Answers to Common Conflict Resolution Interview Questions

You may panic when an interviewer asks, "How do you handle conflicts?" as an interview question. If you know what to expect, you can answer the question to reflect your character well.

You can avoid panicking by thinking of stressful situations in the past and how you handled them. Practice your response so that when the time comes that you receive this question, you can easily give your answer.

If you are interested in learning more, read the next section about conflict resolution interview questions.

How to Handle Conflict Resolution Interview Questions

Recruiters ask a conflict resolution interview question to know more about your character and how you will fit with the company. It's only natural for them to want to understand how an employee is around others, but the questions can cause stress to the candidate.

How do you handle conflict interview questions like the following? Everyone has their own ways, but here are some common ones.

1. What happened the last time a co-worker or a customer got angry with you?

   For this conflict resolution interview question, you should say that you took the responsibility, accepted the blame, and learned from your mistakes.

   This answer is honest and shows that you are a team player who cares about doing the right thing, even when it isn't easy. It's also important to demonstrate that you can learn from your experiences to improve for future situations.

2. Tell me the toughest decision that you had to make in the last six months

   A tough decision can be anything from deciding whether to move to change jobs to personal matters like starting a family. When a recruiter asks this question, be honest. You also need to make sure that you have an answer because not having one is a red flag.

3. Tell me about a time you disagreed with a decision. What did you do?

   When answering this conflict resolution interview question, one approach is to explain how you respond to disputes between multiple people while resolving them by being forthright.

   You want to show that you represent your perspective well, but when people disagree, you can accept the decision and follow what the team wants.

4. What was your salary in your last job?

   You don't need to be specific but answer with a range between the minimum and maximum salary you want. You can start the negotiation between you and the employer by providing a range.

5. How would you calm down a colleague stressed about a deadline?

   You can start by mentioning that it is important to reduce panic. When people panic, they can't focus as they usually do. Saying that you can calm people down and realign their mindset to fulfill the tasks one at a time is a great starting point.

6. Are you a team player or a lone wolf? When do you ask for help?

   You can say that you are a team player that requires little supervision and tell a story to back this up. Doing this shows the employer that you are not a lone wolf and hold yourself accountable to the team.

   Providing a situation when you asked for help is also great. It can be a time when you were confused or did not understand the goal of your work. This is to show that you have a balance of independence and accountability.

Don't Stress About Stress Questions

Job interviews are never easy and often stress people out. But if you go into an interview prepared, there's no need to panic.

It's also important to be aware of the questions the employer may ask. If there are too many questions about stress, it might be saying something about the company.

Don't be afraid to ask about how the company manages conflict too. The more you know about the company, the more educated your answers and decisions will be.

Know more job hunting and interview tips by visiting Career.com.