PaTH Online Block 2 Day 3 - Session 4

* 8. Interview Questions:

When interviewed How to Answer Questions About Being a Team Player

The most important step in answering this question comes before the interview. Research the role and the company to make sure you understand what teamwork looks like at this particular organization.

Then, before you answer, consider how you best contribute to a team.

Do you get along easily with people?
Are you an effective collaborator?
Can you communicate with people from various backgrounds and with different personalities?
Can you motivate people?
Do you know how to push back tactfully?
Can you mediate conflicts?
Can you deal with difficult personalities?
I believe that I have a lot to contribute to ta team environment, and am comfortable in both leadership and contributor roles.  I’m outgoing, friendly, and have strong communication skills.
 
An interviewer only takes 30 minutes to an hour to determine if an individual is a qualified candidate for a position.

How Would You Describe Yourself as a Team Member?

Questions like ‘How would you describe yourself in terms of your ability to work as a member of a team?-‘ ‘tell me about a team you were on and your role’ and ‘define teamwork’ are common interview questions. Considering that most jobs require some level of teamwork- it is easy to understand why. However- the question reaches deeper than just proving that you can work as a team member. Interviewers also want to know what essential attributes you can contribute to a team. Even if you feel you work better individually or the role is mostly self-tasked- it is critical that you understand how to properly address this question.

The STAR technique

The STAR method is a structured manner of responding to a behavioral-based interview question by discussing the specific situation, task, action, and result of the situation you are describing. Situation: Describe the situation that you were in or the task that you needed to accomplish.

One way to ensure your answers cover all elements of the question is using the STAR technique.

·         S – situation: I was working as a cashier and we had to check out customers regardless of the number of items they had.

·         T – task: While I had no customers, my colleague was extremely busy with a large customer order so I had to ensure he completed the job as quickly and efficiently as possible.

·         A – actions: I ensured there were no other customers waiting. Then I went over to assist my colleague by helping him bag the items.

·         R – result: The customer was very satisfied due to the speed and efficiency of the service and my colleague appreciated my help.

Provide an example of a task you completed effectively using the STAR technique.  You can use any situation and it does not need to be in the workplace if you have not worked previously.