappointing. But I also realized that one is happy when they do something good for others, for the family, team, community, company, society. And I do not want to go to job just to earn money. On the contrary, I want to participate on something meaningful. And I see the meaningful purpose in my profession. The only thing missing is a better approach, and I would like to change this in my next job.
- To be honest with you, I would not like to change anything about my attitude to work, or to my colleagues. Attitude is not my problem. I am often the first one in the office, and the last one to leave. Do not mind taking a shift for a colleague, do not mind working hard. And I find pleasure in setting goals to myself, and satisfaction in helping my colleagues. Of course, we can always improve on some details, but overall I am happy with my approach to work and people. I hope to stick to it in my next job.
- I would not like to change anything major. Just some minor details, such as praising my colleagues more often, or trying to be more efficient while replying to emails. Being more effective while dealing with secondary tasks should allow me to do a better job with tasks that matter the most. Other than that though, I am satisfied with my approach to work, and believe that my superiors share the same opinion.
- The most important change I would like to make is to build better relationships with my colleagues. And I believe this depends a lot on my own approach… I want to be attentive to their needs, ask questions, try to help them. In my present job the relationships aren’t good. People compete instead of cooperating, and gossips and internal wars reign in the workplace. Needless to say, such a working environment isn’t good for anyone. And I realize that I also contributed to it, or at least didn’t do anything to help to change the dynamics in the team. That is something I would like to change in my next job. I want to have a more proactive approach to building good relationships with my colleagues.
Final thoughts
Hiring managers look for honest people, for job candidates who are aware of their mistakes, who do not struggle admitting them, and who want to improve. This tricky interview question gives you a chance to show them that you are such a person. Remember that your goal in the interviews isn’t to convince them that you are “a perfect employee”, someone every corporation would love to have onboard. Hiring manager and interviewers know that such people do not exist.
Your goal is to demonstrate your awareness of both your strengths and weaknesses, and an honest desire to improve on things over time, and become even better in your profession. I hope you will manage to do it, and wish you best of luck in your interviews!
Matthew
May also interest you:
- 15 most common interview questions and answers.
- What makes you unique?
- What is your communication style?
