How to answer "Tell me about a time you resolved a conflict at work" in a job interview

You've landed an interview for your dream job. You're sitting in the interview and have told them about yourself and why you want to work for the company.

Then the real questions start.

"Tell me about a time you resolved a conflict at work."

No need to worry! This is a great opportunity for you to showcase your soft skills at work.

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These types of questions are called behavioral or situational questions.

Behavioral/situational questions ask you to think of a time a specific situation happened to you at work and how you handled it.

The interviewers are looking for:

• A short but detailed answer

• Interpersonal and communication skills

• Problem-solving skills

The best way to answer questions like these is to use a format called the STAR method.Describe the:

Situation

• Who was involved? What was the conflict about?

• Make sure it's a professional scenario, not something personal.

Task

• Were you leading a project? Acting as a mediator?

• Talk about your role in the situation.

Action

• What steps did you take to resolve the conflict? How did you approach the situation?

• Make sure to highlight your listening and problem-solving skills.

Result

• What was the outcome? Did the conflict resolution result in a better product/work environment?

• Highlight how your contribution resulted in making a difference.

Check out this Byte to learn more about the STAR method.

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Alright, you're ready to answer the question. First, take a look at a good answer example:

In my previous job as team lead, two team members disagreed on the direction of a project. As team lead, I held a meeting where both team members could present their ideas. We talked it out and found a compromise that combined both approaches. The project moved forward smoothly, both of them felt their ideas were heard, and we received positive feedback on the final outcome.

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Avoid:

• Blaming others

• Mentioning personal drama

• Being too vague

• Ending with a negative outcome

Including any of these could give the interviewer reason to doubt your communication and interpersonal skills.

Your interviewer asks you to describe a time when you resolved a conflict at work. You recall a time when two members of your team disagreed about how to handle a particular client.

Here are some possible parts of answers that could come up while answering this question:

A. "I suggested that we avoid discussing it so as not to escalate the conflict."

B. "I tried to focus on shared goals between the two ideas."

C. "I immediately escalated the issue to my manager."

D. "I proposed a solution based on the ideas of both sides."

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Remember, questions like these give you a great chance to display your soft skills that are needed in the workplace, so expect and prepare for them.

You got this!