Interviewer: How do you handle conflict?
Sharon: I guess it depends on the situation, but in general I like to stay calm and avoid yelling or fighting. I think if two people have a disagreement, then first they should spend some time apart. Second, they should sit down and discuss the situation. After that, if they cannot come to a compromise, then they should ask their boss or another colleague to mediate.
Interviewer: That is a very specific answer.
Sharon: Actually, I have a lot of experience dealing with this.
Interviewer: That’s right. I see here on your resume that you spent two years working in the human resources department.
Sharon: That’s correct. One of my roles, when I was working in human resources, was to train the employees about how to handle conflict.
Interviewer: That’s great.
Sharon: I learned a lot about people during that time, and what I learned in that job still helps me.
Patterns and Examples
I usually ____________________. This ____________________.
- I usually try to talk with the other person and listen to them. This helps us understand each other and resolve the conflict.
- I usually avoid conflicts if it is not a major problem. This helps me avoid making small conflicts into bigger and more troublesome problems.
I handle conflict by ____________________.
- I handle conflict by talking with the other person and trying to understand their point of view.
- I handle conflict by being open and honest about my feelings.
I think the best way to handle conflict is to ____________________.
- I think the best way to handle conflict is to remain calm and to think rationally.
- I think the best way to handle conflict is to talk about the problem.
