Interview questions are not designed to trip you up. Even so, questions that seem interested in bringing potentially negative traits about you to the surface do need some careful preparation to make sure you’re still showing yourself off in the best light, as well as an honest one!

Why interviewers ask this question

There are so many benefits to a happy office, and at Aldrich & Co, we believe people perform at their best when they are part of welcoming, supportive teams.

But we can’t always pull in the same direction all the time; it is also natural and human to experience some conflict. And getting pushback can also keep us on our toes, making us more resilient and confident in our negotiating skills!

Recruitment consultants want to hear that you can control your impulses, and also that you are capable of maintaining good relationships under pressure, and interested in working towards resolutions that help the company and encourage your team to move on.

Common mistakes interviewees make

The most obvious mistake unprepared interviewees make when answering this question is blaming the other person. Inter-office politics and frustrations can come to a head, and during high-pressure interviews it may be tempting to vent. Resist the urge to make yourself the villain-vanquishing hero and take the opportunity instead to show how you used your soft skills of listening, communicating, and negotiating to reach a solution.

Another mistake is to say that you have never experienced any conflicts. This is essentially showing the interviewer that you have not prepared adequately to anticipate this question, and it won’t go down well.  

We also recommend that you avoid talking about dramatic blow-ups that might risk you becoming emotional; think the kind of situations that mean HR needs to get involved. Recruiting officers want to see that you can remain calm and composed in a crisis.

What interviewers want to hear in your answer

The question “Describe a conflict you had with a team member” ultimately tests your maturity and your ability to deal with other people, so remember to reflect on both of these in your response.

Not all conflicts are the same. The most successful responses showcase conflicts that:

• recognise different working styles (like speed vs accuracy)
• reflect disagreements or miscommunication on work priorities or tasks
• discuss feedback taken badly or poorly communicated

How to prepare for this interview question

Once you have settled on a good example using the advice above, write down your answers to the following:

• What triggered this event? (Explain the situation: Was it a team project that was getting out of control or too many missed deadlines or something else?)
• Who was involved? (Make sure to let the recruiter know their role and what working relationship they had to you)
• What actually happened? (What was the central disagreement?)
• What did you also get wrong? (How did you take responsibility, and for which parts did you recognise you were accountable?)
• How did you resolve it? (Did you offer the other person space to tell their side of the story, and what compromises did you make?)
• What did you learn from it? (Did you find that changing your approach led to better teamwork?)

Everyone loves to be told a story, and interviewers are no different. Ideally, your response should follow the structure of the above questions; this will ensure recruiters get exactly what they need to positively evaluate your response.

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We hope this helped you prepare for a question that we know trips up a lot of candidates! Once you have settled on an event, the key is to focus on the process: If you can practice this without emotion getting into your voice, you’re well on your way to giving the perfect answer at the interview stage.

Did you know that we have several other guides to help you answer popular interview questions?

• Tell us about yourself.
• What motivates you at work?
• What are your goals?
• What are you looking for in a new position?
• What is your leadership style?
• Why should we hire you?
• Have you got any questions for us?
• Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
• How Do You Approach Learning Something New?

If you want to learn more about an interview question that hasn’t yet been answered, let us know! Send us your suggestion on LinkedIn or Instagram, and we will be sure to cover it in our next article.