I want to hear about a time when you had to work together on a project with a coworker who you didn't like.

Question Analysis

This question is designed to assess how you handle interpersonal conflicts and maintain professionalism in a team setting. The interviewer is interested in understanding your ability to collaborate effectively, even when personal differences exist. They want to see how you navigate challenging interpersonal dynamics while staying focused on achieving common goals. Using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method will help structure your response clearly and concisely.

Answer

Situation: In my previous role as a marketing specialist, I was assigned to collaborate on a high-stakes project with a coworker whose working style was quite different from mine. We had previously disagreed on several smaller tasks, which had created some tension between us.

Task: Our task was to develop a comprehensive marketing plan for a new product launch, which was critical for the company's upcoming quarter. It required us to align our strategies and deliver a cohesive plan within a tight deadline.

Action: Acknowledging the importance of the project, I initiated a one-on-one meeting with my coworker to address our differences and focus on our shared objectives. During our discussion, I actively listened to their ideas and concerns, and I also shared my perspective. We agreed on a structured approach to divide the workload based on our strengths, setting up regular check-ins to ensure we were on track.

Result: By fostering open communication and mutual respect, we were able to collaborate effectively and deliver the marketing plan on time. Our efforts resulted in a successful product launch, which exceeded our sales targets by 15%. This experience taught me the value of addressing interpersonal challenges directly and maintaining a professional attitude to achieve team success.