Job interview questions and answers (Part 15): Tell me about a time you had a conflict

In this week’s video, we’re going to go over the interview question “tell me about a time you disagreed with a coworker”. That’s coming up.

Hi guys, I’m Kim with Snagajob, your number one source for hourly jobs and welcome to our weekly advice show.

A job interview is your chance to make a great first impression on the employer. Which makes answering a question like “tell me about a time you disagreed with a coworker” a tough one to answer. The interviewer wants to know if you’re a team player and capable of resolving minor issues that may arise.

Avoid answers like:

“I don’t usually have disagreements with coworkers because it’s my way or the highway. I can’t help if my ideas are better than everyone else’s.”

“If I have a disagreement, I will go directly to my manager. I don’t like confrontation, it makes me anxious.”

“I never disagreed with a coworker, but I have had one disagree with me before. After I told them I would beat them up if it happened again, we didn’t seem to have any more issues.”

Show that you can overcome small conflicts without involving your boss or interrupting the flow of the workplace. Your answer should reflect your professionalism and your ability to maintain your temper.

“Once, a co-worker and I disagreed on the way an unsatisfied customer was dealt with. I decided to meet with them one on one to talk and resolve our dispute in a peaceful manner. We both agreed that our goal was to keep the customer happy and came to a compromise that consisted of both of our ideas.”

Workplace conflicts may happen every now and then and that’s okay. The key is handling them correctly and showing the interviewer you can move forward.