What irritates you about other people, and how do you deal with it?

  
While for some, this question could look like a potential land mine that has been placed in the interview to blow the chances of landing the job with one wrong word. Maybe unsurprisingly, it can. Obviously statements such as "the customers", in an in interview for a job which involves dealing with the public would not go down too well.However, this is an excellent chance to show your potential employer that you have great interpersonal skills. The "how do you deal with it" part of this question is the most important part but be mindful not to start with something that might be completely negative.

It is important to note that "deal with it" denotes a positive action. Answering this part of the question with "I just ignore it", or "I don’t let it bother me too much" are too passive and could make you come across as a weak character. No matter what the job is, the employer will be looking for a workforce brimming with moral courage.

Try to give examples in your answer of situations you have personally been in. For example, "I once had a customer come into my workplace who was unhappy with the service they had received from one of our staff. Initially unwilling to listen to my reasoning, I adopted a calmer tone and came around from behind my desk to get rid of the physical barrier that was between us. This helped calm the customer and then I was able to reassure him and we managed to quickly resolve his issues."  This example shows that you are willing to assess a situation and then take affirmative action in order to resolve it. You could also use examples of how you have helped unhappy or unmotivated employees with your positive effects improving the individuals productivity.