We asked Allison Mitchell, CHRP corporate recruitment specialist at DALSA Corporation, for her take on how to answer one of the many odd and confusing questions you might encounter during your next job interview. Read on, and good luck!
Tell me about a specific example when you had a difference of opinion with a team member. How did you handle it?
Confrontation of any kind can be unpleasant so this question makes many candidates feel uncomfortable. Rest assured that the interviewer is not asking this question to watch you squirm; this is an important question for the employer to ask because it speaks to your ability to stand up for your point of view, as well as your ability to resolve conflict.
Unfortunately, many candidates do not answer this question well because they make incorrect assumptions. Candidates presume that difference of opinion refers to an argument or shouting match with a teammate and it does not. The question is asking about a time when you had a different opinion, big or small, with a team member. The other assumption that candidates make is that this is a trick question and giving an example will infer that they are not a team player. This is not the case at all. In fact, when candidates tell me that they do not have any examples to share, it is cause for concern. You do not get along with everyone all of the time! Failing to provide an example will call into question your abilities to be truthful, stand up for your opinion and resolve conflict.
Now that you know the importance of giving an example, it's time to think of one. Ensure that you give the interviewer a specific example; often candidates will talk in generalities and that is not what the interviewer is looking for. This question is behavioural based; the theory behind these questions is that the best predictor of future behaviour is past behaviour. This means that the interviewer will be looking for proof that you will be able to effectively handle a situation like this.
When forming your answer to this question (or any other behavioural based question), you need to communicate all of the details of your example. An effective answer to this question would be a specific example when you had a difference of opinion with a team member and you were the one that resolved the issue to everyone's agreement. Your answer should include what the difference of opinion was about (what was your opinion and what was the other person's opinion), the action that you took to resolve the difference, how did the other person respond to your action, what was the resolution, how long did it take to resolve the issue, and were you and the team satisfied with the resolution.
Conflict is not always a bad thing. If handled properly, it can be a positive experience that results in better co-operation, compromising and communication within a team. Think about an example when you have had a difference of opinion with a teammate and ensure that it showcases your ability to stand up for your point of view and your ability to successfully resolve conflict. jp