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Questions like ‘How would you describe yourself in terms of your ability to work as a team member?’ ‘Are you a team player?,’ ‘Tell me about a team you were on and your role’ and ‘Define teamwork’ are common interview questions. Don’t panic! Considering that most jobs require some level of teamwork, it is easy to understand why these questions are part of the interview process.
Interviewers and hiring managers want to know what essential attributes you can contribute to a team and how you work collaboratively and effectively with others toward a common goal. 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. This is your opportunity to use effective words to describe yourself!
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What the interviewer wants to know
Teamwork is one of the most effective transferable skills in workplaces. When asking about your teamwork abilities, interviewers are looking to address areas like communication, collaboration, problem-solving and leadership potential. Common qualities that successful work teams share include:
- A dedication to the company’s goals and/or mission
- A willingness to assist a team member with their tasks/duties, when necessary
- Superior written and oral communication skills
- Excellent project management skills
- Strong organization skills
- Ability to resolve conflicts successfully and calmly
How to answer teamwork questions in an interview
Answering teamwork-related questions is crucial during job interviews as it helps the interviewer assess your ability to collaborate with others and work towards common goals. Here are some tips on how to answer teamwork-related questions in a job interview:
Put it in perspective
Answer this and other relevant interview questions from the perspective of the job you are applying for. If you do decide to utilize examples from your current or previous job, make sure to make clear correlations between your experience and the requirements for the position you seek.
Remember, your whole purpose is to convince the interviewer that you are the best fit for the job. Illustrating the beneficial aspects that you would bring to the position can help to paint you in a positive light.
Provide specific examples
When answering a teamwork-related question, provide specific examples of when you worked successfully as part of a team. Be sure to explain your role in the team and how you contributed to the team's success. Add metrics and achievements to strengthen your answer.
Describe relevant skills
Answering the question ‘How would you describe yourself as a team member?’ is an excellent opportunity to share your strong skill set in relation to the position that you are applying for. However, you should avoid providing a long list of your skills and abilities. For example, you can use three words to describe yourself, focus on these and give concrete examples. Craft your answer in a way that you are able to highlight your strengths within your description.
Example answers: How do you work in a team
General answer
When answering this question, make it known that you are a team player — someone who enjoys working in a team-based environment, and someone who enjoys assisting other team members when they are in the weeds with a task, duty or project. Emphasize that you’re committed to making sure the team you’re on succeeds and that the company’s business goals are met.
Remember that just like with your resume format, your level of experience is an important element to consider while answering questions about your teamwork abilities.
Answer for healthcare industry
Registered nurse
Why use this answer:
This response effectively showcases the job seeker's suitability for the role by providing a specific example and emphasizing the transferable skills crucial in the industry, such as communication, organization and problem-solving. Moreover, the job seeker demonstrates their ability to achieve results through teamwork, as evidenced by the mentioned accomplishments.
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Answer for marketing industry
Marketing manager
Why use this answer:
This example highlights the job seeker’s experience and active communication. Furthermore, it provides specific instances and accentuates how working collaboratively aids the team in accomplishing their goals. Follow our marketing manager example and templates to craft your own stellar resume.
Answer for education industry
Teacher
Additionally, I contribute to team projects by taking on specific tasks and consistently meeting deadlines, leading to an overall improvement in student achievement by 15% on standardized assessments.
Why use this answer:
In this instance, the answer is effective because it highlights the importance of teamwork, conflict resolution and communication. It presents specific teaching examples that serve to make the answer more tangible. Additionally, the response showcases achievements accompanied by measurable metrics, further solidifying its effectiveness.
Check our teacher resume examples and templates to draft your winning resume.
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What not to do when answering
Remember, when answering teamwork-related questions during an interview, it's important to strike a balance between showcasing your strengths as a team member and being humble and realistic. This is your opportunity to showcase how your abilities and core competencies contribute to the collaborative efforts.
Being overly self-centered
While answering teamwork-related questions avoid focusing only on your own achievements without acknowledging the contributions of others in the team. This is a great opportunity to showcase your interpersonal and communication skills!
Remember to avoid:
Indifferent attitude
Arrogance
Ungratefulness
Bragging
Unawareness
Ignore feedback
Using generic statements
Provide specific examples! Instead of using generic phrases like “I’m great at working with others,” show the interviewers concrete examples that demonstrate your teamwork abilities.” Stay away from:
Lack of specificity
Generalizations
Lack of context
Assumptions
Lack of research
Oversimplification
Exaggerating or lying
Being honest is one of the most sought-after qualities. Avoid exaggerating your skills or experiences to make yourself appear more favorable as a team member. Remember you can always acknowledge areas you can improve. This demonstrates self-awareness and willingness to grow and learn.
Avoid making assumptions.
Exaggerated details.
Avoid irresponsibility.
Don’t bend the truth.
Avoid gossiping.
Stay away from inconsistency.
Related Questions
Interview Question: What Motivates You to Put Forth Your Greatest Effort?
When interviewers ask these questions they are trying to learn about your inner psyche- experience and goals. Understanding a person’s motivation is key to knowing how hard that individual will work in a position. Review the following tips for answering these types of questions- as well as some sample answers to make sure that you are on the right track.
Interview Question: Give Me an Example of a Time When You Took Initiative
Initiative abilities are closely related to teamwork skills. When interviewers ask you behavioral interview questions like this, they are trying to get at your true character as it relates to motivation.
Interview Question: Tell Me About a Time You Missed a Deadline
Working as a team to achieve a common goal is one of the foundations for every workplace. When asking this behavioral question interviewers want to know how you can manage different situations.
Interview Question: How Do You Deal With Conflict? Give Me an Example
These questions give you a chance to highlight your abilities and show how the skills you’ve developed will directly benefit the company, organization or team you are placed on. Practicing some common behavioral questions, like this one, can prepare you to answer them successfully during any type of interview.
Interview Question: Miscommunications & Getting the Message Across
The purpose of this question is to assess a candidate's proficiency in fundamental skills, such as communication, interpersonal relations and conflict resolution, which are crucial to effective teamwork. Provide specific examples of your experience and how you resolved any miscommunication problems.
Interview Question: Difference of Opinion on How to Reach a shared Goal
The main point of this question is teamwork, cooperation and the ability to work well with others. It is important that you focus on these ideas when answering. Every position has different requirements when it comes to this concept, so you should never lose sight of being relevant. You would answer this question differently if interviewing for a leadership position or an entry-level position.
Sources
Behavioral-Based Interview Questions
55 Recruitment Statistics About Navigating the Future of Hiring
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How Would You Describe Yourself as a Team Member?
Nilda Melissa is a Certified Professional Resume Writer who has written for The Washington Post and Latina Style Magazine. She has a master's in Journalism from Columbia University and is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
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