CBSA Mock Interview
Master 60 CBSA interview questions covering border security, integrity scenarios, and situational judgment.
Question 42 of 60
How would you deal with a colleague at work with whom you seem to be unable to build a successful working relationship?
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Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
"Well, I'm a pretty friendly person with an upbeat, positive attitude. So, any time I meet someone who for some reason isn't receptive to me, I try not to take it personally. Everyone is different. There's a lot of people out there who are either shy or distrustful of people they don't really know yet. So I give them personal space and remain consistent in my approachability. I won't hesitate to approach them on a professional level. They are a member of the team, after all. The team has to function. In most cases, they eventually come around."
Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
Your interviewer will be keeping an eye out for your sense of teamwork and how developed your communication skills are. It is one thing to not have a close working relationship with a coworker, but it is an entirely different situation if you aren't making efforts to collaborate with this member of your team. The key here is to determine whose personality is getting in the way of every member of the team getting along. So, how you approach this situation, and your general attitude towards such a scenario, should indicate how much you are contributing to the situation.
Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
Every personality is different and you can't expect to bond with every person you meet. So the goal here is to make efforts to work well with this person and to adapt your communication style to theirs for the sake of the functionality of the team. What you want to convey is your general attitude and approach to team building and relationship building.
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Anonymous Answer
I am a very friendly person and easy to get along with. But I understand that each person is different. There are people who are shyer and are more difficult to build a relationship with someone they don't know. I leave these people at ease, respecting their time and always making myself available to help them if they need it. I think that respect is the key for a relationship of trust to exist and for us to be able to build a successful working relationship.
Marcie's Feedback
Nice! It's great that you mention being friendly and easy to get along with. Being respectful of different personalities is also important. So you would hang back and be there if they need help but otherwise let them carry on? You might also discuss trying to build trust by doing what you say, working hard, and being a strong communicator. Good job!
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