This logo isn't an ad or affiliate link. It's an organization that shares in our mission, and empowered the authors to share their insights in Byte form.
Rumie vets Bytes for compliance with our
Standards.
The organization is responsible for the completeness and reliability of the content.
Learn more
about how Rumie works with partners.
Have you ever struggled to answer teamwork questions at a job interview?
There's no need to feel this way!
Use these tips to talk about your experience and express your enthusiasm for teamwork to land your dream job.
Recruiters' expectations
Teamwork is a universal skill required in almost all jobs across industries. Recruiters are interested in seeing how you:
Interact with others.
Work within a group.
Thrive in a work environment.
Advice to answer these questions
Recruiters gauge your ability to work in teams and your interpersonal skills from your answers. Although there isn't a perfect reply, these tips can help:
Give examples with positive outcomes. Think about past examples where your contribution made a difference.
Use recent experiences if possible. Reflect on your previous job or a recent voluntary project you undertook.
Show your understanding of why teams succeed/fail.Rehearse a situation where your manager gave positive feedback to the team.
Frame your answers using the STAR model. Check out this Byte on how to use STAR for more information.
Did you know?
This Byte was created by a volunteer professional that wanted to share this insight to help you succeed - no agenda, no cost.
Practical examples
Let's see a typical question and how to approach it.
Question: Do you prefer working with others, or alone?
I love working in a diverse, supportive environment. In my previous job as an instructor, the school wanted to promote the students' participation in a cultural pub quiz. My job was to find a way to attract people to the event. I brainstormed ways of promoting it with my colleagues and used a colleague's idea of creating a poster for the event. After a week, student participation went up by 30%.
I can work on my own, or in teams. I don't mind. I can adapt to everything the team requires.
The first answer shows a specific, positive example with a positive outcome. The second is vague and incomplete.
Quiz
You're at the interview table. Which of these approaches WON'T help you? Select all that apply:
If you're vague, recruiters have a hard time gauging your skills. Additionally, being negative won't take you a long way either.
Take Action
This Byte has been authored by
Silvia Blanxo
Teacher