How to answer "How do you handle working with a difficult team member?" in a job interview

You just aced all your interview questions. You're confident that you've convinced your interviewer that you're ready to take on this role. That is, until your interviewer asks:

"How do you handle working with a difficult team member?"

You immediately panic and think:

Is this a trick question? I can't tell them that I've had difficulties with team members. And what if I've never worked with a difficult team member? How would I answer then?

Take a deep breath and follow these 3 steps on how to ace this interview question.

Before your interview, make sure to study the job description and be familiar with your resume. To answer this question, you will need to demonstrate your skills and reference examples from your work experience. It is also helpful to understand why interviewers ask this question, so you can create an effective response.

By asking this question, interviewers want to know:

• how you handle challenging situations with others

• how you communicate and collaborate with your team

• how you maintain professionalism and a positive work environment

Start with sharing your approach to working with difficult team members.

Tip: Center your response on the importance of open communication, actively understanding others' perspectives, and collaborating effectively to achieve a common goal.

Example answer:

I believe in addressing conflicts with an open mind and a focus on collaboration. If a team member is difficult to work with, I first make an effort to understand their perspective and communicate openly with them. While being respectful, I keep the conversation focused on how we can work together effectively towards our shared goal.

Give a specific example and describe what actions you took.

Tip: It doesn't always have to be a work-related example. You can discuss collaborating with a classmate on a school project or share a hypothetical scenario and explain how you would handle it in that situation.

Example answer:

For example, in a college group project, I worked with a classmate who preferred working independently, while I prefer regular check-ins. I initiated a conversation to understand her approach, and we agreed to set up periodic updates. This helped us collaborate more effectively and complete the project.

Wrap up your response with the lessons you learned.

Tip: Reflect on how you apply the lessons you learned from that experience to contribute to a professional and positive work environment.

Example answer:

From this experience, I learned the importance of clear communication and adapting to different communication styles to ensure a positive and professional collaboration with my team.

Practice, practice, and practice!

Practice with a friend or by yourself in front of a mirror. The more you practice, the more comfortable you will become.

Be yourself.

You're a valuable individual with many unique skills and experience. Remember, the goal of every interview question is to get to know YOU better!

You are SO ready to answer this interview question! 😉