Top Conflict Interview Questions & Answers:

1. Why interviewers ask about conflict?

Most 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 to get a sense of how you will respond to conflict.

2. When everyone in meeting was opposing your ideas. How did you manage to work it out?

Candidate should appear to know how to convince others that their point is right. Sees conflict as natural. Never personalizes it, but explains the issues involved forcefully; stands up for what he believes is best for the business in a logical and reasonable manner.

3. Tell me about a situation where you aware of a serious mistake made by a colleague and what did you do about it?

You basically want to hear that they do not like to point fingers at others; that they try to stop the mistake from happening again by making his/her colleague aware of their error in a non blame educational manner.

4. How you manage to work with people whom you are not comfortable with? What do you do in such situations?

Job seeker should explain that they put the team first; should not appear easily intimidated; seeks to resolve differences; does not personalize conflicts.

5. Suppose if you had to work through some negativity to get some work done?

Answer given should show you that the candidate can stick with it and work through negativity quickly.

6. Suppose if you had a disagreement with a colleague at work. How did you manage to work it out?

Job seeker should appear to know how to resolve issues and uses it as an opportunity to reinforce interpersonal relationships; concentrates on the issues and never personalizes things.

7. Tell me have you ever had a major disagreement or a difference of opinion with a supervisor or teacher?

Disagreeing with a supervisor or professor does not make you unemployable. The interviewer wants to know how you expressed your disagreement and whether the conflict caused an impasse or a disruption in the work environment.

8. Tell me about a time when you helped successfully mediate in a conflict? How did you feel?

Candidate should show that they are helpful in resolving conflicts by understanding each co-workers view of the situation.

9. When you were given job instructions and you were unable to comprehend the instructions. How did you go about completing the task?

Job seeker should explain that seeking clarification is alright; that they try to clarify things to make sure the job is done right; should see conflict as natural and not a personal attack.

10. Why should I consider situations in past jobs while answering about Personal Conflict?

Consider situations in past jobs that involved arguments or disagreements. A miscommunication with a coworker may have angered you because it led to a negative review from your supervisor. A supervisor's unwillingness to give you time off may have caused you to miss your friend's wedding. Scan your work history for such examples.