How do you get along with others at work?

"I get along great with my co-workers. I am sure to maintain a positive attitude and be supportive, whether I am offering to assist someone who is overwhelmed or taking time to listen to someone who is having a challenging day. The other day one of my co-workers was overloaded with tasks. As soon as I noticed, I offered to take on some of their work. We collaborated on his backlog of work and ended up catching him up by the end of the day. My colleague was thankful that I noticed their need and was generous with my time."

"I put conscious effort into getting along with others at work. I am a conscious communicator who is self-aware. For instance, I recently sensed that my manager was having an exceptionally stressful day. I exuded extra kindness towards them that day and was proactive in my tasks. Later, my manager thanked me for noticing that they needed an extra boost that day. It feels great to exude kindness, and you can rest assured that I will bring my positive nature to this team every day."

"As a manager, I have led diverse personalities, and I can work well with a wide range of individuals. If I do not see eye-to-eye with someone at first, I will take the time to get to know them and find common ground. Recently one of our top sales reps was transferred to my team. This individual's personality is gregarious; however, after spending a few days with this person and remaining open to their approaches, I began to enjoy the passion they bring to the company genuinely. Rather than criticize this person's character, I realized that I appreciated the core of who they are. The lesson was that when I have a connection to someone, it's much easier to build a healthy working relationship. So, I first look for that link rather than criticize their personality."

"I get along well with my coworkers and strive to be a strong communicator in all situations. If a concern comes up, I'm sure to address the issue promptly so the situation doesn't impact the work environment. For instance, my manager approached me last week to discuss why I missed my sales target for the week. I'd beaten my target by 12%; however, our tracking system encountered a glitch, not showing a few of my sales. Rather than becoming frustrated with my manager for questioning my work and results, I patiently explained the situation and assured them that I had exceeded my goals. I strive to be a team player in all situations. More than anything, I want always to be a positive and respectful contributor, regardless of misunderstandings that may arise."

"It's important to me that I get along with others at work and that everyone feels comfortable in their work environment. Last month one of our retail managers was having a tough time and, unfortunately, was taking the situation out on myself and the other sales rep working the floor with me that day. I focused on doing my job well, greeting our customers, helping the other sales rep, and keeping a positive attitude throughout the day. I got down to work without allowing our manager's behavior to impact my day. Later that week, my co-worker thanked me for helping make their day easier. It felt great that my positive nature was appreciated and that it made an impact."

"A large part of my role as a teacher is to find common ground with a range of individuals and stakeholders, including my fellow educators, supervisors, students, and the students' families. I am mindful to look for the best in others. Even when there are moments of disagreement, I see the situation from the other persons' perspective - especially if it's a student. For example, I welcomed a new student to my class part-way through the school year. This student struggled to get along with other classmates and lacked respect in the classroom. Rather than get frustrated and assume this student would always be a problem, I booked a meeting with her and her parents. We discussed how challenging it was for her to move schools mid-year, and I asked what I could do to support them with the transition. We brainstormed a few ideas, created an action plan, and committed to sticking to the plan. The alternative was disciplining the student without keeping the lines of communication open which would have caused a rift between me, the student, and her parents. This story is one example of how I work to create a collaborative environment rather than allow a negative relationship to form."

"I enjoy people and like to find common ground. Despite differences that might occur, I still appreciate everyone for their individuality. My agency recently implemented 360 peer feedback. In my latest performance review, my co-workers shared their appreciation for how I focus on accomplishing tasks and reaching goals as a collective group. I was complimented for my positive contributions and listening more than I speak. I am sure to back up my opinions with facts or examples, and when I see an opportunity to help, I do."

Avoid exaggerated and/or generic responses like, 'I get along well with everyone at all times because I show them respect.' Rarely do we get along with everyone all of the time, so a response like that could indicate to the interviewer that you are being untruthful or you are passive and avoid conflict at all costs. Generic statements like, 'I show them respect' fail to provide a complete picture of your approach. Instead, describe the specific ways that you show respect to others.

It's also essential to avoid turning this question into an opportunity to speak poorly of others or comment judgmentally about other people's work styles.

Some of the ways you can get along with your co-workers include:

- Making an effort to develop personal connections with them right away
- Asking them about themselves and their lives more often than you talk about yourself
- Being a positive communicator rather than someone who is negative or likes to gossip
- Acting as a helpful and approachable resource

Be prepared to discuss actions you have taken in the workplace to develop healthy and respectful co-worker relationships.

Think about the co-worker relationships that you've enjoyed the most and found the most fulfilling. Then, consider the actions you took to contribute to those positive relationships. Look for common themes that show you are a good team player who respects others.

When expressing how you get along with others at work, consider telling a story highlighting these traits and qualities in action. Then, make a connection between your approach to building workplace relationships and how it aligns with the hiring company's workplace/team environment.

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.

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