Department of Justice Mock Interview
Practice 30 Department of Justice interview questions covering legal reasoning, ethics, and public service commitment.
Question 9 of 30
How do you handle conflict at work?
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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.
This question will offer a meaningful glimpse into your personality, your problem-solving skills, and your general perception or attitude. The interviewer needs to determine what you consider a conflict and how you'd confront it, as well as your mediation and negotiation skills and how adept and effective you are at diplomacy and working towards a communal end goal. They're also keeping a keen eye out for any "red flags." In the simplest terms, in this scenario, the last thing you want is to plant the seed that the challenging co-worker in this scenario was you.
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.
When an interviewer asks you how you deal with conflict, focus your example on the solution rather than the problem. Address the situation and never focus on any one person as the source of the conflict. Exhibit your non-defensive communication 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.
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.
"It depends on what you mean by conflict. If it is a personality conflict, I'll put my non-defensive communication skills to work, demonstrate active listening, and do all I can to remain objective and level-headed and deescalate the situation. The aim is to ensure the team works well together and supports each other at every turn."
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Anonymous Answer
I'm a fairly direct person. However, I like to ask for advice from either my supervisor or peers. I was working on a project with the social worker where we clearly delegated tasks, however about a week later he completed all my tasks before our deadline without telling me. I talked through the situation with my supervisor, asking for the best method for me to confront the situation, which was extremely helpful for the conversation that I had with my colleague.
Jaymie's Feedback
It's important to be able to ask for help when you need guidance or advice and your response certainly reflects that you're able to do so. Think about other aspects of conflict resolution too like discovering the root cause, actively listening, establishing desired outcomes, compromise, empathy, etc. The interviewer will appreciate those abilities as well.
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