Tell me about a time when you had to work with someone who was difficult to get along with.
TIPS TO PREPARE
TOP ANSWERS
OUR COACH SAYS
The interviewer wants to know how well you work with others despite personality or work style differences. Keep your answer simple and avoid overdramatizing any event. Avoid extreme responses that include:
- Speaking negatively of others
- Telling the interviewer that you get along with everyone
- Naming people in your story example
Focus on a time when your work style was different than another person, but perhaps you still had to complete a project together. Discuss, in a positive tone, how you made it work!
Behavioral-based interview questions that begin with 'Tell me about a time...' are best answered using the STAR method. STAR is an acronym for Situation, Task, Action, Result. Organizing your response using this framework will ensure that you provide the interviewer with the right amount of information and detail to form a compelling answer.
- Speaking negatively of others
- Telling the interviewer that you get along with everyone
- Naming people in your story example
Focus on a time when your work style was different than another person, but perhaps you still had to complete a project together. Discuss, in a positive tone, how you made it work!
Behavioral-based interview questions that begin with 'Tell me about a time...' are best answered using the STAR method. STAR is an acronym for Situation, Task, Action, Result. Organizing your response using this framework will ensure that you provide the interviewer with the right amount of information and detail to form a compelling answer.
Example #1
"(Situation) Last month, I had to collaborate with another project manager with a different working style. (Task) As an experienced PM who comes from the tech industry, I find timely client follow up to be mission-critical. This particular PM had a much more relaxed approach. (Action) Before the project launched, I asked to meet one-on-one. We discussed our strengths and created a basic outline of expectations and timelines. (Result) By taking this communicative approach right away, we were able to collaborate quite well and ensured a fantastic project outcome. In the end, I truly enjoyed working alongside this PM."
Example #2
"(Situation) About one year ago, I had an administrative team member who was constantly late to meetings and missed deadlines. (Task) This person was newer to their career, and, as the administrative department lead, it was important to me that they succeeded. (Action) I approached this person privately to understand what was going on, and what was preventing them from working well with the team. When they shared their struggles with me, I offered the proper support and resources. (Result) By taking the time to nurture the situation, rather than simply terminate the person, I was able to mentor and grow one of the best Administrative Assistants I have ever had."
Example #3
"(Situation) Many of my team members can be a touch rough around the edges. I recently had a forklift driver flip me the bird after a daily huddle. (Task) As an experienced Logistics Manager, I have worked with a variety of people who challenge me, and I do not shy away from potential conflict. (Action) I called this person into my office immediately and reminded them of our code of conduct. I wrote them up with a warning, which they needed to sign in acknowledgment. (Result) So far, this driver has been in check, and I continue to monitor their behavior closely."
Example #4
"(Situation) Years ago, I had a team member who would scoff at other coworkers' ideas in meetings and loudly proclaimed that he was the smartest person in our office. (Task) As the Marketing Manager, I knew this behavior would not fly. (Action) I approached him in tandem with our Human Resources Partner to talk about the culture he was cultivating. We wanted to create a resolution with him. (Result) It turned out that he did not want to work in our division as he felt the projects were too 'junior' for his experience. He ended up requesting and receiving a transfer. By initiating an open conversation with this person, we were able to uncover his need. We also the needs of our team by protecting the workplace culture."
Example #5
"(Situation) Recently, our head office launched a sales competition between all store locations. (Task) This sales competition meant working alongside other associates to reach this goal. However, as a highly commissioned retail professional, these associates were typically my competition. (Action) I pushed those competitive thoughts to the side and jumped into action. I called a group meeting to outline goals and targets, and to gain total buy-in from all sales associates. I distributed specific goals to each associate, as per their hours and previous sales results. (Result) In the end, our store won first place out of fifteen locations. It felt great to win!"
Example #6
"(Situation) I often have to collaborate with a sales manager who approaches problems, and people, very different than I do. She is more comfortable taking an indirect, apologetic route, whereas I prefer to tackle things head-on and with enthusiasm. (Task) Our sales were slipping, and it was important for our department that we worked well together. (Action) I suggested a one-on-one meeting where we mapped out our vision for the department in the short and long term. We crafted a plan to leverage each of our strengths and build on the other's ideas. (Result) Not only has our sales department become stronger and more successful, but I have learned some great communication techniques from her."
Example #7
"(Situation) I have conflicting teaching styles from one of the primary substitute teachers on my list. She likes the students to be quiet, and I like my students to be up and moving whenever possible and appropriate. (Task) I know my teaching style drives her nuts, and she's gone so far as to give my students conflicting information. As the full-time teacher, I knew that I needed to nip the situation in the bud. (Action) I was sure to be respectful of her feelings; however, I gently reminded her that I was leading my classroom in a way that my students respond to best. I asked her to honor the classroom culture I have created and gently reminded her that I could source a different substitute teacher. I was firm but respectful, and I stood up for myself. (Result) Months later, we seem to be working more harmoniously together."
Example #8
"In a previous position, I had a team member who was constantly late for their shift and my team meetings. They were a critical part of my team, so I approached them privately to understand what was going on that was preventing them from working well with the team. As her manager, I need to offer her the support she needed to become a reliable team member again. We created an action plan which she stuck to quite well after our initial conversation."
Example #9
"Last month I had to collaborate on a project with a corporate project manager who works very differently than I do. I find timely follow up to be incredibly important and this particular PM seemed to be more relaxed with that aspect. I continued to work how I always do but did ask this PM a couple of times to communicate more frequently with me in order to make the collaboration smoother. I fully understand that not everyone will work in perfect synergy and that is okay. It's what makes everyone unique. There is always a professional workaround available - sometimes you just have to approach the situation head-on but in a respectful way."
Example #10
"In a former job, I worked on a team that had challenges with communication. We didn't have standards for how information was distributed, when, and to whom, and email correspondence often got lost. This would result in missed deadlines and last-minute rushes. I believe that communication is critical to successfully operating a team and executing projects that involve multiple people, so I would tailor my communication based on each individual and level of priority. For example, if I knew that a colleague was not responsive via email, then I would pop over to their desk for quick check-ins or set up a meeting to discuss in person. I would follow-up with an email outlining what we discussed to have documentation of the process for future reference. For projects involving multiple people, I would set up Microsoft Planner tasks and set automated reminders at deadlines. By automating our communication and tailoring one-on-one methods, we were able to increase our on-time efficiency."
Example #11
"As a language interpreter, I have worked with all types of people - simple and difficult alike. The personality types that I find most difficult to work with would probably be they type that are not engaged listeners. It takes a lot of concentration to do what we do and if someone is not respecting my time, that can become frustrating. Luckily, I have not experienced this much. Overall, my clients have been quite incredible and easy to work with."
Anonymous Answer
"I am currently working with a person who feels that her way is the only way. On the days I do work with her, I just adapt to her personality and go with the flow."
Mary's Reply
Consider providing more details to elaborate on the Situation, Actions, and Results. Actions, in particular, help demonstrate to interviewers how you think and act in certain scenarios. Interviewers look to behavioral-based responses to predict how an individual will operate in a similar, future circumstance.
Mary's Reply
"Situation: I currently have a co-worker who can be difficult to get along with- she feels that her way of doing things is the only way. Action: On days we are scheduled to work at the same time, I adapt to her personality by adjusting my communication, asking her questions and adjusting my methods, always within compliance. Result: We have a productive working relationship despite her being viewed as a more difficult team member."
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Anonymous Answer
"I have had a co-worker that was always negative and always viewed things in the worst way possible. I always tried to keep things light when I talked to him to help cheer him up and keep him in a more positive mood. It helped balance him out so he could focus on the job in a more positive light."
Kristine's Reply
Excellent response! Your interviewer will be impressed you adapted your approach with your co-worker to make it work.
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Anonymous Answer
"A couple of years ago, we had a team member who was constantly late to team meetings and late on deadlines. She was a newly single mom, and it was not easy for her to focus on work. I approached her and let her know that we were a team and that I was willing to help her if the workload was too heavy, that she should just let the team lead know in advance. She became happy with our team."
Rachelle's Reply
Great example that shows empathy and leadership! I have reworded slightly, for the sake of flow.
Rachelle's Reply
"I worked with a team member who was always late to meetings and constantly missing deadlines. I knew she was a newly single mom so I approached her in kindness, addressing the fact that she could not focus on her work. I told her that I was willing to help, and reminded her that she could lean on the team. She began collaborating much better after that conversation."
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Anonymous Answer
"Project Management involves managing different personalities and work styles. I recall one Director who skirted my questions and meetings until I had to say in a one-on-one meeting "Your boss has charged me with XYZ - you can help me or I will be forced to let her know we can't work together. My preference would be to work this out together ourselves, what is your preference?" We were able to come to an agreement on our own and not directly involve her boss"
Nazish's Reply
My suggestion would be to use a more positive, professional tone. If you could show how you tried to collaborate more with the Director, it would show a great team player mentality in a difficult situation.
Nazish's Reply
"As a Project Manager, I work with various types of personalities and work styles. I once worked with a Director who was not making my meetings a priority, thus delaying our project. I reached out to her directly and explained how her manager had identified her as someone who could be a great contributor to the project, and therefore it would be ideal if the two of us had a good working relationship on this project and could move forward without the involvement of her manager. We were able to come to an understanding and work effectively from that point forward."
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Anonymous Answer
"I have a very knowledgeable staff member, but her productivity numbers were not encouraging. I had a one-on-one meeting with her to identify what was holding her up. During the meeting, I acknowledged her experience and the fact that she's a go-to person, and I wanted to know what was holding her back and what I could do to help her.
She was honest with me about being bored with what she was doing and needing something different. I assured her that I was willing to help her in any way I can. Her numbers went up after the meeting."
Mary's Reply
This is a good example of your ability to communicate with coworkers who may have a different work ethic from yourself, or are difficult to lead. Nice job! I have reworded slightly for brevity.
Mary's Reply
"I have a very knowledgable staff member, but her productivity numbers were not encouraging. I had a one-on-one meeting with her to identify what was holding her up, and to remind her I was there to help. I acknowledged her experience and that she is the go-to person for her payer. She was honest with me about being bored and needing variety in her work. I assured her I would help in any way I could. Her numbers went up after our meeting."
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Anonymous Answer
"Generally speaking, I work well with others. Because of this, I do take it personally when I run into someone difficult to get along with. This happened on our team while we were expanding, and this person was bringing the energy level down during our weekly meetings. I asked her to coffee, and over the course of getting to know each other discovered that she felt intimidated by being a new college grad on a team with such experience. I did the best I could to be more inclusive, and over time she found her niche."
Rachelle's Reply
I like that you took the time to correct this colleague's path and helped her to succeed in her job. Good answer!
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Anonymous Answer
"I was working at a facility where I was teamed up with a coworker to provide DCS and PLC support. We worked a little differently and because of this it made it a little more difficult than usual to work with him. We had different ways of thinking of things and troubleshooting. In order to fix our conflict, I had to stop and opened my mind to his ways of doing things instead of always conflicting with him and learned that some of his way were more efficient. Because of this we came to respect one another and did a better job supporting the facility."
Rachelle's Reply
Great start! To enhance your answer, elaborate on how the work styles and ways of thinking of you and your coworker differed. I assisted with wording in places to ensure clarity.
Rachelle's Reply
"I was working at a facility where I teamed up with a coworker to provide DCS and PLC support. Our working styles differed, which made it a little more difficult to work together. We had different ways of thinking about things and troubleshooting. To fix our conflict, I had to stop and open my mind to his ways of doing things, and ultimately, I learned that some of his ways were more efficient than mine. Because of this, we came to respect one another and did a better job supporting the facility."
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Anonymous Answer
"I was working on a project with a senior rep, who didn't want to go to our supervisor with some questions we had. I am the type always to ask questions if I am unsure of an answer because I wanted to get the job done right. I went to the supervisor with the issues. The senior rep wasn't pleased with me; however, the project was completed, and we made the sale."
Rachelle's Reply
A good result in the end and you know that you did what was right. This is a good example of you taking the initiative and following your instinct...important qualities in sales.
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Anonymous Answer
"I worked with a coworker whose English wasn't very good, and it hindered the work we were doing. He preferred to communicate by email, but I found that he didn't understand the instructions I was giving, so I insisted we communicate by Skype so I could be sure he understood the tasks."
Rachelle's Reply
Your response shows your willingness to collaborate while also taking the lead and giving direction when the situation becomes difficult.
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Anonymous Answer
"At my current job, while working on the module test, ess test, and system test, I have to train someone on the module test, so my supervisor picks someone for me. Then I start the training for her, teach her all the necessary steps to test the module and we have to separate the modules from failed ones, she has a hard time understanding the procedures but after answering lots of questions to her, she finally adapts the method and learns to segregate the fail module."
Rachelle's Reply
This example really highlights your frustration and, unfortunately, not your ability to collaborate or work as part of a team. I highly suggest that you find an alternate example where you made it work with this person rather than blowing them off and doing it alone. This answer, as it stands, sounds negative and could cost you the job.
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Anonymous Answer
"Generally speaking, I can work well with anyone as I consider myself to be warm-hearted, flexible, and open-minded, though I prefer to work in a quiet office environment that I can concentrate on my work. There is a time that I was paired with a new colleague as his backup. I noted that this new colleague has a loud voice and loves chatting. I invited him to have coffee together with casual conversation, I commended his clear voice and his outgoing personality, however, I politely reminded him that we are mindful of others around us as we are working in the shared space."
Rachelle's Reply
Your response shows a willingness to have tough conversations while remaining kind and cooperative. Good job!
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Anonymous Answer
"I worked with a person whose work style was not the same as mine, but together we met our overall deadline within an acceptable time."
Kristine's Reply
Good start. Try to avoid stating you get along with everyone, and instead, dive into a situation when you had to work with the person you brought up. You can share some specifics about the person you mention. How did the person act? Why was it hard for people to get along with the person? Then, explain what you did to get along with and work with the person. This type of answer will show the interviewer what you do to get along with someone with a different personality or working style from your own.
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Anonymous Answer
"There will always be a difficult co-worker where ever you go. I believe in finding common ground with people and positively relating to them. I had a co-worker who was always late with her work which caused a delay in mine. I approached her to understand what was going on that prevented her from working well with the team and offered any support to get her there."
Rachelle's Reply
The interviewer will be looking for more critical details in your story. Try drawing out the impact your relationship had with this co-worker, the results you saw, the gain this had in your company, etc.
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Anonymous Answer
"I had a project with a difficult manager. To avoid responsibility, they would try to water down the importance of a project and the people doing the task.
I tried to find common ground and to relate to them positively. I saw the challenge as a positive thing because it helped me to learn more about the topic and its importance. I never let our differences get in the way of the project or our task delivery. The project was successful."
Rachelle's Reply
Wonderful example! It sounds like you took the best course of action.
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Anonymous Answer
"I had a lot of team projects during my master's program. Some of the team members were always late for group discussions and or finding excuses to exempt themselves from meetings. I approached them privately and asked if there is any trouble. It turned out that they were not confident in their oral English, and they thought their idea might be laughed at. I comforted them and encouraged them to write down ideas in advance. Later on, they could attend our discussion actively and do their job."
Rachelle's Reply
Your answer shows that you have a genuine concern for the success of others, which is very heartwarming to hear. Also, the fact that these team members would disclose their fears to you shows a lot about your character. This is a great response.
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Anonymous Answer
"As a floating pharmacist, I have worked with many different types of people. There are some technicians who may avoid some of their tasks since I would just be filling in for the time. I took the time to build relationships by being friendly and helpful to encourage them to complete their tasks on time."
Rachelle's Reply
Good response! Mentioning that you are a floating pharmacist will point out to the interviewer that you can manage change and diversity in the workplace.
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Anonymous Answer
"When I became an Operations Director, I had to travel to all the Centers to observe and see where I could help implement an outstanding patient experience while maintaining a specific timeline of getting the patient in and out. One particular employee seemed a little standoffish about taking any advice from me. While visiting this clinic, I suggested to her what I thought could be a time-saving technique for her and our process, and she reacted very rudely. I didn't respond to her right away and allowed the clinic to get to a point where I could take her aside and ask her about her reaction to me. She then, in turn, became emotional and said she had other personal issues going on. I calmly told her I'm just here to help. There are different personality types, and I recognize this, so I always try to look at the big picture first and don't take negative reaction personal because you never know what else is going on in an employee's life that may be affecting them at work. After that interaction, she never gave me any more problems and was much more receptive to me."
Rachelle's Reply
The fact that you did not immediately react to this persons' rude reaction shows great poise and control. It's wonderful that you waited until the time was appropriate to address the situation. This answer showcases some great leadership qualities, which any interviewer should appreciate.
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Anonymous Answer
"Taking the high road and recognizing the other person must have something going on in their personal life allows me to be more patient."
Rachelle's Reply
In these behavioral and situational style questions, the interviewer will be looking for you to give personalized experiences versus generalized statements or advice. I recommend really looking at how you frame responses, ensuring you connect with the interviewer.
Rachelle's Reply
"A couple of months ago we added a member to the team who was highly combative. Their attitude disrupted the flow of our team, but I chose to take the high road, and recognize that this person must have a lot going on in their personal life to make them so difficult at work. I continued to be patient, and the person eventually came around."
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Anonymous Answer
"In my previous position, I was hired into an existing team, and one of the technicians did not have the best attitude. My District manager spotted it and spoke with me privately and told me how to work with her.
I provided positive feedback on what I wanted to see in client interaction and led by example. I was able to help her and the rest of the team to perform better. I concentrated on providing examples of effective positive communication.
As a result she was able to improve her ability to work with her teammates, and we helped her improve her customer service skills."
Rachelle's Reply
You demonstrate a great ability to lead without demanding. Fantastic example!
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Anonymous Answer
"I would love to work with someone difficult to get along with. I used to learn a bunch of things from people, especially those who have the opposite personality. They sometimes think in a different way that I can't even imagine. Sure, that I have my advantage but also disadvantages. This is the opportunity for me to acquire the good things they have and hard to get when I meet people who get along with."
Rachelle's Reply
This is a unique perspective! Since the question is asking for a specific time, I have reworded your response slightly.
Rachelle's Reply
"In I worked with some people who thought very differently than I do. They were the opposite personality, and I learned to enjoy the differences between us because they had a unique perspective. I took this situation as an opportunity to acquire new skills and fresh ways of thinking."
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Anonymous Answer
"Working along with people who are difficult to get along with is challenging. This happened last semester with one of my classmates. He was always late to work on projects together and very rude. I asked him to try to be on time nicely, but he was never willing to make an effort to make the situation better. I just did the part which was assigned to me and try to help him with his part after I was finished."
Rachelle's Reply
It sounds like this person was challenging, indeed! Did you meet your project deadline in the end?
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Anonymous Answer
"At my previous job, the company hired a new guy and sent him with me on an out of town project. While working, I had to tell him to get off his phone a few times.
The third time I told him, he got hostile and said he didn't want to. I walked away and let him cool off. So I was tasked with getting him to work without involving my manager.
My action was talking to him privately about the phone policy. The result was us settling our differences and getting the project done."
Rachelle's Reply
It sounds like you handled this situation professionally. Your response also displays the care you put into safety on the job. Well done. Just a slight rewording for flow.
Rachelle's Reply
"While working as a foreman at CIK Power, the company hired a new person who was sent with me on an out of town project. While working, I had to tell him to get off his phone a few times. By the third time, he became hostile and refused to comply. I walked away and let him cool off. I was tasked with getting him to work without involving my manager so; I talked to him privately about the company safety and phone policies. The result was us settling our differences and getting the project done."
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Anonymous Answer
"I shared my office with an intern who was insisting on bringing her personal laptop at the office. I wasn't happy with her attitude, but I did not say anything, as she was using it sparingly to check her private messages. After a while, she started to use it to watch Netflix. I did remind her that watching TV during working hours was outside of the "acceptable limits for personal use" company policy and tried to set the example myself (in fact, I stopped bringing my personal phone at work), and gave her positive feedback anytime she was working on the company pc, until she changed attitude."
Rachelle's Reply
This sounds like a challenging time, but you approached it well, and hopefully, your work ethic stuck with her in the long term! :)
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Anonymous Answer
"When my co-worker was always disrespectful and loud during our shift, I tried always to think positive. I thought about how it could greatly affect my role and who I was representing, so talking to my senior supervisor helped her to be mindful of others."
Rachelle's Reply
I have reworded to help with clarity.
Rachelle's Reply
"I once had a co-worker who was loud and disrespectful. It greatly affected my productivity, so I spoke with my senior supervisor about the situation. She was more mindful of her attitude afterward."
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Anonymous Answer
"I used to work with someone a few years ago who was difficult to get along with. She was always rude to everyone and never listened to what anybody had to say. I still smiled and went about what I would usually do. I understand that you will butt heads with someone at nearly every workplace, but in the end, you have a job that needs to be done, and you need to act professionally."
Rachelle's Reply
Exactly! Getting your work done and being professional are important goals. Good answer.
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Anonymous Answer
"In the past, when I worked with someone difficult to get along with, I tried to put myself in their shoes to understand their perspective. I understand that every person will have different personalities and working styles. I would attempt to communicate with them about our strengths and weaknesses and brainstorm how we could complete the job."
Rachelle's Reply
Good! Just a slight rephrasing to make your answer more situational.
Rachelle's Reply
"In my previous role, I worked with someone who had a different personality and working style. I put myself in their shoes, tried to understand their perspective, and communicated with them from their level. I understand that everyone has a different personality and working style, so I always attempt to communicate based on personal strengths rather than weaknesses."
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Anonymous Answer
"I had a co-worker at my old job who always saw the negative side of everything. I started sending her positive quotes every morning and articles on the benefits of positive thinking and having a positive attitude. Gradually I noticed her becoming less negative. Well, around me anyway!"
Rachelle's Reply
This is a fun approach that benefited both of you! A positive mindset is always welcome, so I am sure the interviewer will appreciate your approach.
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Anonymous Answer
"I had a partner who does little work. I was disappointed, so I talked to her about it. She said she had projects and exams going on, that's why she couldn't help. Since the deadline was fast approaching, I did an extra workload to finish our project. It was a good thing since I learned more than I expected. However, on our final project, it happened again, so I talked with the TA, asked him to divide our work. I know it wasn't possible to share the work equally, so I was willing to do extra work. I remember working on my own has its benefits, but I believe that working in a team also gives me ideas from different perspectives. After a discussion, we were able to cooperate very well and finally got an A in the class."
Rachelle's Reply
Wonderful job getting that 'A'! Despite the disappointing partnership, it sounds like you learned a lot and overcame that challenge by tapping into your great work ethic. Good answer!
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Anonymous Answer
"When the other intern started working in the office, she was difficult to work with as she did not communicate with the Director or me well. I realized that not everyone is as outgoing, to begin with, and takes time to warm up to the team. I found time to collaborate with the team member, elaborate on what the business expected of her and let her know that I was always there to help her get started."
Rachelle's Reply
This example is good, however, I recommend phrasing it differently for better impact.
Rachelle's Reply
"We had an intern start in our office who was challenging to work with as they did not communicate well with myself or the Director. Realizing they were new to their career, and perhaps not as confident or outgoing, I took the added time to warm them up and begin a working relationship built on trust. Today, this intern is doing much better and will ask me for help when needed."
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Anonymous Answer
"When I worked in operations, I had to share branches as we turned them over. I was teamed up with one person who had a very different approach then I did. I was more passive, and she was more aggressive. There was a lot of tension in the branches due to that. She and I sat down together and set clear cut tasks for each one, based on our strengths. We then took that list to the branches and explained this is for the best of the department."
Rachelle's Reply
You two made an excellent plan for working together harmoniously while highlighting each persons' strengths. A great example of teamwork!
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Anonymous Answer
"When working with objectionable persons, I find if I concentrate on the endpoints and only that I could work above the difficulty. Endpoints were ticked off my checklist, and the time was more comfortable without personal interaction. I redirected interactions to work at hand and kept it moving forward."
Rachelle's Reply
This response is a bit confusing, and hard to follow. I have added a revision, below, for clarity. It's also important that the answer be more situational since this is a 'tell me about a time' question. A specific story and scenario is important here.
Rachelle's Reply
"I once worked with someone challenging to collaborate with on . I decided to concentrate on the endpoints and avoid as much personal interaction as I could. If this person's personality became difficult, I would redirect the attention to the work at hand, and keep moving forward."
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