“Tell Me About a Time You Had a Conflict at Work” Sample Answers

Conflicts naturally arise in every job, but how you deal with conflict can tell employers a lot about your attitude in the workplace.

“Tell me about a time you had a conflict at work” is a tricky interview question to answer. It’s difficult to know how to respond without coming across as aggressive or disagreeable.

In this article we’ll tell you why interviewers ask this question in interviews, give you several example answers to draw from, and explain how to answer this question in a way that’ll impress employers.

Why interviewers ask “tell me about a time you had a conflict at work”

Employers ask this common behavioral interview question to get a feel for whether you can maintain composure during conflict and constructively resolve difficult situations.

In particular, interviewers are looking for these skills and qualities:

• Teamwork skills
• Positivity
• Problem-solving skills
• Logic
• Ability to remain calm
• Self-awareness
• Assertiveness
• Leadership skills
• Conflict resolution skills
• Communication skills
• Interpersonal skills

By asking about how you resolve conflicts, interviewers want to confirm that you’d be a good fit for the position and are able to handle challenging scenarios, whether with a colleague, customer, client, or manager.

“Tell me about a time you had a conflict at work” examples

Below are several variations of the prompt “tell me about a time you had a conflict at work,” with examples of how to answer them using the STAR method.

STAR stands for:

• Situation
• Task
• Action
• Result

Structuring your answer using these four parts is the most effective way to answer behavioral questions like “tell me about a time you had a conflict at work”, because it clearly provides employers with real life examples of how you approach and respond to complex situations while placing emphasis on positive outcomes.

1. “Tell me about a time when you had a conflict with a coworker and how you resolved it.”

In this example, the candidate demonstrates teamwork, the ability to remain calm, problem solving, and communication skills.

2. “Describe a situation where you disagreed with someone and how you handled it.”

This answer works because it shows that the candidate is proactive, respectful, and inquisitive, while also making the best interests of the company a top priority.

In this case, being able to bring concerns to the attention of a superior and offer valuable suggestions allowed the team to save valuable time and energy that would have otherwise been focused on troubleshooting the new plan.

3. “Give me an example of a time you faced a conflict while working on a team. How did you handle that?”

This answer shows how the candidate approached the situation with compassion and curiosity, instead of blame and frustration. By taking initiative and using great communication skills, they were able to avoid a bigger conflict and get the team back on track.

Showing employers that you know how to value and support your coworkers while maximizing efficiency and achieving team goals will make you an attractive candidate.

4. “Tell me about a challenge or conflict you’ve faced at work, and how you dealt with it.”

While not all problems need to be escalated to management, sometimes this step is necessary. This example shows that the candidate attempted to resolve the problem on their own first, but knew when it became important to ask for help.

5. “Describe a time when you needed to manage differences of opinion at work.”

Mediation skills are key to resolving conflicts you’re not directly involved in, and they’re especially important if you’re targeting a managerial role. Emphasizing your mediation skills will show employers that you’re solution-oriented and can be trusted to keep projects on track even when disagreements occur on the team.

This TikTok offers an additional example:

@resumegenius How to use the STAR method in interviews! Tell me about a time you had a conflict at work. ⭐️ #starmethod #starmethodtips #interviewtipsandtricks ♬ original sound – Resume Genius | Career Advice

How to answer “tell me about a time you had a conflict at work”

While “tell me about a conflict you had at work” is a difficult question, there is a way to formulate a response that will leave your interviewers with a good impression of you.

Here’s a simple three-step approach to impress your interviewer when they pull out the tough “tell me about a time you had a conflict at work” question.

1. Give a real example of a conflict

There are many different types of conflict, so it’s important that you choose an appropriate example that can highlight your relevant skills and experience.

Choose a real situation that is easy to explain and ended with positive results. Some good examples might be:

• Disagreement with a coworker or manager
• Dealing with a challenging client
• Clashing work or management styles
• Challenges encountered when working on a team
• Miscommunication between departments
• Advocating for a colleague
• Turning down a task that conflicts with your values

2. Explain what steps you took to resolve the conflict

Get clear on the steps you took to navigate and resolve the conflict. Think about what positive skills you are showing when you describe these.

• Did you solve a problem?
• Did you analyze different options?
• Did you actively listen and offer solutions?
• Did you show authority while still being respectful?
• Did you act in the best interests of the company, or of your colleagues?

3. Describe a positive outcome

Be sure to include a positive outcome, otherwise employers won’t be impressed.

• Were you and/or others able to learn something?
• Did it result in a new initiative being developed?
• Did you strengthen your relationships?
• Did you manage to make a client happy, hit targets, or come up with a successful strategy?

What to avoid when answering conflict questions

When you’re asked “tell me about a time you had a conflict at work,” not all answers are equal. Employers want to see all the positive attributes that make you a good fit for the position, so avoid these things when crafting your response:

Saying you never have conflicts

Don’t sidestep the question by saying you never have conflicts with people at work. This may seem unrealistic and could actually put you in a negative light as someone who avoids conflict.

The interviewer is asking this question for a reason. They genuinely want to get an idea of how you handle tough situations, so giving them no information can be unhelpful and put them off hiring you.

Painting yourself as right and others as wrong

Your employer does not expect you to be right all the time. Don’t be afraid to admit you’ve made mistakes, as long as you can show how you were open to learning from them and improving.

Pointing fingers at others also won’t help you get the job. Instead, it will raise red flags for employers and hurt your chances of landing the job, so be kind and generous when describing your conflicts.

Interviewers are looking for people with well-developed soft skills who can listen to others, work on a team, and remain willing to face challenging situations.

Using an example of an unresolved conflict

Sometimes it can be hard to think of good examples to use for questions like these, but that doesn’t mean you should use a poor one.

Telling employers about a conflict that you had that was left unresolved will send the message that you don’t follow through to improve things when needed, and leave them with a bad impression of your conflict management abilities.

Even if you have to resort to a more minor conflict, choose one that exemplifies your conflict resolution skills and ability to learn and improve from challenges.

Giving a vague answer

While your response shouldn’t be overly in-depth (to avoid rambling or revealing confidential information), an answer that’s too vague won’t give the employer insight into how you actually handle conflicts in professional settings.

Provide enough context that the interviewer will be able to understand the issue you faced, describe the specific steps you took to solve it, and leave out unnecessary details that don’t add anything to the story.

Additional interview resources

For more help preparing for your interview, check out some of our other articles below:

• Common phone interview questions and answers
• Best questions to ask in an interview
• When and how to ask for feedback after an interview
• “Why are you suitable for this job?” sample answers
• How to answer “What do you like least about your job?”
• “Tell me about a time you failed” sample answers
• How to answer “Why did you leave your last job?”
• How to answer “Walk me through your resume”
• How to answer “What are your weaknesses?”
• How to answer “Tell me about yourself”
• How to answer “Why should we hire you?”
• How to answer “What is your greatest strength?”
• How to answer “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”
• “What is your greatest achievement?” example answers