Describe a time when you had to handle conflict in the workplace. How did you handle the situation?

Conflict, whether big or small, is often inevitable in the workplace. The interviewer wants to know if you have conflict management skills to handle situations that may arise. Using a previous experience, share how you handled a conflict in the workplace. Include essential details that demonstrate your ability to defuse a situation and have a positive ending.

"As you may already know, the holiday season is a busy time, and customers are often overloaded with holiday stress. One year, I had two customers almost get into a fight over an item they both went to grab at the same time. I did my best to deescalate the situation by exhibiting patience and understanding of both of their needs. To avoid a fight, I had a sales associate immediately check our inventory to see if we had another item in the same size, and thankfully we did."