How to Answer: How do you handle a dispute with a coworker or supervisor?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a SIU Investigator job interview.
3. How do you handle a dispute with a coworker or supervisor?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
It is not uncommon for coworkers or supervisors to have a dispute or disagreement with someone they work with. The interviewer knows this and wants to see how you have handled disputes in the past. How you respond gives the interviewer insight into your problem-solving, communication, and conflict resolution skills, which are essential skills to possess as an SIU investigator.
Written by Krista Wenz on March 12th, 2022
Focus Your Answer On
Focus on giving a detailed explanation of how you handled a past disagreement with a supervisor or coworker. You do not necessarily need to describe the reason for the dispute, just how you dealt with it. The interviewer wants to hear that you dealt with the conflict privately, calmly, and maturely and that there was a resolution.
Written by Krista Wenz on March 12th, 2022
What to Avoid
You do not want to say that you avoid or ignore disagreements or get angry when a dispute arises in the workplace. The interviewer does not want to hear that you lack conflict resolution and communication skills. You also want to avoid speaking poorly of the person you had the dispute with or placing the blame solely on the other individual. You need to be responsible and recognize your part in the conflict.
Written by Krista Wenz on March 12th, 2022
Answer Example
"Fortunately, I have only had one dispute in my career with a coworker. I handled it by recognizing we had an issue and asked my coworker to speak in private. I calmly asked him why he thought we had a conflict and what we could do to resolve the issue. It turns out there was a misunderstanding in our respective job duties, and my coworker thought I was trying to undermine his position. Once we cleared up who was responsible for each job responsibility, we never had an issue again."
Written by Krista Wenz on March 12th, 2022