INTERVIEW TIPS - Answering 'Are You A Team Player?' In A Job Interview
Posted 19th March 2025 • Written by Caroline Ceniza-Levine on forbes.com • • • • • •
How To Answer 'Are You A Team Player?'
There is no one-size-fits-all interview answer because there are variations to each interview question. At the very least, practice various ways to highlight your team skills, using the above questions from the opening paragraph as a guide. Have a recent project that is team-based ready to talk about. Quote comments from past performance reviews or compliments you have received that showcase your team-related abilities. Be ready to talk about your approach to relating with others – e.g., how you communicate with people, how you build and maintain relationships, and how you work through differences (not all team members will be agreeable!). Include team-produced output in your work portfolio.
Key Points, Words And Themes To Include
Don’t just tell your interviewer that you’re a team player – show them with detailed stories about when you have worked as a team. Outline what you did specifically but also what everyone else did, so it’s clear that this was a team effort, and you are thoughtful enough to give credit where it’s due. Include how many people were on your teams to specify if your experience is with big or small teams or both. If you have worked with people at different levels, from different company functions and with varying backgrounds, that shows a different flexibility – the ability to get along in a diverse environment – and that is valuable.
Use The Same Approach With Other Interview Questions
To ace your next interview, whether it’s a question about being a team player or other aspect of your background, show rather than tell with detailed examples. Use recent examples, so be ready with new stories as your career progresses from individual contributor to manager to executive. It’s not about answering any one question or using a magic bullet word, but rather put yourself in the shoes of the interviewer, think about why they’re asking what they’re asking (is it part of the role? Is it a proxy for how I might handle a specific task or situation?) and address that issue. The ultimate question behind all questions is “Why should I hire you”. Being a strong team player is one aspect of that, but be prepared to showcase all your strengths and expertise as well.
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