Have you ever had difficulty with a supervisor?
Give the interviewer an example of your conflict resolution skills, past or future, i.e., how you have dealt, or would deal, with conflict at work - and what you would do to resolve the issues in a timely fashion. If you do not have any example in a professional situation, you can provide an example of conflict in volunteer capacity or university setting.
Example 1: "I once worked with a supervisor who did not provide any timeline for the projects he assigned to me, yet became extremely agitated when I did not deliver within a few hours. As I had no idea he had such timelines in mind, I requested a meeting with him to tell him about my concerns and that I can absolutely adjust to tight deadlines, however I require prior adequate notice so that I can organize my days accordingly and delegate other duties if necessary. I also told him I cannot anticipate he would want something done right away upon receipt. He told me he did not realize he had provided unclear instructions and promised to be more clear in the future, which he were."
Example 2: "No situation comes to mind, however I would remain professional and respectful, and seek to resolve the conflict in a timely manner. I would request a meeting with my supervisor so that we can calmly discuss our points of view and ultimately find a resolution. "
"I once worked with a supervisor who did not provide any timeline for the projects he assigned to me, yet became extremely agitated when I did not deliver within a few hours. As I had no idea he had such timelines in mind, I requested a meeting with him to tell him about my concerns and that I can absolutely adjust to tight deadlines, however I require prior adequate notice so that I can organize my days accordingly and delegate other duties if necessary. I also told him I cannot anticipate he would want something done right away upon receipt. He told me he did not realize he had provided unclear instructions and promised to be more clear in the future, which he were."
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
I would remain professional and respectful and seek a meeting to ameliorate any difficulties that may exist.
Stephanie's Feedback
It sounds like you're flexible and easy to work with! I am providing a suggestion in the "Revised Answer" box around how this response could be slightly restated for clarity.
I am very flexible and easy to get along well, and I tend to work well under any supervision style. As a result, I've never really experienced difficulty with a supervisor. If a difficulty ever did arise, I would remain professional and respectful. I am an active communicator, so I would request a meeting with my supervisor to find a resolution to the issue.