Describe a disagreement you had with another member of your team.
"A disgruntled employee once had an altercation with our manager. When I tried to de-escalate the situation, they turned their anger toward me, accusing me of siding against them. I asked several follow-up questions and validated their emotions and perception of their experience. I then objectified the situation, helped them look at how they were worsening their situation as we spoke, and helped them see how their anger and emotions were making things worse and that they weren't in control of their feelings. I explained that the behavior they'd been displaying resulted in their conflict with that manager in the first place. After rationalizing with them for a while, I was able to de-escalate the situation, and they apologized to everyone involved."
This question goes deeper than working with a challenging co-worker. It aims to determine how easy you are to work with. Proceed with caution when navigating this question. Providing several examples of difficult co-workers you conflicted with could suggest you are challenging to work with. Instead, use this opportunity to showcase your soft people skills and ability to communicate non-defensively. Focus on teamwork and collaboration.
More often than not, when a person recalls situations from their past, they'll revert to the emotional state of that situation. For example, if a person recalls getting into a volatile conflict, those emotions come to the surface, and the person will narrow their eyes, fold their arms, and furrow their brow. Be conscious of this, and focus on your emotional intelligence by objectifying the situation calmly, exuding confidence, and a relaxed demeanor.
Unlock all 30 Target questions
Master the digital interview format that Target uses to screen candidates.
Get Started