Interview answer: How do you handle conflict?

Conflict is a natural part of human interaction, as people are never in complete agreement all of the time. The key is what you have to do about it, which is why almost always an interviewer asks how you handle conflict at work. Your answers must demonstrate your ability to focus on priorities and to keep working, while maintaining good working relationships. Honesty is the best policy conflict question almost always comes in an interview, according to an April 2012 article on the Walt Career Intelligence website. This is one of the best ways for an interviewer to realize a candidate's personal style and determine if that person is one of the few to exchange information with others. Above all, give an honest answer. The purpose of this question - as with all behavior-based questions - is to determine how well you do not fit into the organization. If you pretend to be someone you are not, it is likely to mean trouble down the road. Get ready Practice answering a question about your conflict resolution skills. Review your career or - your interactions with friends or teachers - if this is your first job. Identify one or more situations in which you were able to resolve a conflict, and choose the traits or skills that made you successful. Write and practice a response, either in front of a mirror or with a trusted friend, colleague or mentor. Ask for feedback on your approach and presentation. Your Response Structure On the Big Interview website, interview coach Pamela Skillings reveals how to deal with conflict at work using the STAR technique. Star stands for status / action, attitude and result. Describe the situation briefly and neutrality, so the interviewer understands the context of the conflict. Then what did you describe. Finally, a description of the result. Neutralize your words and focus your answer on the successful outcome of the conflict. Never mind your success more than other individuals or crow, as the interviewer may think you are more interested in showing the co-worker than solving the problem. Nearly one negative turn does not end well in all conflicts. If you have had a negative experience, it highlights the ability to describe and learn from your mistakes. One about bad results and another later experience in which you successfully resolve a second conflict - ideally, be prepared with a two-part answer. Tell us about what you learned about yourself and how you changed your attitude or behavior to resolve a dispute after a negative experience. Remember that your goal is to present yourself as a person the interviewer wants to hire - a proper team player who is able to learn from mistakes.