Handling difficult coworkers is a common challenge in any workplace, and interviewers want to know how you approach it. This question helps them gauge your interpersonal skills, professionalism, and ability to manage conflict. In this guide, we’ll break down what interviewers are really looking for, provide tips on crafting a strong answer, and share sample responses to help you ace the interview.
Why do interviewers ask about difficult coworkers?
In a perfect world, coworkers would exist in total harmony, never disagreeing or getting on each other’s nerves. In reality, some coworkers are stubborn or opinionated. Others chew with their mouth open or play annoying music without headphones. Sometimes, two people are like oil and water and just don’t mix well.
Working with people you wouldn’t choose as friends is inevitable, so it makes sense that interviewers would want to be proactive in asking how you deal with it. Working with challenging colleagues is a universal skill candidates need. It can also be an indicator of how easy you are to get along with–whether you keep things professional while you’re at work or if you contribute to workplace drama.
Interviewers want to see if you have effective strategies for managing frustrations and resolving conflicts without constant supervision. This question also tests your emotional intelligence and your ability to navigate working relationships when they aren’t straightforward.
Variations of this interview question:
- Tell me about a time you had to work with someone who was hard to get along with.
- Have you ever had to work with someone you didn’t like?
- How do you handle working with coworkers that are difficult?
How to answer ‘How do you deal with difficult coworkers?’
Be honest and genuine
It’s completely normal to admit that you haven’t gotten along with every coworker, and interviewers don’t expect you to. What they do want to see is that you can maintain professionalism in challenging situations. Avoid saying that you’ve never experienced conflict—this can come across as evasive or lacking self-awareness. Instead, share a real, relatable example of a time when you worked with a difficult colleague and how you handled it without letting emotions get in the way.
Pro tip: Keep your tone positive. Even though you’re talking about a challenge, focus on the steps you took to manage it rather than venting about the person.
Provide a specific example
Telling a compelling story allows interviewers to “see” how you operate in difficult situations. Think about a time when you had to work with someone whose approach, personality, or work style clashed with yours. Choose an example that demonstrates your ability to communicate, compromise, and find solutions. Make sure your story highlights not just the conflict, but how you worked through it to reach a resolution.
Example story structure:
- Situation: Briefly explain the conflict.
- Action: Describe what steps you took to handle it.
- Result: Share how the situation improved and what you learned.
Pro tip: Pick an example that’s relevant to the job you’re applying for. If you’re interviewing for a team-oriented role, focus on how you improved teamwork. If it’s a leadership role, show how you kept the group moving forward despite the challenge.
Focus on actions you took
The key to a strong answer lies in showing that you took initiative. Whether it was opening a line of communication, offering a compromise, or involving a mediator, focus on what you did to address the issue. Highlighting your proactive steps shows the interviewer that you’re not someone who avoids problems, but someone who faces them head-on to find solutions.
Pro tip: Stick to describing how you managed the situation, not why the other person was difficult.
Emphasize positive outcomes
It’s important to show that something good came out of the conflict. Whether it was a better working relationship, a more cohesive team, or a valuable lesson learned, focus on how the situation turned into a positive experience. Employers want to know that you can grow from challenges and emerge stronger from them.
Example:
“After our initial misunderstandings, my coworker and I established regular check-ins to ensure we were on the same page, which led to much smoother project collaboration. This experience taught me the value of clear communication, even when it initially feels uncomfortable.”
Pro tip: Link the positive outcomes to the role you’re applying for. If you learned how to manage team dynamics better, explain how that will help you succeed in the position.
Mistakes to avoid
- Blaming others: Don’t point fingers or speak negatively about your coworker. Instead, focus on your own actions and how you handled the situation.
- Avoiding the conflict: Saying you haven’t dealt with difficult coworkers is unrealistic. It’s better to share how you managed a challenge professionally.
- Dwelling on the negative: Don’t focus too much on the conflict itself. Instead, highlight the positive outcomes and what you learned from the experience.
- Getting emotional: Avoid letting your answer turn into a complaint session. Stay calm, professional, and solution-oriented.
Sample answers to ‘How do you deal with difficult coworkers?’
Example for a recent college graduate
“During my senior year, I worked on a group project with a teammate who had a very different communication style. They were more reserved and didn’t share updates as frequently as I was used to, which made it hard to collaborate. Instead of letting the frustration build, I decided to set up regular check-ins with the team so we could all stay on the same page. By opening up communication, we were able to work together more smoothly, and our project was a success. This experience taught me that clear communication is key, even when working with different personalities.”
Why this works:
This answer shows that the recent grad took the initiative to resolve the conflict through communication, emphasizing the importance of learning a valuable teamwork skill that can be applied in any professional setting.
Example for a young professional
“In my previous role as a junior software developer, I worked with a colleague with a very different problem-solving approach. While I preferred a more structured, step-by-step method, they often jumped straight into the code without planning, sometimes leading to bugs and delays. Instead of getting frustrated, I suggested that we start using a shared workflow document to outline our approach before diving in. This gave us both clarity and helped us avoid missteps. Over time, we developed a much smoother working relationship, and our project timelines improved significantly.”
Why this works:
This answer is specific to the IT field and highlights the candidate’s proactive approach to solving the issue through collaboration and workflow improvement. It also demonstrates adaptability and a focus on efficiency—key traits in IT.