Think about a difficult superior or fellow investigator. How did you successfully interact with this person?

"One of the most difficult people I've worked with was a supervisor when I was a new investigator. She was notoriously difficult on the newbies, but I took this on as a challenge. I gave myself incremental goals along the way, small checkpoints gaining even the smallest amount of positive reinforcement from her. I made it a fun challenge for myself. Ultimately, I did win her over, and she is someone I consider a mentor even today."

"I have been exposed to a variety of personalities during my university career. I am a warm person by nature and have found it challenging to connect with those professors who were 'matter of fact' and a bit standoffish. My former criminology professor was this way, so I adapted by sticking solely to the facts when giving answers and presenting data versus opinions. It wasn't the most profound relationship that I built during my time in post-secondary, but I did learn some valuable communication lessons."

Focus your answer on how you can work with diverse personalities and how a challenging person does not interfere with your ability to perform your work. The interviewer wants to hear that you can positively interact with those who are difficult to work with.

The industry can be tight-knit, so stay classy and avoid speaking poorly of anyone. When you speak poorly of others, the interviewer will determine that you talk behind others' backs and may not interact well with others. Be sure to end your response on a positive note, showing how you are a team player and easy to work with.