How Do You Handle Conflicts at Workplace? - Job Interview Question

When you are working with a team, disapproval, or conflicts between coworkers may arise on certain professional issues. But, how fast you bounce back to make the situation normal. This is what your recruiters want to see while asking this job interview question. So this is the common job interview question, "How Do You Handle Conflicts at the Workplace?" The handling of the problem conveys a lot about your basic skill sets. The interviewers want the candidate they are hiring to maintain the cordial environment. If you are successful in teamwork and building relationships then your chances of landing on your dream job are quite high. So, let us go through some really insightful and enlightening tips and tricks that can stick you throughout your interview.

1. Use Story Telling Technique

If the hiring manager asks you a question related to the conflict between colleagues where you and your co-worker ended up disapproving on some professional terms, then describe it in story form. Start by telling the situation that came up once and how you reacted in a constructive way. Tell recruiters about your role in that particular situation and what all you did to resolve the situation calmly. Do stress on what you learned from that situation. Also, state how your positive outlook worked for the benefit of your current company.

2. Show Responsibility-Based Attitude

Now, this is quite necessary to show it to the interviewing personnel that you can handle conflict between coworkers on your own without involving your boss. This will reflect that you can control your temper and resolve petty issues yourself. The key is to show your responsible attitude towards handling the petty issues at the office that may arise now and then. Every company wants an employee who can maintain a cordial environment and move forward with the whole team.

3. Set Harmonious Resolution to the Conflict

Needless to say but conflicts do arise in the working environment. Conflicts can be due to professional or personal reasons. The hiring managers want to see either you leave the disagreement as it is or you talk about the matter to resolve it. The reason to ask this question is that whether you draw the line immediately in a positive way or live with grudges. This way recruiter checks out your professionalism.

4. Show Respect towards Other’s Opinions

While an interviewer is asking this question, he/she wants to know whether you have a conflicting nature or you are a patient listener too. The necessity is to show to the hiring managers that you respect other opinions. You respect other's opinions even if it’s your boss or co-workers. You put up your point in a positive way and work along with your team. Like, you can state how there was a situation where you disapproved of your co-worker’s sales strategy but put up your points in a valid manner. This appealed to the whole team and in the end, your co-worker also geared up with the team.

Final Verdict

Conflicts will arise at the workplace but you need to show your recruiters how well you can manage them and come out with a positive solution. Do show the hiring managers that you believe in resolutions and learn from the tough experiences at the workplace. And don't forget the above tips to answer this question "How Do You Handle Conflicts at Workplace".

Next: How to Prepare for a Job Interview

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