I think one of my greatest strengths is as a problem solver. I have the ability to see a situation from different perspectives and I can get my work done even in the face of difficult obstacles. I also feel that my communication skills are top notch. I feel just as comfortable presenting to senior executives as I do mediating a conflict between junior team members. I worked as a programmer in the past so I have that perspective of a developer and I think that they respect me for that. I am too much of a perfectionist. I work too hard sometimes. I care too much about my work.Part 1: How to Choose a Good Weakness Be authentic.Dont select a weakness just because it sounds good. You will make a better impression with sincerity. That doesnt mean you have to share a weakness that makes you look bad. If youre like most of us, you have several weaknesses and at least one of them will be interview-friendly as defined by the additional guidelines below. Pick a weakness that is acceptable for the job at hand.Be aware of the job requirements and dont cite a weakness related to any of the required skills or desired qualities. If youre an accountant, dont talk about hating math or lack of attention to detail. If youre in sales, dont confess to being too reserved or lacking persistence. Select a weakness that is relatively minor and fixable.By fixable, I mean its something you can improve through work and motivation.For example:Fixable:I get nervous when speaking in front of large groups.(You can get better through practice and learning new skills and this is a common development area.)Part 2: How to Demonstrate That You Are Working on Your WeaknessIn the second part of your answer, you need to describe how you have already taken steps to improve in your area of weakness. Heres why:1) A great candidate is always looking for ways to learn and grow2) A fabulous candidate then takes the initiative to improveUse your answer to demonstrate your motivation to be the best at what you do. This is how to truly emphasize the positive when talking about your weakness.Example 2: Too DirectSometimes I can be a bit too honest when I provide feedback to coworkers. My personality is naturally very straightforward and to the point, and most of my colleagues really value that, but I have learned that there are times on the job when more diplomacy is required.I took a training class on conflict management and it really opened my eyes to the need to communicate differently with different people. So now I am much better at providing constructive feedback, even if it doesnt always come naturally.Example 3: Public SpeakingHonestly, I would say that public speaking is an area that I could work on. I tend to get nervous when asked to present to a large group of people. In small team meetings, Im the first one to stand up and present. But put me in front of a big group and I can get flustered.I actually spoke to my manager about this and we set it as one of my development goals for this year. I took an internal presentation skills class and attended some meetings of Toastmasters, a networking group for people who want to practice public speaking. With some practice, I started to feel more comfortable. Last month, I even volunteered to represent our team at a division-wide town hall. I only had to present for 10 minutes, but I did it and got great feedback! It was actually kind of fun, so I plan on continuing to seek out opportunities to improve in this area.Sample Answer 1: What Do You Like About This Company?Well, the JP Morgan reputation is certainly a factor. I would be proud to work for a company with such a longhistory of leadershipin the industry.Also, a good friend of the family has been working in corporate finance at JP Morgan for the last two years and he told me that the culture supports learning and development on the job and really rewards hard work.Why We Like It:In this case, the candidate is interviewing for a very well-known firm. In a situation like this, the tendency for many candidates is to basically answer,Well, its JP Morgan. Duh.In todays job market, thats not going to be enough to set you apart from other candidates, even if your resume is stellar.This sample answer addresses the companys brand and history, but also demonstrates that the candidate took the time to do some additional research through his network (read on for some tips on how to research companies before you interview). The answer goes on to emphasize the candidates interest in working hard and developing on the job.Sample Answer 2: What Do You Like About This Company?I saw an article in Business Week about your new CEO John Jacobs and the firms renewed focus on technology innovation.I consider myself an innovator and I would love to work for an organization thats leading the future of the industry.Why We Like It:Its smart to seek out recent press on any company that interviews you. In this case, the candidate found an article about the firms new CEO and quoting it makes her sound smart, prepared, and interested.She also singles out the bit from the article about innovation and articulates that this is a shared value. It doesnt hurt that she compliments the firm as a leader in the industry. A little flattery can be effective just be careful not to cross the line into pathetic kissing up.I feel that my proven track record leading multi-functional teams makes me an excellent match for the job requirements. Also, the role excites me because I love the idea of helping to develop cutting-edge software products and I know I could start delivering results from Day 1.Why We Like It:This answer manages to sell the candidate while addressing what she likes about the job. She leads with the fact that her experience makes her a great fit for the job requirements. She continues by stating that the role excites her. This is good. Dont be coy about whether you want the job or not. Show some enthusiasm. And finally, our candidate wraps by promising that she can deliver results immediately.Well, I have great respect for your companys software products and I would welcome the opportunity to work with the best in the business. At the same time, I have friends in the industry who have told me about your companys respect for employees and how you create a great environment for rewarding innovation. I think my proactive style would fit in really well here especially in this particular role.Why We Like It:This sample answer addresses both the organization and the role. He compliments the products, the employees, and the work environment (companies do love to say they are innovative, dont they?). He then talks about how his style would fit in well. If this were my client, I would advise him to add one last line about WHY his style would benefit this role in particular.

Well, I have all of the skills and experience that youre looking for and Im confident that I would be a superstar in this project management role.Its not just my background leading successful projects for top companies or my people skills, which have helped me develop great relationships with developers, vendors, and senior managers alike. But Im also passionate about this industry and Im driven to deliver high-quality work.Why We Like It:She has a lot of confidence and is able to concisely sum up how she meets the positions top requirements(project management experience, relationship and team skills). This answer is a little bit general and could perhaps be further strengthened with examples(describing a successful project, naming one of those top companies, offering evidence of those great relationships).However, assuming that the candidate has already discussed some specifics of her past roles, this answer does a good job of reiterating and emphasizing. She doesnt make the interviewer put all of the pieces together on his own.She does it for him and naturally does it with a very positive spin. We also really like the last line: Whats not to love about passion, drive, and high-quality work?Example Answer 2: ProgrammerHonestly, I almost feel like the job description was written with me in mind. I have the 6 years of programming experience youre looking for, a track record of successful projects, and proven expertise in agile development processes.At the same time, I have developed my communication skills from working directly with senior managers, which means I am well prepared to work on high-profile, cross-department projects. I have the experience to start contributing from day one and I am truly excited about the prospect of getting started.Why We Like It:This is another good approach to summing up key qualifications and demonstrating a great fit with the position requirements. In particular, this candidate is likely to win points withthe experience to start contributing from day one.He wont need much training or hand-holding and thats attractive to any employer.Example Answer 3: New College GradI have the experience and the attitude to excel in this production assistant position. I have almost two years of television production experience including two summers interning at The Ellen Show, where I was exposed to all aspects of TV production and worked so hard the first summer that they invited me back for a second summer and gave me more responsibilities.During my senior year at UC San Diego, I have been working part-time for a production company, where I have served in an assistant role but also recently had the chance to help edit several episodes. I have a reputation for getting things done and with a smile on my face.Thats because I love working in the television industry and am excited to learn and get experience in every way possible.Why We Like It:This candidate has some nice internship and part-time experience, but shes a new college grad and doesnt have any full-time positions to talk about.This answer highlights the experience that she does have (and the fact that she performed well she was invited back to her internship and was given an opportunity to edit at her part-time job).She also expresses her enthusiasm for the job and her strong work ethic. These qualities are important for an entry-level hire, who will likely be doing quite a bit of grunt work at first.

Common mistakeAsk any salesperson. Its tough to close a deal in a buyers market. Many candidates sabotage themselves with avoidable mistakes.Lack of preparation Dont try to wing it. You should take the time to prepare your 3-4 bullet points and look for opportunities to customize for any new opportunity. Then, you must PRACTICE delivering your sales pitch until it feels comfortable.Modesty This is not the time to be modest or self-deprecating. You must be ready, willing, and able to talk about what makes you a great hire. This will require some practice if you are naturally a bit modest.You dont have to be super-confident like the candidate in the video example above. You can use your own style. If youre not comfortable making value statements about yourself(i.e. I am the perfect candidate.), you can stick to fact(I have ten years of experience, got promoted, broke the sales record, won the award, delivered on time and on budget, received kudos from my manager/client, etc.)Another way to sell yourself with facts is to quote other peoples opinions. Quote your manger,My manager told me that hes never seen anyone with more advanced Excel skills.You can also reference your general reputation:I have a reputation for always closing the dealorI have a history of always completing my projects ahead of schedule.Being too general Do your best to add some personality to your answer. Dont simply rattle off the bullet points listed in the job description. Really think about what makes you unique and express it in your own voice.Talking too much Remember the law of answering interview questions: You should limit each answer to 1-2 minutes in length (not counting any follow-up questions or requests for additional detail).If you try to walk through yourentire resumewhen answering this question, the interviewer is likely to tune out.Focus on your most compelling selling points. Keep in mind that youll be more believable if you focus on a few strengths and dont try to claim that you are a master of every business skill imaginable.Still not sure what to ask? We have some proven examples of good questions to ask during a job interview:1. Can you tell me more about the day-to-day responsibilities of this job?This is your chance to learn as much as possible about the role so you can decide whether this is a job you really want. By learning more about the day-to-day tasks, you will also gain more insight into what specific skills and strengths are needed and you can address any topics that havent already been covered.2. What do you think are the most important qualities for someone to excel in this role?This question can often lead to valuable information thats not in the job description. It can help you learn about the company culture and expectations so you can show that you are a good fit.3. What are your expectations for this role during the first 30 days, 60 days, year?Find out what your employers expectations are for the person in this position.4. Describe the culture of the company.Are you a good fit for this particular organization? Make sure you are comfortable with the culture and the dynamic of the company.5. Where do you think the company is headed in the next 5 years?If you plan to be in this role for several years, make sure the company is growing so you can grow with the company.6. Who do you consider your top competitor, and why?You should already have an idea of the companys major competitors, but it can be useful to ask your interviewer for their thoughts. Naturally, they will be able to give you insight you cant find anywhere else.7. What are the biggest opportunities facing the company/department right now?This question shows your drive to seize opportunity and may help you learn more about where the company will be focusing over the next several months.8. What are the biggest challenges facing the company/department right now?On the flip side, you may want to ask about challenges. This question can help you uncover trends and issues in the industry and perhaps identify areas where your skills could save the day.9. What do you like best about working for this company?Ask about your interviewers personal experience for additional insight into the companys culture.10. What is the typical career path for someone in this role?This question can help you learn whether the company promotes from within, and how career advancement works within the organization. By asking the question, you show your interest in growing with the organization just be careful not to phrase it in a way that sounds too self-serving (i.e. When can I expect a raise and a promotion?).11. How do I compare with the other candidates youve interviewed for this role?This is a slightly risky choice. You dont want to put the interviewer in an awkward position. However, if things are going well and youve built a strong rapport, this question can help you see if there are any concerns or issues that you could address to show why youre thebest person for the job.12. What are the next steps in the interview process?This question shows that you are eager to move forward in the process. It will also help you gain important information about the timeline for hiring so that you canfollow up appropriately.Remember:Dont ask about salary or benefits just yet. Wait until you are in the final steps of the interview process to negotiate with the hiring manager or an HR representative.

The latest in our ongoing series on answering common behavioral interview questions.Are you a team player? You better be able to prove it.All job seekersshould be prepared to answer behavioral interview questions(Tell me about a time)aboutworking on a team.Based on my experience consulting with both hiring organizations and job seekers, I can tell you that teamwork questions are the most common of all of the behavioral interview questions.This is probably because the ability to work with others is considered critical for most positions from entry- to C-level.Most hiring managers want to know if youre a good team player before they commit to working with you every day. By asking a behavioral question, they are giving you the opportunity todemonstrate your team skillsby sharing a relevant example.Behavioral Interview Question A job interview question that seeks an example of how youve demonstrated specific competencies in the past. These questions usually start with Tell me about a time or Give me an example ofTeamwork behavioral questions can be general: Tell me about a team project that you worked on. Describe a project that required input from people at different levels in the organization. Share a rewarding team experience.You may also get questions that focus on how youve handled a challenging team dynamic: Tell me about a time when you worked with a difficult team member.(This one is a favorite of hiring managers and you may also want to readour post on answering behavioral questions about managing conflict) Give me an example of a team project that failed.Sometimes, you may be asked specifically about experience leading a team: Tell me about a time you stepped up into a leadership role.(A future post will give you additional advice on how to answer all types ofleadership questions)All of these teamwork behavioral question offer you an opportunity toshowcase how well you collaborateand what a joy you are to work with. You can ace these questions with just a little bit of preparation.Why Interviewers Ask About Teamwork

Most jobs requireyou to work with other humans. Before hiring you, a smart manager will want to find out: Are you easy to get along with? Do you collaborate well? Can you communicate effectively with different personalities? Can I handle seeing you in the office every day without strangling you?Some jobs come with specific teamwork challenges: Can you deal with difficult personalities? Do you know how to push back diplomatically when necessary? Can you mediate disagreements? Can you motivate people to perform?You should alwaysreview the job description carefullyto try to understand what teamwork is likely to mean in each role.At a managerial level, team leadership may be the focus. At a fast-moving start-up, they may be looking for people who can pitch in and play many roles. For an entry-level position, it may just be about the ability to get along in a professional environment.You will want to choose an example that demonstrates the mostrelevant aspect(s) of your team experience.It is particularly important for new grads to be able to speak convincingly about their teamwork skills. Early in your career, you probably dont have a strong professional track record to talk about.Therefore, the hiring manager will be hiring based on potential demonstrated by academic, extracurricular, and internship experiences.In the interview, they will be trying to get a sense of what you would be like to work with.How to Answer Behavioral Questions About Teamwork

Weve all had team experiences on the job, during school, in a volunteer or extracurricular role.Before your next job interview, sit down and make a list of the significant team projects that you remember.Start by listing every team experience that you can think of, even those that dont stand out as particularly impressive. Give yourself a little time to brainstorm before you narrow down the list.Here are some rules for choosing the best examples to share in your interviews:1. Recent is best.Your most relevant examples will be from the last year or so. Its okay to go back further for a story thats particularly impressive or relevant.2. Be a hero.Pick an experience that really allowed you to shine. Maybe you stepped up tosolve a problem, resolve a conflict, or bring the group together. Maybe you helped to achieve spectacular results (brought in revenue, reduced expenses, delivered a high-profile project).3. Keep it relevant.For each interview, review the job description to get a better understanding of the type of collaboration required (see above). Then pick the most relevant example you have. It will serve you well to prepare a few examples that represent different types of team projects.4. Go for added value.If you can, choose an example that shows off your team skills while also demonstrating other strengths. For example, pick a story that also highlights your leadership talents, your numbers acumen, or your sales expertise.5. Use the STAR format to structure your story.We recommend also reading our articleBehavioral Interview: Tips for Crafting Your Best Answerfor more advice on how to use the STAR format to structure and focus your team stories.Remember:The goal is to jot down bullets to create a story framework, not to memorize a script.Sample Answer STAR Format

Now were goingto share an example answer to show you how the STAR format can be used to structure a compelling team story.Well start with an example answer for a general behavioral question about teamwork:Tell me about a time when you worked on a team. (Note:Keep reading to see how this general story can be adapted for answering questions about working with difficult team members)S/T (Situation/Task) Give a little bit of background information to help the interviewer understand the context of the project (and just how important/impressive/difficult it was).Example Situation/Task Bullets At Bank XYZ, we were preparing to roll out the new release of our online corporate banking platform. My role was to manage the communications to customers about the new release, which involved coordinating with dozens of people from Technology, Operations, various Product areas, Customer Service, and Marketing. This particular release included a major new reporting feature that customers really needed so it was important to get it right.Why We Like ThemWith these bullets, we get a basic understanding of an obviously complex project. It would be easy to go off on a tangent about different aspects of the banking platform, the release process, and/or the team dynamic.However, you want to keep your S/T concise while still giving a sense of the importance and scope of the project.Tip:Think about which details are most important in explaining the projects back story. Remember that the goal is tokeep the entire answer to 1-2 minutesand youll want to spend more time on the A and the R sections (which are more about YOU than the S/T is).A (Approach) Talk about the key actions that you took. For a team story, the focus should be on working happily and productively with others.Example Approach Bullets Unfortunately, the developers ran into technical problems with the new reporting feature that was supposed to be the centerpiece of the release. In order to make the release date, they had to scale back and offer only limited functionality. We knew that some clients would be disappointed. It was my job to get everyones input on how to communicate it to customers and I had to do it quickly because the decision was made right before the release date and we wanted to give customers the courtesy of a heads up. After a lot of back and forth with the engineers and the senior people in Product, Customer Service, and Marketing; I drafted the announcement to customers. I emphasized the positive aspects of the new functionality, explained the delay, and layed out the timeline for the full functionality. I also had to work with the group to quickly put together talking points for our Client Account Managers and revise all of the training and Help documentation.Why We Like ThemThis piece of the answer really focuses on teamwork and how the candidate collaborated with and managed people across the organization. There is just enough detail to get a sense of what the candidate did and why it was impressive. He also shows that he was able to work under pressure, communicate diplomatically, and meet a tough deadline.Tip:Make sure that you are playing up the team aspects of the project. Who did you collaborate with? What steps did you take to make the team dynamic work? At the same time, look for ways to mention other strengths that you demonstrated.R (Results) A strong interview story always has a happy ending. Wrap up your answer by describing the positive results of your actions.The outcomes can bequantifiable(reduced processing time by 50%, brought in $50K in additional revenue)oranecdotal(The client told my manager that I was fantastic, the CEO said my presentation was impressive).Example Results Bullets I was able to get sign-off from all of the stakeholders within 24 hours a minor miracle that required a lot of persistence. We were then able to communicate strategically and proactively to clients before the release went live. The release communications were positively received by clients. Though some were disappointed with the limited functionality, many more were pleased with the benefits of the feature in beta version and appreciated the timely and clear communications. I received nice kudos from the senior managers in Technology and Customer Service they told my boss that I was invaluable in keeping everybody focused on the customer experience and making the tight deadline. My manager was so happy with my performance that I was promoted to Manager level primarily as a result of my work on this project.Why We Like ThemAny story that ends with a promotion is a winner! With these bullets, the candidate also describes positive feedback from clients and senior-level team members.Tip:Pick a story with a dramatic ending. Its not always possible to end with a promotion or a big-money new account.However, you want to show significant results. Dont settle for a weak ending like, So we finished the project and it seemed to go pretty well. Yawn.Customizing Your Teamwork Story

But what if your interviewer puts a specific spin on her teamwork question?The most common variations ask about dealing with a challenge or a difficult team member.Thedifficult personquestion is pretty common. It would be smart to prepare an example that includes a difficult team member as part of the plotline.The STAR example above could be customized pretty easily to work as an answer to a difficult person question.We would simply incorporate the following bullets into the A and the R sections:A (Approach) Unfortunately, I had trouble getting feedback and final approval from my main contact on the Technology team. I knew that he was busy preparing for the release, but he seemed to be blowing off the customer communication piece as unimportant. He was significantly senior to me and kept dodging my calls and emails. Finally, I had to push and let him know that the communication would go out as it was at 9AM if I didnt hear from him before 6pm. I was bluffing because I knew I had to get explicit sign-off from Technology, but it worked.R (Results) He sat with me for five minutes and gave me a few small changes and then his approval. Later, after his boss praised us all for a job well done on the customer communication, my contact thanked me for being persistent. And from that point on, he always returned my calls right away.Remember:As always, practice makes perfect. You will want to choose your example, jot down the key elements of the story in STAR format, and then practice delivering your answer (without your notes in front of you).This will help you remember the key details and present them in a polished, confident, but natural way.What are your thoughts on teamwork interview questions? What other behavioral questions would you like us to break down for you with an answering guide? We want to hear from you.Also, heres a cute video with some penguins exhibiting teamwork. Enjoy!How to Nail Tell Me About Yourself

Think of it as your elevator pitch. An elevator pitch is a short summary used to quickly and simply define a product, service, or business and its value proposition. It answers the question: Why should I buy/invest? It should be concise enough to be delivered during a short elevator ride(to the 5th floor, not to the 105th floor).You need an elevator pitch for yourself as a job candidate and it should be customized for different opportunities. You must keep it focused and short, ideally less than a minute, and no more than 2 minutes.You wont be able to fit all of your great qualities and resume high points into 2 minutes, so youll have to spend some time thinking about how to present yourself in a way that starts the interview on the right note.A great answer will address the following: What are your primary selling points for this job?This could be number of years of experience in a particular industry or area of specialization. You might also highlight special training and technical skills here. Focus on the qualifications in the job description and how you meet and exceed the requirements. Why are you interested in this position right now?You can wrap up your answer by indicating why you are looking for a new challenge and why you feel this role is the best next step.The Skillful Formula for Answering This Question

Ill share the Tell Me About Yourself formula that I teach to my interview coaching clients (and Big Interview members). There are three components:1. Who You Are Your first sentence should be an introduction to who you are professionally, an overview statement that shows off your strengths and gives a little sense of your personality too. This is not easy to do gracefully on the fly. It pays to prepare a bit in advance.Good:Im an innovative HR manager with 8 years of experience managing all aspects of the HR function from recruiting to training to benefits for Fortune 500 companies.Concisely summarizes diverse background.Bad:Well, I grew up in Cincinnati. As a child, I originally wanted to be a fireman, then later became interested in dinosaurs. I excelled in the sciences from early on, placing first in my fourth-grade science fair. Funny story about thatWay too much information.2. Expertise Highlights Dont assume that the interviewer has closely read your resume and knows your qualifications. Use your elevator pitch to briefly highlight 2-4 points that you think make you stand out.Good:I have spent the last six years developing my skills as a customer service manager for Megacompany Inc., where I have won several performance awards and been promoted twice. I love managing teams andsolving customer problems.The emphasis here is on experience, enthusiasm, and proof of performance.Bad:My first job was as an administrative assistant for Macys in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I learned a great deal in that role that served me well over the next 12 years. At the time, I wasnt sure about my career path, so I next took a position selling real estate. It only lasted for six months, but I sure enjoyed it.Zzzzzzz. Nobody cares about your first job 12 years ago. You are starting with the least impressive part of your career and the interviewer is likely to tune out before you get to the good stuff.3. Why Youre Here End by telling them you want the position and why.Good:Although I love my current role, I feel Im now ready for a more challenging assignment and this position really excites me.Concise and positive.Bad:Because of the companys financial problems and my bosss issues, Im worried about my jobs stability and decided to start looking for new opportunities.Dont be too candid or you risk coming across as negative. This answer also makes it seem like youre interested in a job, any job not this job in particular.Remember:You will have time later to walk through your resume in more detail and fill in any gaps. Dont try to squeeze in too much information or your interviewer WILL start to tune out.A good interview is a dialogue, not a monologue. Keep it concise and give your interviewer the chance to dive in and ask questions.Example Answer for Tell Me About Yourself:I have more than five years of experience as a technical project manager at top Wall Street companies. Most recently, I led the development of an award-winning new trading platform. Im a person who thrives in a fast-paced environment so right now Im looking for an opportunity to apply my technical exp and my creative problem solving skills at an innovative software company like this one.Notice that the first line sums up her experience and name dropstop Wall Street companies.Its always good to mention high-profile employers by name. Most hiring managers will perk up because they assume that if you made it through the hiring process at other well-respected companies, you must be pretty good.She then describes an impressive recent project that we can assume is very relevant to the work required in the open position. Next, she spends time talking about why shes interested in this company/role, using the terms fast-paced, creative, problem solving, and innovative. This is great if those words are used in the job description and/or company values.With this answer toTell me about yourself,the candidate is leading with some of her top selling points experience at top firms, recognized stellar performance (award), technical expertise, problem-solving skills, etc. This will help him grab the interviewers attention and make a strong first impression.It bears repeating that a strong first impression is critical in a job interview situation. Start the interview strong and end it strong and you might even get away withflubbing a few questionsin the middle.How Not to Answer Tell Me About Yourself

Dont make these common mistakes when responding to Tell Me About Yourself:1. The Resume Rehash Many candidates respond by launching into a recitation of their resume from the very beginning. That can turn into a very long monologue that starts with ones oldest and probably least relevant and impressive experience. By the time you get to the good stuff, your interviewer has zoned out and is thinking about lunch.Dont get me wrong. Its important to prepare a brief summary of the high points of each of your past positions. It is likely that you will be asked about your accomplishments and day-to-day responsibilities in previous roles. Ideally, this should come out in an engaging conversation, though, not a long monologue at the beginning of the interview. Youll only confuse your interviewer with information overload.Even if the interviewer specifically asks you towalk him through your resume,dont take the suggestion too literally. You can still lead with your elevator pitch and then segue into an overview of your most recent position, leaving plenty of opportunities for the interviewer to jump in and engage with you.2. Mr./Ms. Modesty Many of my interview coaching clients make the mistake of being too modest. They reply with a humble or vague introduction that fails to clearly communicate their strongest qualifications for the gig.Some of these clients are just humble people who arent comfortable with selling themselves. Others have never really had to worry about a strong pitch they were always courted for new opportunities when the job market was stronger.Today, the competition for any good job is fierce. Dont rely on the interviewer to see past your humble exterior and figure out how great you are.If you take time to prepare, you can find a way to present yourself to full advantage while staying true to your personality. For modest types, I recommend focusing on factual statements.You dont have to brag,Im the best salesperson in the world.Instead, you can state,I led my division in sales for the last three years and had the opportunity to bring in more than $18 million worth of new business during that time.3. The First Date Approach This is not a first date. Your interviewer does not want to hear that you like pina coladas and getting caught in the rain. Many recent grads misconstrue the question and talk too much about their personal lives and hobbies.This is probably because many only have admissions and other school-related interview experience (clubs, programs, etc.). For these types of interviews, there is much more interest in who you are as a person. In job interviews, focus on who you are as a professional unless asked about hobbies or outside pursuits.4. The Clueless Ramble I have watched a surprising number of smart candidates totally flub this question because of overthinking. Their answers sounds something like this:You mean about my job experience or about my schooling or what kind of information are you looking for?I know that these candidates are aiming to please and thatTell me about yourselfcan be interpreted in many different ways. However, asking for too much clarification only makes you look hesitant and confused. Dive right in with the approach that we outlined for you above. If they are looking for something else, they will ask you for it.Good Rule of Thumb Dont pull a Michael Scott on your interview.

Craft Your PitchSo now that you know how to approach it, I have a feeling that youll learn to love hearing theTell me about yourselfquestion.Take a few moments now to sit down and plan how you will respond in your next interview.

And please stay tuned for in-depth advice on answering other critical job interview questions in future posts.BONUS:If your job search has got you down, enjoy the Sesame Street Job Song:Answering Behavioral Interview Questions: Handling ConflictPosted byPamela Skillingson Sep 4, 2013Behavioral InterviewsHow to InterviewInterview Tips

Part of our ongoing series to help you answer common behavioral interview questions.Hiring managers love to ask behavioral questions and one of their favorite subjects is conflict. Here are a few examples of conflict-related behavioral questions: Tell me about a team project when you had to work with someone difficult. Tell me about a time you had a conflict at work. Give an example of a time you had to respond to an unhappy manager/customer/colleague. Tell me about a time that you disagreed with a rule or approach.There are many other variations on this theme and it is a very common interview topic. From the interviewers perspective, the idea is to find out about the candidatesconflict management abilityand general interpersonal skills.Recently, I was conducting an interview skills workshop for managers at a large corporation. The subject ofconflictbehavioral questions came up (this big multinational company uses primarily behavioral questions when interviewing candidates).One manager shared a memorable answer toHow would you handle a conflict at work?A recent candidate responded:Id invite that person to meet me in the parking lot after work and sort it out man-to-man.Guess what?He didnt get the job.Before we tell you how to answer the question like a champ, heres a little refresher on answering behavioral interview questions in general.Behavioral Interviewing Refresher

Most job interviews include behavioral questions (those questions that typically start withTell me about a timeorGive me an example ofor similar).With behavioral questions, interviewers seek examples of how youve handled specific situations in the past. The idea is that past job performance will say a lot about how you would handle yourself if hired for the job at hand.

Learn more aboutbehavioral interview questionsand some general advice on preparing for and answering them.Why Interviewers Ask About ConflictMost jobs require you to get along with different types of people. Some of your coworkers, managers, and/or clients will turn out to be idiots, slackers, and/or weirdos. Disagreements are bound to arise.To succeed at work, you must be able to deal with conflict professionally. This is particularly true in certain jobs(project management, customer service, law)and in certain company cultures.Your interviewer wants toget a sense of how you will respondto conflict. Anyone can seem nice and pleasant in a job interview, but what will happen if youre hired and Gladys in Compliance starts getting in your face?Conflict questions are common because everybody wants to hire a good team player. (It is probably the most common behavioral question subject) Interviewers often ask about your team experiences and they like to ask specifically about one that involved a conflict or difficult person.How to Answer Behavioral Questions About Conflict

This type of question can catch you off-guard. After all, youve probably been focusing on how to talk about all of the positive and wonderful bullet points on your resume.Nobody likes to talk about conflict at work. Most work conflicts are boring. Plus, youd probably prefer to pretend that you are an absolute delight to work with and that nobody has ever had an unkind word to say about you.A behavioral question about conflict forces you to talk about a less-than-delightful situation. It can be difficult to come up with a good example on the fly and even more difficult to describe in concisely in a way that presents you in a favorable light.This is why its important to prepare an example in advance using theS.T.A.R format.The goal is not to script out an answer word-for-word. The STAR format allows you to structure the general shape of your response by jotting down bullets for each of the key aspects of the story. Check outBig Interviewfor more guidance on structuring great STAR stories and an Answer Builder tool that you can use to make the process much easier.Sample Answer Tell Me About a Time You Had a Conflict on a Team Project.Heres an overview of how to use the STAR format specifically to present a conflict experience:S/T (Situation/Task) Briefly describe the context for the conflict that arose. Provide just enough background information for context.Example Situation/Task Bullets I was managing the creation of our new corporate brochure and we were on a very tight deadline because we had to have brochures printed in time for a big upcoming trade show. I was in charge of delivering on time and I had to manage team members from Marketing, Sales, Graphic Design, and Product Management. The designer that was assigned to the project was very talented, but unfortunately missed a deadline that I assigned. When I approached him about it, he blew up at me.Why We Like ThemThese bullets provide good context it was an important and complex project with a tight deadline. The designer not only missed a deadline, but threw a fit when called on it. This is a real conflict that could have led to disaster if handled poorly.Tip:Dont get too caught up in unnecessary details. The interviewer doesnt need to know about the color scheme of the brochure, the history of the trade show, or the designers weird wardrobe choices.A (Approach) Talk about the key actions that you took. In the case of a conflict story, the focus should be on how resolved the disagreement in a professional and productive way.Example Approach Bullets I was taken aback by his response, but I remained calm. I acknowledged that the deadlines were tight and explained again the reasoning and the importance of having the brochure ready for the trade show. He relaxed a little when he saw that I wasnt attacking him. He told me about all of his other competing projects and how overwhelmed he was. I asked him if there was any way that I could help him come up with a solution.

Eventually, we agreed that it would help if his manager had a better understanding of how important and time-consuming this project was. We decided we would speak with her together. She ended up assigning some of his other projects to another designer, which took some of the pressure off of him.Why We Like ThemThis candidate walks through the actions taken and why. He shows that he stayed calm under pressure, tackled the issue head-on, and was able to persuade others (the designer and his manager) to his point of view.Tip:Again, stick to the actions that are most relevant and that show your conflict-management prowess.R (Results) Every good interview story includes a happy ending. End your response with a description of the positive outcome(s) of your action. These results can be quantifiable(increased sales 20%, saved the company $25K)or anecdotal(The client was thrilled and sent my manager an email, my manager loved my approach and gave me a promotion).Example Results Bullets As a result, the designer was able to focus on the brochure and meet the deadlines. He apologized for his blow-up and thanked me for my help. We successfully completed the brochure in time for the trade show and received numerous compliments from both our own sales reps and potential customers.

Our trade show presence led to $300,000 in new sales leads and I believe the new brochure played a key role in that.Why We Like ThemThis is a nice, concise happy ending. The candidate describes the resolution of the conflict, the positive effect on the relationship with the designer, and the business outcome.Tip:The bottom-line results ($$$) make it even more impressive. This is not possible with every conflict-resolution story, but you should always pick the example with the most significant results.More Tips for Handling Behavioral Questions About Work Conflicts

1. Pick a Good Example: Choose an example that shows you taking an active approach to resolving an important conflict. Be specific. Dont give a general answer like, I deal with conflicts all the time and have learned to stay calm and that communication is key. Its boring and it doesnt answer the question. Dont choose a minor disagreement (He didnt want Italian for lunch) or a conflict that was resolved by someone else or just went away without direct action. The idea here is to show off your interpersonal skills andproblem-solving ability. Avoid examples that could make you look bad. For example, dont share a time when your mistake or miscommunication CAUSED a conflict.2. Get Specific About Your Actions The most memorable and compelling stories include enough detail to paint a picture. Show why this conflict was important and that you handled it capably. However, you must make an effort to keep the story concise. Its very easy to go off on tangents (especially if you havent prepared in advance). Keep it focused. Stick to bullet points. Dont try to memorize a script.3. PracticeTake the time to practice telling your story. This is especially important when telling a story about a conflict.Conflicts often lead to arguments, problems, and damaged/broken professional relationships. You want to feel confident discussing the sensitive details in a way that gets your points across.Funny example of Adam Sandler NOT handling conflict well.