Think about a difficult boss, professor, or coworker. What made them difficult? How did you successfully interact with this person?
Show the interviewer that you work well with most personalities even though you recognize some folks are difficult to please. Think about that one person at work who is seen as hard to please. Perhaps there is someone at work who tries to intimidate others. Talk to the interviewer about what made this person challenging and their relationship with you. Avoid speaking poorly of anyone, and be sure to end your response on a positive note.
"I once worked at a small medical facility where the primary physician was very demanding. When he would walk into the facility, employees would quietly announce that he was in the building so that everyone could be prepared for his arrival. This physician had great intentions; however, his people skills were a little rough. I saw that he meant well and recognized that he wanted to do many good things. When we interacted, I always took his feedback with the understanding that he didn't mean things as harshly as he might say them."
"In my previous position, I had a coworker who didn't pull their weight. This unmotivated coworker created more work for the rest of the team by being slow and unresponsive. Our team started to complete most of the tasks regarding group projects. It didn't take much time before our department head noticed this individual was slacking. In most instances, the underachievers will weed themselves out over time, and it's rarely worth making a fuss over."
The interviewer wants to gain insight into your interpersonal and communications skills. Describe a challenging person you have worked with or had as a professor and how you interacted with this person.
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
At times, some coworkers can be difficult, due to their demeanour or communication skills. It is important to maintain respectfulness and personal integrity. Keep having open lines of communication and professionalism and not take the behaviour of others personally.
Rachelle's Feedback
It sounds like you have some great ideas for overcoming communication roadblocks in the workplace. When it comes to behavioral/situational based interview questions like this one, it's best to give a direct example of a 'time when.' The STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is a helpful framework for forming these responses. You can access our guide here if you'd like to learn more: https://www.mockquestions.com/articles/Master Behavioral-Based Interviews Using The Star Method/
Anonymous Answer
I once faced a challenge with a supervisor who had limited familiarity with technology and preferred traditional methods of communication. This created difficulties in understanding and incorporating new tools and processes. To successfully interact with this individual, I adapted my approach by emphasizing face-to-face meetings and written communication. I also took the initiative to provide patient and thorough explanations of technology-related matters, offering support and training when needed. Through empathy and proactive efforts, I was able to foster a positive working relationship, bridging the gap between different perspectives and enabling effective collaboration.
Jaymie's Feedback
Your response is perfect! You avoided being overly critical of the supervisor and gently explained the challenge of the situation and not the person. You didn't spend a lot of time on the conflict itself but rather focused your time on the strategies you used to overcome this barrier. Excellent job!
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