How to Answer: Tell me about a time you faced conflict while working as part of a team.
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Department of Water Resources job interview.
11. Tell me about a time you faced conflict while working as part of a team.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
This question is designed to determine what you consider a conflict, how you'd confront it, and whether you respond defensively to situational conflict or approach such instances diplomatically, working swiftly towards a communal end goal. The interviewer also hopes to reveal whether you are part of the problem or part of the solution. The question aims to gauge your problem-solving skills and general perception or attitude towards those in positions of authority.
Written by Kevin Downey on April 12th, 2022
How to Answer
Focus on the situation and solution rather than assigning blame to any one person. Disagreements aren't necessarily negative, but communication can often degrade. Explain the steps you took to clear up any communication breakdowns. Demonstrate mindfulness, empathy, and enhanced communication skills. Taking initiative while remaining emotionally grounded exhibits strong leadership and communication skills.
Written by Kevin Downey on April 12th, 2022
Answer Example
"I worked with someone who was going through a divorce. They were distracted, insecure, and sensitive. They also started having attendance issues. This exposed some holes in our attendance policy, which our leadership sought to patch up. As a result, the leadership made some changes to our attendance policy, and my coworker took it as a personal attack. I guess they felt victimized by what they were going through and projected that at work. I didn't agree with their perspective and didn't feel their negative outlook was doing them any good, so I tried to offer a more objective lens. It wasn't appreciated, and they lashed out at me, misinterpreted my concern as insensitive, and accused me of using a tone I didn't intend. After things de-escalated, I explained I was just trying to help, since I cared about them and didn't want their problems to go from bad to worse. I think this embarrassed them. A couple of days later, they took time off to figure things out. When they returned, they apologized for the incident. I told them there was no need to apologize. We hashed it out and had no trouble working together."
Written by Kevin Downey on April 12th, 2022