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What are your pet peeves? This is a general question, often asked in an interview to understand your interpersonal skills and problem-solving abilities. You need to be honest and give a tactful response highlighting specific things that bother you. Well, there are a lot of people who will provide the same response to this question, but the interviewer is more interested in the way to present and highlight your pet peeves in front of them.
Pet peeves, also known as pet hate, are specific things that we often find irritating. It can be loud chewing, talking during movies, leaving the toilet dirty, etc. On this page, we will discuss some sample answers on ‘What are our pet peeves’ and how to answer them in an interview.
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What Are Pet Peeves?
Pet peeves are specific things or activities which annoy. These are personal preferences that can vary from person to person. There are things which might bother some people, which others won’t find disturbing or annoying. Pet aversion can range from little annoyances to significant disturbances, and can often stem from one’s personal experience, values and sensitivities. Here are some of the common examples of pet peeves.
- Driving Slowly
- Leaving dirty dishes
- Talking during movies in the theatre
- Playing loud music
- Talking loudly in public places
- Not following the queue
- Loud chewing or slurping of food
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Tips to Answer Pet Peeves Questions
When asked about your pet peeves, you need to come up with a realistic answer, where you are highlighting examples of how some things bother you and what is your immediate reaction. Here are some tips which you must consider whenever you are mentioning your pet aversion:
- Sharing your pet aversion during a conversation is nothing to worry about. But you must ensure that your response is diplomatic and try to avoid sounding overly judgmental or negative.
- Choose a few examples of your pet aversion and how they bother or make you feel uncomfortable. Try not to overwhelm the interviewer or listener with an exhaustive list.
- Explain why these things or situations bother you in brief. This can provide context and aid the interviewer in knowing what your perspective is.
- While pet peeves can be annoying, try to keep your tone light and humorous. This allows you to connect with the interviewer or listener on a more personal level.
- Show awareness of individual differences, as what bothers you might not affect others in the same way. This will demonstrate your understanding and level of tolerance.
- Choose peeves that are relatable to make your response more engaging and smooth conversation.
- Conclude with a positive statement about your ability to manage these disturbances and focus on what’s ahead.
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Sample to Answer Pet Peeves
Here is a sample of how to answer this interview question:
Sample 1
‘We all have our grievances, and there are certain things that do get on your nerves, especially when people talk loudly on their phones in sacred places or a library. I appreciate an environment where there is no disturbance and things are quiet, allowing me to concentrate on my activities and tasks.’
‘One more thing that drives me crazy is when people don’t use indicators while driving. This is a major concern for me, as I’ve faced situations where near accidents happen. People need to follow traffic rules because, on streets, you never know when things might go south. I understand that everyone has their own reasons for doing things, and I try to be calm, patient and adaptable. For me, it’s all about finding a balance and not letting these things ruin my day.’
Sample 2
‘One of my pet peeves is when people leave the sink dirty, whether it’s at home or in a shared workspace. I like a clean environment and when people leave sinks dirty, it really annoys me. A clean and tidy kitchen can enhance the overall environment and encourage better hygiene practices. When I encounter a dirty sink, I usually take a moment to clean it up, even if I wasn’t the one who made the mess. This proactive approach helps maintain a pleasant and productive environment for everyone. It’s a small effort that makes a big difference in creating a positive and respectful shared space.’
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FAQs
Also known as pet hate, these are activities or behaviour which one finds annoying or bothersome become of someone. These can vary from person to person. You can answer your pet hates by giving examples of how these little things disturb your work efficiency or mood.
Some of the common ones are loud chewing or drinking, staring at someone’s phone, talking to someone while headphones are on, being late, etc.
Dealing with these can be a rigorous task, but it’s not someone one can say is impossible to do. If something bothers you, you can simply talk to the person because of whom you are going through a hard time, or keep yourself busy with some other activity.
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