TELL ME ABOUT A TIME WHEN YOU HAD A CONFLICT WITH A CO-WORKER? Thankfully, I have not experienced
conflict with co-workers on too many occasions. I believe I'm really good at working as part
of a team. However, when I first started working in a previous organization, a member of my
team was making inappropriate jokes about me in front of other people, and these made
me feel uncomfortable. So, I had two options. I could either leave it, which I wasn't prepared
to do, or I could tackle the conflict, because for me, I want to get on with everybody. I
want to work effectively as part of a team because that helps us all to achieve our objectives.
I first and foremost assessed my own behavior to see if I was doing anything to contribute
to the conflict. And I felt I wasn't. So, I then decided to speak to the person who
was making the inappropriate jokes in private. And I used an open, calm and positive style
of communication to speak to them. I said to them… “I've noticed on a couple of
occasions that you've been making inappropriate jokes. These have been making me feel uncomfortable.
And I just wondered why you felt the need to do so?” They were quite taken aback when
I confronted them, and they apologized and agreed that they would not do it again in
the future. I felt by having the confidence to deal with a conflict, I was able to resolve
it quickly because I feel if you leave conflict, it can grow and develop into something more
serious. I was pleased that I had the confidence to tackle it. And actually, we became really
good friends, myself and the other coworker, and we worked together on numerous projects
moving forward. I was glad that I had the confidence to tackle that conflict. Thank
you. So, I am sure you will agree that that was a brilliant answer to that difficult interview
question, tell me about the time when you had conflict with a coworker and how you resolved
it? Now, before I give you the EXACT SCRIPT to use when answering this tough interview
question, here are 3 really important tips to help you. TIP NUMBER ONE: Show the interviewer
you were the person who tried to resolve the conflict. That is important, because you understand
that conflict is not helpful within a team or an organization. TIP NUMBER TWO: Be brave
whilst dealing with the conflict and remember to use an open and nonconfrontational style
of communication! It is important that you remain calm whilst dealing with any form of
conflict. TIP NUMBER THREE: Show you can resolve the conflict for the sake of your team. Now
I am going to give you 3 EXACT SCRIPTS to use when answering this difficult behavioral
interview question. Now, the first answer that I will give you is the answer that I
gave in the video. I will give you the script to use and I will then give you two further
example answers and you can choose which one you want to use when answering this difficult
behavioral interview question. Here we go. Tell me about a time when you had conflict
with a coworker and how you resolved it? “When I first started work in a previous role, a
work colleague started making inappropriate comments about me in front of other people.
I am the type of person who wants to get on with everyone, and so I decided to try and
tackle the conflict quickly and professionally for the sake of the team. I spoke to my co-worker
in private using an open and non-confrontational style of communication, and I asked them why
they felt the need to make the comments. They were quite taken aback by the fact I had challenged
them about the comments and they quickly apologized for their behavior before promising not to
do it again. I was pleased I had the confidence to tackle the conflict because we actually
became really good friends after that incident, which was good news for the both of us and
for the team overall.” That's a really good answer! It shows that you are brave, you are
confident, and you remain calm whilst dealing with the conflict. Here is another example
situation to that difficult behavioral interview question: Tell me about a time when you had
conflict with a coworker and how you resolved it? See what you think of this answer. “I
was working as part of a team on an important project and a co-worker was constantly late
with completing their tasks. Their lateness was starting to hinder the progress of the
team, and so I decided to speak to them in private about the issue. When I spoke to them,
they became defensive and slightly confrontational. They said they were busy, and they were working
as fast as they could. I explained in a calm and positive manner that we really needed
their help with getting the project completed, and their particular task was slowing up the
completion of the project. I offered to help them complete their work and I said that I
didn’t mind staying behind late after work if they felt it would help. They declined
my offer of assistance, but the mere fact I had spoken to them about their lateness
in a positive and non-confrontational manner helped them to realize how much we were relying
on them to get their work completed. Following that conversation, they completed their task
in super-fast time and I thanked them for being co-operative and for helping the team
achieve its goals.” That is a BRILLIANT ANSWER and it is a common thing that happens
in teams and within organizations. Let's have a look at another example answer to that difficult
interview question: Tell me about a time when you had conflict with a coworker and how you
resolved it? “I was sat in the canteen one day and I overheard a work colleague making
inappropriate remarks about a new member of our team. The person wasn’t there to defend
themselves, and so I decided to say something. Although I don’t enjoy confrontation, I
wasn’t prepared to listen to comments that went against company values. I leant over
and I said calmly but confidently that comments of that nature were not only unwelcome, but
they were unfair because the other person was not there to defend themselves. They told
me to lighten up and that I should mind my own business. I remained calm and I explained
that their comments went against the organization’s code of conduct and that if I heard them again,
I would report them to our manger. A little while later, the person came and spoke to
me in private and he said he had time to reflect on the comments he had made and that he apologized
unreservedly and that it wouldn’t happen again.” I like that answer because you are
challenging inappropriate comments which are conflict, and you are therefore improving
that person's knowledge and you are making the workplace a better place to be. So, it's
a really good answer. Now, the next thing is, please make sure you WATCH THIS MOCK INTERVIEW
on YouTube. CLICK THAT LINK right now at the top of the video. Go through to my other video
here on YouTube. And it's a full mock interview. I actually walk into an interview and I answer
about 12 questions for you to show you how to perform at an interview and to land that
job that you are after! Once you've watched that video, you may also want to CLICK THAT
LINK in the top right-hand corner of the video. Go through to my website, PassMyInterview.com,
and you can DOWNLOAD my full set of 21 Great Answers to Tough Interview Questions. It's
a PDF guide. There's 21 common interview questions and top-scoring answers contained within it.
And it will make a big difference to your performance at your interview. I hope you
enjoyed that. Please don't forget to SUBSCRIBE if you haven't done so already. If you are
subscribed, thank you very much for your support! You can also connect with me on LinkedIn if
you want to. I've put my LinkedIn.com link in the description below the video, and please
give the video a THUMBS UP. That shows me you find the content useful and it motivates
me to create more for you. Thank you very much for watching and I wish you all the best
for passing your interview. Have a brilliant day.