How have you handled a problem with a supervisor?
When interviewers ask how you handled a problem with a supervisor or coworker, they want to see how you handle conflict in the workplace. It is a desirable quality to remain calm while communicating with your supervisor in a private setting. Describe a problem you had with a supervisor and how you came to a resolution. Avoid speaking negatively about your supervisor while highlighting your conflict resolution and problem-solving skills.
"I had a problem with my previous supervisor who would micromanage my research team and me. She was a new supervisor who was hired after my previous manager retired, and she was unfamiliar with how my team and I worked. My responsibility was to supervise my team, and my supervisor's role was to supervise me. She would give tasks to my team without consulting with me first, and it became confusing for my research staff. I asked my supervisor if we could have a meeting, and we met in her office. I calmly explained that my job was to supervise my staff, and her job was to supervise me. I described that it was confusing my research team when she assigned tasks without consulting with me first. She was surprised and unaware of my position and explained how her previous role was to supervise the virologist and the team. My supervisor apologized and said she would assign tasks to me next time. We never had an issue after that."
