Describe a time when you had a disagreement with your manager.

Question Analysis

This question is designed to assess your interpersonal and conflict resolution skills, as well as your ability to maintain professionalism in challenging situations. Interviewers want to understand how you handle disagreements, whether you can communicate effectively, and if you can find a resolution that aligns with both your perspective and your manager's goals. Using the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—will help you structure your response to clearly convey the context, your approach, and the outcome.

Answer

Situation: In my previous role as a marketing coordinator, we were preparing for a major product launch. My manager decided to allocate the majority of our budget to digital advertising, while I believed that a portion should be dedicated to experiential marketing events to directly engage with consumers.

Task: My objective was to present a case for diversifying our marketing strategy to ensure a broader reach and more impactful brand engagement.

Action: I scheduled a meeting with my manager to discuss my perspective. I prepared a presentation that included data from past campaigns, industry trends, and potential ROI from experiential marketing. During the meeting, I clearly communicated my ideas, supported by the evidence I had gathered. I also listened to my manager’s concerns about budget constraints and the importance of digital channels.

Result: After our discussion, my manager agreed to allocate a portion of the budget to a pilot experiential marketing event. The event was successful, leading to increased consumer engagement and positive feedback, and ultimately, a decision to incorporate more experiential activities in future campaigns. This experience strengthened our working relationship and demonstrated the value of open communication and collaborative problem-solving.