How to Answer: Tell me an example of a situation where you had difficulties with a team member.
Advice and answer examples written specifically for an Editor job interview.
37. Tell me an example of a situation where you had difficulties with a team member.
How to Answer
The interviewer is asking this question to learn more about how you deal with conflict and how well you work with others--how well you work on a team. One way to answer this question is to describe an assignment you were on and then talk about a time when you and a colleague, or team member, differed in your approach to the assignment. You should not end your answer with you winning - you want to remember to stress the actions you took to compromise with your coworkers.
Written by Sue Oberliesen on November 11th, 2021
1st Answer Example
"Honestly, I haven't had a lot of negative experiences working on a team. In the past, I experienced a new manager or team member who struggled slightly to adjust to our team dynamics and organizational culture. Still, I've found that talking to them privately and taking advantage of informal opportunities to connect them with our different team members has always eased those transitions."
Written by Sue Oberliesen on November 11th, 2021
2nd Answer Example
"For example: "At a past company, we had a situation where one of our senior editors was actively criticizing a new hire, publicly pointing out her mistakes and just generally embarrassing her in front of other employees. I spoke to the senior editor and reminded him of how challenging we found our first few months to be. I also took on the role of mentor for the new hire, which helped instill confidence in her work and diffuse any negativity. within our team."
Written by Sue Oberliesen on November 11th, 2021