Tell me about a time you experienced a conflict at work.
"I was working in security for a corporate office and had to escort out a former employee who was disgruntled and showed up drunk and belligerent, trying to stir things up. I had to escort him off the premises. It was unfortunate. I knew the guy and liked him for my part. He was friendly, and we had a morning hello and an evening good night routine, our own banter. But they let him go, and he came back drunk and wasn't himself that day. He tried to slip past me twice, but I detained and escorted him out. It was easy to get hold of him without hurting him or myself. But that was the last time."
This behavioral question will offer a meaningful glimpse into your personality, as well as your soft skills. They're aiming to get a glimpse of your mediation and negotiation skills. The interviewer needs to know how adept and effective you are at diplomacy and working swiftly towards a communal end goal, before resorting to any physical altercations. They are also curious if you have issues with people in positions of authority, or if you strive to preserve the peace, and exhibit respect for your superiors.
Any position within the department of corrections is typically a stressful environment. This can easily result in intense situations between correctional officers, coworkers, or inmates. Exhibit your non-defensive communications skills here, as well as your ability to function as a mediator between those who don't see eye to eye. Convey a possession of strong conflict resolution skills in your example.
Avoid any examples of conflict in the workplace with your superiors or coworkers. Avoid examples where violence was the first reaction to a situation, or where the chain of command was not respected. The key here is to exhibit your inner strength and your capability to work in high-stress situations with composure.
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
There was a situation where two of my coworkers started yelling at each other, eventually devolving into a fight. Another coworker and I separated them and got our superiors involved. I think it is hugely unprofessional to argue and especially yell or fight at the workplace, which I am very against.
Marcie's Feedback
Nice! Use the STAR method (situation, task, actions, result) to build out your example even more. Why did they start yelling? What was the issue that triggered them? How come you decided to step in? What ultimately happened to them? Then relate this to the role and how you will successfully handle conflict there as well. Great job!
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