During an interview, be prepared for employers to probe you about your past work performance. Your interviewer might ask questions about whether you've worked for someone who didn't like your work, or if you ever received negative feedback from a supervisor.

If you have a pristine work record and you're confident that an employment check would confirm that fact, then your response is simple. "No, I have done high quality work for all my supervisors which can be confirmed through my recommendations," you might say.

When You Have Had Performance Issues

However, it's not always that easy. If you've had some difficulty performing for certain supervisors, coming up with a response can be more complicated. The first step is to avoid making any negative or condescending comments about your past supervisors, since employers will tend to side with past managers, and may perceive you as a troublemaker or malcontent.

As you answer, give yourself the benefit of doubt if you were perceived as an average employee.  In those cases, if your supervisor would likely say your work was adequate, then it is fair to say you haven't had any issues with negative feedback. Follow up by speaking about your positive relationships with supervisors.  Suggest a reference or two who you know would speak positively about your performance.  

Be Direct

If you had an unsuccessful work experience that you think might surface in a background check, then you'll need to be more direct in explaining the root of your problem.  Focus on deficiencies that wouldn't necessarily have a negative effect on the job you're applying for, or mention an issue that you've addressed and learned from.

Instead of blaming others, take responsibility for any challenges you've faced in the past, and make sure you emphasize how you were able to improve your performance going forward.

What Information You Should Share

In all cases, be prepared to speak in a detailed way about the positive relationships that you have established with past supervisors.  Be ready to discuss accomplishments in each role cited on your resume to offset any negative information that you might be pressed to share.

Ultimately, if answering this question honestly will do irreparable harm to your candidacy, you will have an ethical decision to make about whether or not to share that information. Either way, do your best to be truthful, and to end your answer on a positive, affirmative note.

Read More: How to Answer Interview Questions About Yourself

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