Tell me about a conflict you had with a co-worker and how you handled it.

How to Answer
1st Answer Example
2nd Answer Example

A perfect time to share a short story about a time you experience conflict and how you handled it. Be sure not to ramble and get off track. No need to add names and company names to your story. By making it too personal it may come across to the interviewer that you are still bitter about the confrontation and haven't let it go. First things first- tell your story calmly. It's important not to get too animated and caught up in the story as it might suggest you have a fiery temperament. If the wound is too fresh stay away from a personal story and keep it short and sweet. Do your best to tell of a situation from a past position that is similar to the position that you are interviewing for. The interviewer wants to be sure that you could handle conflict in your new position.

Here's an example answer: "My co-worker and I were pulling charts for the next business day. I asked my co-worker if she would mind grabbing the phone since it was ringing next to her she slammed the records down and stormed out. I answered the phone, pulled my last two charts and headed back to talk to her. I thought that the 10 minutes between her outburst and me going back there would give her time to cool down. After confronting her and asking if I could be of help she opened up about stress at home and apologized for taking it out on me. To this day we have a great working relationship."

"My co-worker and I were pulling charts for the next business day. I asked my co-worker if she would mind grabbing the phone since it was ringing next to her she slammed the records down and stormed out. I answered the phone, pulled my last two charts and headed back to talk to her. I thought that the 10 minutes between her outburst and me going back there would give her time to cool down. After confronting her and asking if I could be of help she opened up about stress at home and apologized for taking it out on me. To this day we have a great working relationship."

"I was able to get the attention of my supervisor to just stand by and be a bystandard. I listened to my co-workers concern, explained my side of the story and was able to come to a resolution."

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How to Answer: Tell me about a conflict you had with a co-worker and how you handled it.

Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Medical Receptionist job interview.

21. Tell me about a conflict you had with a co-worker and how you handled it.

How to Answer

A perfect time to share a short story about a time you experience conflict and how you handled it. Be sure not to ramble and get off track. No need to add names and company names to your story. By making it too personal it may come across to the interviewer that you are still bitter about the confrontation and haven't let it go. First things first- tell your story calmly. It's important not to get too animated and caught up in the story as it might suggest you have a fiery temperament. If the wound is too fresh stay away from a personal story and keep it short and sweet. Do your best to tell of a situation from a past position that is similar to the position that you are interviewing for. The interviewer wants to be sure that you could handle conflict in your new position.

Here's an example answer: "My co-worker and I were pulling charts for the next business day. I asked my co-worker if she would mind grabbing the phone since it was ringing next to her she slammed the records down and stormed out. I answered the phone, pulled my last two charts and headed back to talk to her. I thought that the 10 minutes between her outburst and me going back there would give her time to cool down. After confronting her and asking if I could be of help she opened up about stress at home and apologized for taking it out on me. To this day we have a great working relationship."

Written by Heather Douglass on April 19th, 2021

1st Answer Example

"My co-worker and I were pulling charts for the next business day. I asked my co-worker if she would mind grabbing the phone since it was ringing next to her she slammed the records down and stormed out. I answered the phone, pulled my last two charts and headed back to talk to her. I thought that the 10 minutes between her outburst and me going back there would give her time to cool down. After confronting her and asking if I could be of help she opened up about stress at home and apologized for taking it out on me. To this day we have a great working relationship."

Written by Heather Douglass on April 19th, 2021

2nd Answer Example

"I was able to get the attention of my supervisor to just stand by and be a bystandard. I listened to my co-workers concern, explained my side of the story and was able to come to a resolution."

Written by Heather Douglass on April 19th, 2021

Next Question