I lost my patience

[queeniech]

I wonder if the following sentences are natural spoken English.

Interviewer: What are your greatest weakness?

Interviewee: In the past, sometimes I lost my patience when my subordinates were not serious with their jobs. But in recent years, I was always trying calm myself down and motivate them to improve. (Please note that the interviewee is a housewife for the time being). Is it correct to say 'I was always..'?

Thanks.

 

[emsr2d2]

I wonder if the following sentences are natural spoken English.

Interviewer: What are your greatest weaknesses?

Interviewee: In the past, I occasionally [STRIKE]sometimes[/STRIKE] lost [STRIKE]my[/STRIKE] patience [STRIKE]when[/STRIKE] with my subordinates [STRIKE]were not serious with[/STRIKE] when they did not seem to be taking their jobs seriously. [STRIKE]But[/STRIKE] However, in recent years, I [STRIKE]was always trying[/STRIKE] have tried to calm myself down and to motivate them to improve instead.

(Please note that the interviewee is a housewife for the time being). Is it correct to say 'I was always..'?

Thanks.

"I was always" is not natural in this context.
I'm rather confused as to why a housewife would refer to her "subordinates". Is she lying in the interview to make it appear that she has had a job where she was in charge of other people? Or is she a housewife at the moment but she used to have a job with managerial responsibilities?

 

[queeniech]

"I was always" is not natural in this context.
I'm rather confused as to why a housewife would refer to her "subordinates". Is she lying in the interview to make it appear that she has had a job where she was in charge of other people? Or is she a housewife at the moment but she used to have a job with managerial responsibilities?

Thanks, emsr2d2.

She isn't lying in the interview. She was in supervisory level before. She quit the job because she has to take care a new-born baby. She is looking a job now because she has recruited a domestic helper to help her take care of the baby.

 

[emsr2d2]

Thanks, emsr2d2.

She isn't lying in the interview. She [STRIKE]was[/STRIKE] [STRIKE]in[/STRIKE] worked at a supervisory level before. She quit the job [STRIKE]because she has[/STRIKE] in order to take care of [STRIKE]a[/STRIKE] her [STRIKE]new-born[/STRIKE] newborn baby. She is looking for a job now because she has recruited a domestic helper to help her take care of the baby.

See my amendments above. I think you need to look at your use of prepositions. Given the situation you described, I would suggest that she could say:

"In my previous job, I sometimes found that I lost patience with my team if they didn't seem to be taking their job seriously."

Personally, I detest the word "subordinates" because I think it sounds very arrogant. However, I realise that in some countries and some businesses, it is still used.

 

[queeniech]

"In my previous job, I sometimes found that I lost patience with my team if they didn't seem to be taking their job seriously."

Many thanks for your kindness, emsr2d2.

Do we need to use "In my previous jobs" if we have several jobs before?

 

[emsr2d2]

Many thanks for your kindness, emsr2d2.

Do we need to use "In my previous jobs" if we have several jobs before?

Only if the same situation occurred in all those jobs. I wouldn't be inclined to admit that I lost patience with my team in all my previous jobs. I'm not sure that the prospective employer is going to be believe that her nature has changed so completely.