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 your ability to work collaboratively and professionally, even when personal feelings might be a challenge. The interviewer wants to see your problem-solving skills, communication abilities, and how you manage interpersonal relationships in a work setting. This is a behavioral question, so using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) will help you structure your response effectively.

Answer

Situation: In my previous role as a marketing associate, I was assigned to work on a campaign project with a colleague with whom I had a strained relationship. Our personal differences had previously led to misunderstandings and tension within the team.

Task: Despite this, our manager tasked us with developing a comprehensive social media strategy for a new product launch. It was critical for the success of the campaign that we collaborated effectively.

Action: To address the situation, I initiated a one-on-one meeting with my coworker to clear the air. I acknowledged our past differences and expressed my commitment to focusing on the project. We agreed to set aside our personal feelings and established clear communication guidelines. We divided the tasks according to our strengths—my colleague took charge of content creation while I focused on analytics and strategy. We scheduled regular check-ins to ensure we were aligned and to address any issues promptly.

Result: By maintaining open communication and focusing on our shared goal, we successfully developed a cohesive social media strategy that increased our product's online engagement by 30% in the first month. This experience taught me the value of professionalism and effective communication, regardless of personal feelings.