How to answer an interview queston

[Anglewannabe]

I had an interview last week. I don’t think I will get it because I suspect the skills I tried to sell are not the ones they were looking for. But that is not the point of this post.

I was asked ‘Can you tell us about a situation where you had to work with an uncooperative team member and could not get the information you needed out of them.’

Well, I could not think fast enough of an example with a successful outcome. To be honest, I was a bit surprised at the question and started to panic inside. So I told about an example where I had to meet with a guy for him to give me information and all he did was look in his desk and answer emails and after 20 minutes looked at his watch and then said ‘Got to go home’ So I went to management with the information I had, told them about the information I did not have and told them where in the report my concerns were.

The interviewer asked how it was resolved to which I said 'I never heard back from management so I assumed they got what they needed and if this guy got his fingers slapped, then I would never find out about it.

So, the next time I am asked such a question, how should I answer it? The reality in my experience is if someone else is not being co-operative, I can not change them. Also, have spent a lot of time trying to accept others as they are and not control them leaves me pretty powerless to get information out of someone who does not report to me.

Again, what would be a good answer to that?

Angie

 

[on_the_hill]

Hmmm…what kind of job is it? Police interrogator?

Could you say that you usually don’t have a problem getting info? Sounds like you don’t have that problem often if you can’t think of examples.

 

[Allegra]

That sounds like a trick question. I would probably say, "You know, I can’t think of a single instance where that’s happened. In my previous position, we had such a supportive and positive environment and pretty much everyone worked together as a team to get the job done. If I were to encounter such a situation, I would ask the person if there was anything I could do to support them so they could get their part of the assignment finished.

 

[Butterflylily]

Most of the interview questions nowadays are gearing toward- how flexible you can be, if you are a team player, if you are coachable, or how you handle situations even if it’s uncomfortable or being politically correct. During interviews if I have no idea what to answer, I always rephrase and or restate their question to simplify and to give me a little bit of time in my mind to formulate my answer. And if it is something that I have not done before, I am honest enough to say that it hasn’t happened yet, instead of giving them the answer to the question I tell them how I would approach that person, kind of giving them a scenario of my own. . Good luck to you. And if that job is for your best interest you will get it. Again most employers are not looking for experience nowadays coz people with experience is expensive instead they will hire newbies, that are team players, coachable and trainable.

 

[meltzerboy]

I would answer the question in the same way you explained here, that is, in your experience, you cannot change a co-worker who is not cooperative and that you try not to control people but instead accept them as they are. If you answer honestly in this manner, you will be better able to answer a possible follow-up question with conviction.

 

[AnotherPenitent]

I don’t claim to know how interviewers think, but if it were me, I would appreciate any answer that showed a reasonable and constructive response (as opposed to creating more drama).

 

[mdleagedguy]

I had an interview last week. I don’t think I will get it because I suspect the skills I tried to sell are not the ones they were looking for. But that is not the point of this post.

I was asked ‘Can you tell us about a situation where you had to work with an uncooperative team member and could not get the information you needed out of them.’

It sounds like this could be an issue they have faced. It reveals something about your potential coworkers.

Well, I could not think fast enough of an example with a successful outcome. To be honest, I was a bit surprised at the question and started to panic inside. So I told about an example where I had to meet with a guy for him to give me information and all he did was look in his desk and answer emails and after 20 minutes looked at his watch and then said ‘Got to go home’ So I went to management with the information I had, told them about the information I did not have and told them where in the report my concerns were.

Your response was fine. A lot of times it’s about being able to say it with conviction and sincerity. They’re looking for what they are looking for, and you may not know exactly what that is.

 

[hazcompat]

As an interviewer, there is nothing wrong with taking your time, or even admitting you have to consider your response. It is never about your sense of the quality of your responses.

Peace

 

[Purgatory_Pete]

I would answer the question in the same way you explained here, that is, in your experience, you cannot change a co-worker who is not cooperative and that you try not to control people but instead accept them as they are. If you answer honestly in this manner, you will be better able to answer a possible follow-up question with conviction.

I couldn’t agree more.

I had a similar situation in a previous place of employment.
I was asked to get some information for our boss and I went to
the one person who held such information, She would not give me
any of the information I asked for (she did this with everyone, it was just her way)
I simply left the office and re-entered it again 5 mins later.
I placed a post it note in front of her with the details of what was required
and told her I had informed the boss that she was getting him the information
and that she would bring it to him in about 15mins.
I then left the office, she gathered the info and reported to the boss
about 10 mins after I left her. The boss was aware of why it was all done this way.
From then on, we always approached her in the same way, and we had no problems.
it was never anything against me, I think she was just protecting her position.

But as Meltzerboy said, Honesty is always the best policy.
Hope this helps.
:tiphat:

 

[Virga]

I’ve heard from people conducting interviews conflicting things… For example, some people say they prefer candidates to take initiative when confronted with a situation they’re unprepared for, showing they can work independently. On the other hand, there are those who say they prefer candidates to ask their direct supervisors so as not to waste time or risk making mistakes that could cost the employer. It will vary, and you’ll never know exactly what they want. One thing that’s important is to show confidence. By confidence, I mean not speaking as if you’re unsure of your own answer.

During my first job interview, I messed up with a similar question. They asked about my experience with customers who were being difficult. I ended up saying something along the lines of… “Ignore what they’re doing… I would just continue to do whatever I was doing. ”

I had panicked. Confidence was zero, and it felt like I was making stuff up along the way, even though it wasn’t really lying… It did come out all wrong, of course.

What’s helped me recently was feeling like I could take my time [a few seconds or so] to pause and think about it. I focused on being honest but adaptable. It’s better to say I don’t have an exact experience that would fit and give an example of how I would act if in a certain situation.

 

[Anglewannabe]

Thanks everyone for you responses. mldeagedguy, I tried to quote you but I couldn’t for some reason.

So if I understand what you are getting at, I picked a wrong example and should try and think of a better one next time. I agree it sounds like I relied on management. However, this is a personal resentment of mine (which I would never say during an interview), the reality is, management has the authority to demand thins and I don’t. If I am too pushy, I will get into trouble. However management simply does not want to take their responsibilities and just passes the unpleasant work on. But that is the work force and I need to learn to live with it.

So, I think perhaps in the future, if I don’t have a good example, I will simply say ‘I can’t change other people and try to accept them as they are. If I have trouble I would offer to help the person with anything I can and I would thank them for their time. I would also when I bump into them at the water cooler make polite small talk about other things so that they will sense I value them as a person as well.’

 

[Anglewannabe]

She would not give me
any of the information I asked for (she did this with everyone, it was just her way)
I simply left the office and re-entered it again 5 mins later.
I placed a post it note in front of her with the details of what was required
and told her I had informed the boss that she was getting him the information
and that she would bring it to him in about 15mins.
I then left the office, she gathered the info and reported to the boss
about 10 mins after I left her. The boss was aware of why it was all done this way.

This is a risky response. Since you were in an environment that supported that kind of action, it paid off. Unfortunately, I have been in offices were this could really go down bad if I was to do that to someone.

Once, I was asked for something from a VP and I needed the help of a guy who was 2 notches above me. I sent him and email and put in the email ‘The VP wants this by the end of the day’, I got into trouble for bossing someone above me. In my mind I was simply letting him know who was asking and why it was important. But there was no sympathy for me being caught between the two

Angie

 

[Allegra]

This is a risky response. Since you were in an environment that supported that kind of action, it paid off. Unfortunately, I have been in offices were this could really go down bad if I was to do that to someone.

Once, I was asked for something from a VP and I needed the help of a guy who was 2 notches above me. I sent him and email and put in the email ‘The VP wants this by the end of the day’, I got into trouble for bossing someone above me. In my mind I was simply letting him know who was asking and why it was important. But there was no sympathy for me being caught between the two

Angie

That’s kinda why I thought it was a “trick question”. You don’t know what sort of baggage accompanies that question. Did the person who left the position have difficulty with overstepping their bounds? Did they continuously pass the buck on to others? That’s why I would answer the questions, as if I assume that all of their employees are doing their best to work together.

 

[Anglewannabe]

That’s kinda why I thought it was a “trick question”. You don’t know what sort of baggage accompanies that question. Did the person who left the position have difficulty with overstepping their bounds? Did they continuously pass the buck on to others? That’s why I would answer the questions, as if I assume that all of their employees are doing their best to work together.

ok, I think I am starting to understand. It could appear that the last employee just blamed everyone else for being unco-operative and they were trying to see if I would do the same. So I should go in explaining that I just assume people are doing their best and when there is a situation where no one knows how to handle it, show that I would be polite and courteous to everyone.

 

[Allegra]

ok, I think I am starting to understand. It could appear that the last employee just blamed everyone else for being unco-operative and they were trying to see if I would do the same. So I should go in explaining that I just assume people are doing their best and when there is a situation where no one knows how to handle it, show that I would be polite and courteous to everyone.

With an emphasis on your willingness to be supportive and a team player.

 

[PaulinVA]

Phrase your answers in terms of, “This is how I would solve (or did solve) that problem.”

You want to come across as either neutral or positive in the “Get things done” category, not as a diva or a problem.

I ask a lot of “Tell me about…” questions after someone has made the technical cut. I want to see if you will fit into the company and the team. I want to see if you can talk for a few minutes on your own about something and sound articulate and competent. Generally the answer isn’t as important as the overall effect.

 

[Anglewannabe]

I ask a lot of “Tell me about…” questions after someone has made the technical cut. I want to see if you will fit into the company and the team. I want to see if you can talk for a few minutes on your own about something and sound articulate and competent. Generally the answer isn’t as important as the overall effect.

So would it be fair to say you have met some good candidates but because you did not think they would fit into the team you did not make an offer? And it does not necessarily mean there is something wrong with them, simply you just didn’t think they would fit?

Angie

 

[PaulinVA]

So would it be fair to say you have met some good candidates but because you did not think they would fit into the team you did not make an offer? And it does not necessarily mean there is something wrong with them, simply you just didn’t think they would fit?

Angie

Yes, fit is important. That’s a big part of successfully building a team - people who can work together.

 

[Eliza10]

…
I was asked ‘Can you tell us about a situation where you had to work with an uncooperative team member and could not get the information you needed out of them.’

Well, I could not think fast enough of an example with a successful outcome. To be honest, I was a bit surprised at the question and started to panic inside. So I told about an example where I had to meet with a guy for him to give me information and all he did was look in his desk and answer emails and after 20 minutes looked at his watch and then said ‘Got to go home’ So I went to management with the information I had, told them about the information I did not have and told them where in the report my concerns were.

The interviewer asked how it was resolved to which I said 'I never heard back from management so I assumed they got what they needed and if this guy got his fingers slapped, then I would never find out about it.

I wonder if its possible that that interviewer thought you appeared non-assertive, and wondered if he decided to put you on his payroll you would allow the comfortableness of your non-assertive habit to get in the way of getting the job done. And it sounds like you told him, “Yes, that is just what I would do. Here is an example of how I do that!”

You are saying that you had a mission: To collect info from the guy. The guy ignored you, and you did nothing to ensure you received the said info? It sounds like you failed to complete your mission because you did not want to assert yourself when it was necessary.

What about stating the truth to him - that its his responsibility to give you this information, and you are standing there waiting for it (I hope you were standing, not sitting unobtrusively in the corner). Somehow you need to express that his response to your request is UNACCEPTABLE. Because you have a mission, you are at work, what you do there is for the good of the company, so you do what you have to do to get it done. Not only did you fail with him, you did not take responsibility to follow up with management to see if they think you should have handled it differently.

There are many ways that you could have gotten across in that situation that his response is NOT okay with you, and to have stated your expectations clearly. If you cannot think of them, then you do have a serious handicap to being an effective, responsible employee.

The good news is that there are plenty of workshops and counsel on Assertiveness Training to help you overcome that handicap. Non-assertiveness is serious handicap to your potential employee usefulness… This could be due to nature or nurture (growing up with authoritarian parents is a common cause) but whatever the reason, its a flaw, and we all have flaws. Fortunately this particular flaw is simply a skill you have not acquired, and there are plenty of people out there teaching it to folks like you who need to learn it…

So I would find training asap. Then if such a question comes up again in an interview, you can recognize that he/she is asking about your “serious flaw”. After having stated clearly all your fine employable attributes – dependability honesty, etc., etc. – you’d best admit you have this flaw, but at least then you can say you are seriously working on it and that you have confidence you will overcome it - at least you will practice until you get it right! That sorry story above is only good for an example of a failure that made you realize the grave extent of your flaw, which you are now diligently applying yourself to correcting.

…The reality in my experience is if someone else is not being co-operative, I can not change them. Also, have spent a lot of time trying to accept others as they are and not control them leaves me pretty powerless to get information out of someone who does not report to me.

You cannot change, but you can influence. It certainly appears that your passive ways influenced that guy to feel confident that there would be NO consequence WHATSOEVER if he chose to be rude and dismissive to you. Do you give the vibe: “I am a person with no boundaries, essentially a door mat. Here, walk on me.”? Because that degree of passivity means management has to step aside from their management responsibility to micromanage problems created by your passivity.

 

[whatsmyname]

I usually make up a set of fictional stories to fit just about every situation I can anticipate they will ask. I do know they’d rather have a fictional answer that fits their question than a true answer like, “I’ve never experienced that situation,” or “I never heard back from management so I assume they got what they needed.” In future interview situations, you should concoct a fiction where management responds with something positive.

I tend to get along really well with my coworkers and customers. I almost never have any difficulties with anyone and my job just isn’t that challenging that there are job tasks I have difficulty with. I’ve held several levels of my same position where I’ve had to have interviews. The first time I had one of those “…tell me a time when _ happened” interviews, I answered honestly with either real situations or told them I’d never experience the situation. Big mistake. I had a recent interview where I had only concocted customer-based stories and all the questions they asked were for co-worker stories. I was like a deer in the headlights. I’m not good at making up stories on the fly. BTW, they like lots of detail so make sure you include stuff like day of the week, exact words used, possibly what you were wearing or what the weather was like.

I’m living for the day companies change to a different interview method. This one has been around over a decade and it isn’t getting the companies the best candidates, just the best creative storytellers.