How to Answer: How do you handle a dispute with a coworker or supervisor?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Davita job interview.
2. How do you handle a dispute with a coworker or supervisor?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
It is not uncommon for employees or supervisors to have a dispute or disagreement with someone they work with. The interviewer knows this and wants to see how you have handled disputes in the past. How you respond gives the interviewer insight into your problem-solving, communication, and conflict resolution skills, which are essential skills to possess as a Patient Care Technician.
Written by Krista Wenz on May 23rd, 2022
Focus Your Answer On
Focus on giving a detailed explanation of how you handled a past disagreement with a supervisor or coworker. You do not necessarily need to describe the reason for the dispute, just how you dealt with it. The interviewer wants to hear that you dealt with the conflict privately, calmly, and professionally and that there was a resolution.
Written by Krista Wenz on May 23rd, 2022
Answer Example
"Fortunately, I have only had one dispute in my career with a coworker. There was a misunderstanding in our respective job duties, and my coworker thought I was trying to undermine his position. I handled it by recognizing we had an issue and asked my coworker to speak in private. I calmly asked him why he thought we had a conflict and what we could do to resolve the issue. Once we cleared up who was responsible for each job responsibility, we never had an issue again."
Written by Krista Wenz on May 23rd, 2022