6 Common Teamwork Interview Questions and Answers

January 15, 2023

Teamwork is essential for so many jobs, so interviewers will naturally want to know more about how you function in a team. Preparing for this type of question doesn’t have to be difficult. 

All you need to do is think about times in your career when you have been required to use these skills and then practise answering the following common questions. We’ve offered some example answers to get you started, but you should make sure you tailor these to the job you want.

Can you tell me about a time when you had to work with a difficult team member and how you handled it?

“Working as a team can be challenging at times, especially when you have a difficult team member on the project. I was once faced with this situation at university. 

We had to work together on a large research project and there were two members of our team that just could not seem to get along without constant bickering. I knew it wasn’t going to help us succeed in the project if we didn’t take the time to address the issue head-on. 

So, I decided to set up an open meeting with my whole team and created a comfortable atmosphere where everyone felt like they could talk freely and express their issues. 

We talked everything through, aired out any grievances that each person had against other members, and established some ground rules that everyone agreed upon for working together amicably and avoiding further conflicts down the road. 

It worked out great in the end as everyone was able to put their differences aside and finish our project successfully.”

Describe a time when you had to take on a leadership role

“I remember a specific occasion when I had to take on a leadership role during a group project. I was the only one in the team with specific experience with this client, so it was natural that I would take the lead.

I was not only leading but teaching at the same time, which added to the pressure. I was able to succeed by managing my time effectively and delegating tasks so that everyone was able to provide an equal contribution. 

It was definitely an experience that sharpened my organisational and time management skills as well as developed my abilities in leading others.”

Tell us about a time when you had to deal with conflict within a team

“Working in teams is an integral part of any job and there will inevitably be moments when conflict arises. I remember one such time when I was part of a large group project in my previous role.

Two members of the group had strong opinions about how we should approach the project – one wanted us to take a more traditional approach, whereas the other wanted to be more creative with our strategy. 

After much debate and discussion, we were able to come together and blend their ideas into a hybrid approach that was mutually satisfactory for everyone involved. 

It emphasised the importance of listening to each other in order for us to reach a resolution, and ultimately it resulted in an incredibly successful outcome for the project.”

What are your thoughts on teamwork – is it essential for success or can individual contributors be just as successful?

“Teamwork is an important component of any successful endeavour. When a team works well together, they have the capacity to reach amazing outcomes faster and more efficiently than individual contributors who work alone could ever hope to achieve. 

That said, it is important to recognize that sometimes individual contributions can be just as impactful. I’m equally comfortable working alone or as part of a team and like to think about the bigger picture in order to achieve success.”

How do you work best within a team?

“Working within a team is something I excel at, as I know my strengths and weaknesses. My main contribution to a team is to lend any insight or expertise where I can, allowing members to produce the best results for our collective goal. 

During group discussions, I am comfortable voicing my opinions in a thoughtful manner that encourages constructive conversations and presents solutions to potential issues. 

I prioritise providing support in whatever form it may take, be it through research, writing, problem-solving, or anything else the team needs – effectively distributing tasks while striving towards our collective objective.”

Describe a time when you went above and beyond for your team or helped them out in a difficult situation

“Going above and beyond for my team was something I felt passionate about in my last role. Earlier this year, our team was finishing up a large proposal that had a tight deadline. 

I chose to stay late and assist some members who were struggling with their part of the proposal. Ultimately, we were able to submit the proposal on time and our company was selected out of four companies.”