It’s tough to find a job where you don’t need to work with others. Even if you’re the only person in your role, you’ll still share ideas with coworkers and talk to clients or customers. That’s why interviewers often ask, “Do you work well with other people?”
This question might seem simple, and you might think the answer is just “Yes.” But there’s more to it than that. Let’s explore how you can use this question to show you’re great at teamwork and highlight your other important skills too.
Why interviewers ask if you work well with others
Working well with others is super important in most jobs. You might need to team up on projects, build good relationships with clients, or talk clearly with suppliers. In some jobs, like human resources or communications, being good with people isn’t just nice—it’s a big part of the role. Interviewers want to know all about your teamwork skills and hear stories about times you worked with others.
Even though it sounds like a simple yes-or-no question, they wonder how you work with others and imagine what you’d be like on their team. It’s your chance to show them by sharing examples of when you worked well with people.
Here are some ideas you can talk about:
- Completing a team assignment
- Facilitating collaboration between coworkers
- Mediating a dispute between teammates
- Giving or receiving constructive feedback
- Dealing with difficult customers
- Communicating complex information
By sharing your experiences, you help them see that you’re a great team player who can fit right in.
How to answer “Do you work well with others?”
Highlight your teamwork skills with specific examples
When you explain how you work well with others, think about the exact skills you use. These are usually soft skills like:
- Teamwork: Working together to reach a goal
- Communication: Sharing ideas and listening to others
- Leadership: Guiding a group to success
- Organization: Keeping tasks on track
- Problem-solving: Finding solutions as a group
- Empathy: Understanding how others feel
You can also mention technical skills that help with teamwork, like using special software or tools. For example:
- Project management tools: Like Trello or Asana to organize tasks
- Collaboration apps: Such as Slack or Microsoft Teams to stay connected
Match your skills to the job requirements
Think about which of these skills are most important for the job you want. If the job asks for someone who can lead, focus on your leadership skills. If it involves helping customers, talk about your communication and empathy.
By picking the right skills, you show the interviewer you’re a good fit. Instead of just saying “Yes,” you give them reasons to believe you can do the job well.
Share a real story that shows how you work with others
Tell a true story from your past that shows the skills you picked. This helps the interviewer see how you’ve used these skills before. Here are some ideas:
- Completing a team project: “In school, I was part of a group project where we had to build a model volcano. I helped organize our meetings and made sure everyone had a job they liked. We worked together and our volcano was a big hit at the science fair!”
- Helping teammates work together: “At my summer job, our team wasn’t communicating well. I suggested we have short daily meetings to share updates. This helped everyone know what was going on, and we finished our project on time.”
- Solving a problem between team members: “In a club I joined, two members were arguing about an event plan. I listened to both sides and helped them find a solution they both liked. The event turned out great because we all worked together.”
- Giving or receiving helpful feedback: “During a group assignment, a teammate gave me advice on my part of the work. I appreciated it and used her suggestions. Later, I gave her feedback too. We both improved and got a good grade.”
- Handling difficult customers: “While working at a store, I met a customer who was upset about a product. I listened carefully, stayed calm, and helped find a solution. The customer thanked me for my help.”
- Explaining complex information simply: “In a tutoring program, I helped younger students understand math problems. I broke down the steps and used simple words. They started to understand and felt more confident.”
By sharing these stories, you show the interviewer that you truly work well with others. It helps them imagine how you’ll fit into their team and contribute to their company.
How not to answer
Don’t just say “I enjoy working with people” without examples
One common mistake is simply saying, “Yes, I love working with people!” While it’s great to enjoy teamwork, this answer doesn’t tell the hiring manager anything about your skills or experiences. Employers want to hear about times you’ve successfully worked with others and show off your communication, collaboration, and problem-solving abilities.
Instead of giving a vague answer, share a real experience. For example:
- Weak answer: “Yes, I really enjoy working with people.”
- Strong answer: “Yes, I work well with others. In my last school project, our team had to create a presentation. I helped organize our meetings, encouraged everyone to share ideas, and we all worked together to get an A.”
Don’t just tell the interviewer you enjoy teamwork—show them with specific examples. This way, they can see you’re not only enthusiastic but also qualified to work well with others.
Sample answers to “Do you work well with other people?”
Example #1
“Yes, I work well with others. In my last class project, our team had to create a science experiment. Some team members were unsure about their roles, so I suggested we divide the tasks based on what each person liked to do. I enjoy organizing, so I made a schedule and we met every few days to check our progress. By working together and helping each other, we finished the project on time and got a good grade.”
Why this works:
- Shows teamwork: You explain how you collaborated with your classmates
- Demonstrates leadership: You took the initiative to organize the team
- Highlights communication: Regular meetings kept everyone informed and on track
Example #2
“Absolutely! During my summer internship at a local business, I worked with a small team on a marketing campaign. At first, we had different ideas, and it was hard to agree. I suggested we each share our thoughts and list the pros and cons together. This helped us combine our ideas into one great plan. By listening to each other and working as a team, our campaign was successful.”
Why this works:
- Shows problem-solving: You found a way to handle disagreements
- Highlights collaboration: Combining ideas shows effective teamwork
- Demonstrates communication skills: Encouraging everyone to share promotes open dialogue
Example #3
“Yes, I do. When I worked part-time at a bookstore, our team had to prepare for a big sale event. I noticed a coworker was overwhelmed with setting up displays. I offered to help and together we finished faster. Later, when I needed help with the cash register, she showed me how to use it better. By supporting each other, we made the event a success and our manager was pleased.”
Why this works:
- Demonstrates helping attitude: Offering assistance strengthens team bonds
- Shows willingness to learn: Accepting help shows you’re open to learning from others
- Highlights positive outcomes: The teamwork led to a successful event
By expanding your answer to focus on skills rather than your enjoyment of working with others, you’ll demonstrate to your interviewer that you’re not only a team player, but someone with the right competencies to perform well in the role.