What is a Good Interview Question About Teamwork?
In the quest to uncover the best interview questions about teamwork, we reached out to a diverse group of professionals, from Founders and CEOs to Community Managers. From questioning past team challenges to navigating diverse team dynamics, these experts offer nine insightful suggestions that can help you assess a candidate’s team-playing skills effectively.
- Questioning Past Team Challenges
- Assessing Adaptability and Versatility
- Probing Individual Contributions to Teamwork
- Evaluating Negotiation Skills within Teams
- Exploring Goal Achievement in Team Settings
- Understanding Team Member Aversions
- Asking for Successful Teamwork Experiences
- Perceiving Essential Teamwork Attributes
- Navigating Diverse Team Dynamics
Questioning Past Team Challenges
We’ve recently added the following question to our interviews with candidates: “Can you share an example of a challenging team dynamic you encountered in the past and how you navigated it?”
This question provides insight into the candidate’s teamwork skills. It allows us to gauge their problem-solving abilities and how they handle conflicts or challenging situations within a team context, which is essential for our small team.
Michael Sena, Founder and CEO, SENACEA
Assessing Adaptability and Versatility
A valuable interview question about teamwork is, “Do you prefer working in a team or independently?” I believe this question is particularly insightful as it not only touches upon a candidate’s work preference but also allows the interviewer to assess their adaptability and versatility.
This question opens the door to further discussion about the candidate’s past experiences, specifically their contributions to team-based projects, and their strategies for resolving any conflict within the team. It also sheds light on the candidate’s interpersonal skills, which are essential in any team-based work environment.
In my view, regardless of preference, the ideal candidate should demonstrate their ability to thrive in both independent and collaborative work scenarios.
Martin Potocki, CEO, Jobera
Probing Individual Contributions to Teamwork
Teamwork isn’t simply about working together; it’s about harmonizing individual strengths and weaknesses into a cohesive whole. So, the question I suggest is: “Can you describe a time when your team achieved something that no one could have done alone? What was your part in it?”
This question not only shows an individual’s experiences with teamwork but also their specific contributions. It moves beyond a basic inquiry about teamwork to uncover their perception of themselves within a group setting.
As a psychologist and life coach, I find that the responses to this question can reveal a person’s self-awareness and understanding of group dynamics. That’s because the true beauty of teamwork lies in how varied skills and personalities can unite together to create something extraordinary. Understanding this is what elevates a team from being merely good to truly great.
Bayu Prihandito, Psychology Expert, Life Coach, Founder, Life Architekture
Evaluating Negotiation Skills within Teams
There’s more to teamwork than ducking your head and following the strongest opinion. Whether in a management or entry-level role, great team players think critically, prioritize objectives, and know how to negotiate with their colleagues.
Asking about a time the candidate has had to win over their team members provides real-life context of the candidate’s ability to put team goals first. It reveals whether they sought input, considered alternatives, and actively worked to reach a consensus.
An ideal response should tell you three key points. First, why did they feel the need to influence their team members? What were the candidate’s objectives, and how did they align with the company’s interests?
Second, how did they present their arguments? Were they able to convince their team members of their position, and what obstacles did they encounter?
Third, how did they address conflict? Were they able to make compromises, and if not, how did they make their team members feel respected?
Sebastian Morgan, Senior Content Specialist, CV Genius
Exploring Goal Achievement in Team Settings
One of my favorite teamwork questions to ask during an interview is, “Tell me about a time you worked towards a goal with a team. What did you achieve?”
The answer to this question allows me to see how a particular interviewee works towards goals alongside others. It also highlights their role within that team setting.
Finally, an interviewee’s answer to this question generally allows me to identify whether they were a leader in that environment and allows me to understand how well they work with others.
John Mooney, President, IML
Understanding Team Member Aversions
While it is good to know what motivates your team members, I find it equally as important to know what demotivates them as well. It’s part of the equation I don’t find too many people taking conscious awareness of.
You can and should know that your team enjoys working hybrid, having a diverse workload, etc., but you should also be aware that some of your employees might have a specific aversion to public speaking, working in a certain way or during certain hours or other small stressors that we don’t necessarily take active note of.
Dragos Badea, CEO, Yarooms
Asking for Successful Teamwork Experiences
A great interview question that employers often ask is “Can you give us an example of a successful teamwork experience?”
This question is designed to assess your ability to collaborate with others, communicate effectively, and achieve common goals. When answering, use the STAR technique to structure your response, describing the situation, task, action, and result of the teamwork experience. Highlight how you contributed to the team’s success and demonstrated strong problem-solving skills. Avoid bragging about personal achievements and focus on the team’s accomplishments. Remember to express confidence and positivity when sharing your experience.
By answering this question well, you can demonstrate your ability to work well in a team and increase your chances of landing the job.
Samuel Fletcher, Co-founder, SupplyGem
Perceiving Essential Teamwork Attributes
One effective interview question about teamwork that I find valuable is asking candidates about the qualities they believe are important for a successful teammate.
By posing this question, we gain insights into how candidates perceive teamwork and what attributes they consider essential for collaboration. Understanding their perspective allows us to assess their ability to work effectively in a team setting.
A candidate’s response can reveal their understanding of the importance of qualities like communication, trust, adaptability, and empathy in fostering strong team dynamics. We want to ensure that candidates have a thoughtful approach to selecting and working with teammates, as these relationships play a crucial role in driving productivity and achieving shared goals.
Luciano Colos, Founder and CEO, PitchGrade
Navigating Diverse Team Dynamics
“Can you share an experience where you had to collaborate with team members who had different working styles or perspectives? How did you navigate those differences to achieve a common goal?”
The question delves into the candidate’s interpersonal dynamics and ability to navigate the complexities of teamwork and showcases their adaptability, communication prowess, and problem-solving skills.
It allows interviewers to gauge a candidate’s capacity to appreciate different perspectives, actively listen, and find creative solutions accommodating diverse working styles. This question reveals the candidate’s ability to adapt and flex their approach while maintaining effective communication and nurturing a collaborative spirit.
When answering, it’s crucial to provide a specific example and present a tangible outcome of the collaboration supported by numbers or statistics of the project. Discuss any lessons you learned from the experience and how they have shaped your teamwork approach.
Nina Paczka, Community Manager, Resume Now
