Desperately need help with the conflict interview question!

[GraceMedPT]

Hello all,

I'm starting to get into the serious panic phase of waiting for my interview. What's worse, I have discovered through practicing common tough questions, that I really don't have a good answer to the "how have you dealt with a conflict with a coworker or boss?" Has anyone else struggled with finding an example where they really shined?
I know conflict management is definitely one of my weakest points and I'm doing my best to work on it and reflect on what I can do better or differently, but I haven't had a lot of opportunities to practice lately because it just hasn't come up in my jobs. Has anyone succeeded in an interview with sharing a less than ideal example, yet focusing on the need for growth and/or what you would do differently at this point?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[JMarcusDPT]

Hello all,

I'm starting to get into the serious panic phase of waiting for my interview. What's worse, I have discovered through practicing common tough questions, that I really don't have a good answer to the "how have you dealt with a conflict with a coworker or boss?" Has anyone else struggled with finding an example where they really shined?
I know conflict management is definitely one of my weakest points and I'm doing my best to work on it and reflect on what I can do better or differently, but I haven't had a lot of opportunities to practice lately because it just hasn't come up in my jobs. Has anyone succeeded in an interview with sharing a less than ideal example, yet focusing on the need for growth and/or what you would do differently at this point?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

Try not to panic. You may not even get asked this question. If you are, think about another conflict you've had -- with a friend, classmate, family member, etc., and talk about how you resolved that.

 

[GraceMedPT]

Thanks for your advice Jasmine! So if they asked about a co-worker conflict specifically, would you say something along the lines of, "there isn't a recent coworker conflict I can think of, but I could tell you about how I have dealt with conflict with my classmate."?

 

[bc0167]

Order this book - anxiety drops to a 🙂
A New Exercise: How to Succeed at the Interview for a DPT Program Paperback – January 16, 2018

 

[Alaric Keller]

A "conflict" doesn't need to be something dramatic, or with high stakes. A conflict can be anything, no matter how small. So think of a time, academic or professional, in which there was someone who made you uncomfortable or said something problematic to you.

Also, be honest with your interviewers. Tell them "To be honest I have been lucky enough to not truly experience any conflicts in my academic or professional life, however I [then go on to list something small like I mentioned above]". Interviewers don't expect everyone to have a huge conflict in their past. In fact, that'd be kind of a red flag!

 

[GraceMedPT]

A "conflict" doesn't need to be something dramatic, or with high stakes. A conflict can be anything, no matter how small. So think of a time, academic or professional, in which there was someone who made you uncomfortable or said something problematic to you.

Also, be honest with your interviewers. Tell them "To be honest I have been lucky enough to not truly experience any conflicts in my academic or professional life, however I [then go on to list something small like I mentioned above]". Interviewers don't expect everyone to have a huge conflict in their past. In fact, that'd be kind of a red flag!

Thanks for your thoughts Alaric! I've actually been using the book you recommended to practice already, which is how I came to realize the "conflict with coworkers" question would be difficult to answer. Did you face any tough questions where you had to express more honesty and vulnerability instead of sharing a perfect story? If so, how did that go for you in your interviews?

 

[Alaric Keller]

Thanks for your thoughts Alaric! I've actually been using the book you recommended to practice already, which is how I came to realize the "conflict with coworkers" question would be difficult to answer. Did you face any tough questions where you had to express more honesty and vulnerability instead of sharing a perfect story? If so, how did that go for you in your interviews?

I don't want to take credit for the book, that was bc017 (although we have the same avatar)!

And while I can't think of any specific examples of what you have asked, I think as a general principle you should go into an interview prepared to be completely honest with them. When they ask you a question, take some time to think about it, and after 30-60 seconds if you can't think of something, tell them straight up "to be honest _______________". They'll appreciate your honesty.

Another note, interviewers can easily tell when someone is bull****ting a story. I'd much rather be honest and almost deflect a question than to make up some fake story you think they want to hear.

 

[JMarcusDPT]

Thanks for your advice Jasmine! So if they asked about a co-worker conflict specifically, would you say something along the lines of, "there isn't a recent coworker conflict I can think of, but I could tell you about how I have dealt with conflict with my classmate."?

Yes, that's exactly how I'd answer it. I know from helping out with interviews at my school there's no right or wrong answer, they just want to get to know you better, hear how you think, and make sure you're comfortable interacting with people.

 

[GraceMedPT]

Haha, I realized I made that mistake because of the avatars 😛 Thanks bc017 for the book advice!

Thanks Jasmine, it's good to hear what your experience has been helping with those interviews.

Thank you everyone, you all are helping me keep from losing my mind here!

 

[ya1]

Hello all,

I'm starting to get into the serious panic phase of waiting for my interview. What's worse, I have discovered through practicing common tough questions, that I really don't have a good answer to the "how have you dealt with a conflict with a coworker or boss?" Has anyone else struggled with finding an example where they really shined?
I know conflict management is definitely one of my weakest points and I'm doing my best to work on it and reflect on what I can do better or differently, but I haven't had a lot of opportunities to practice lately because it just hasn't come up in my jobs. Has anyone succeeded in an interview with sharing a less than ideal example, yet focusing on the need for growth and/or what you would do differently at this point?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

For the conflict questions you basically want to give answers that show you being respectful of other's opinion (even if you disagree with it), being able to discuss/address the problem (vs yelling at each other) or initiate discussion, discuss it with the person in conflict first and if it does not work you ask a supervisor for help.
You do not have to use real life example if you do not have them. Make things up IF you cannot come up with a true answer. (I was once asked at the interview what I would do with a magic stick if I had one! I am not going to tell them what I would REALLY do with it lol.) Give answers with confidence so that they have an impression you know what you are talking about (even if you have no idea what you are talking about). Just do not talk excessively.
Find some samples online for the type of interview questions you struggle with and try to answer them loudly. Do like 20-30 of them to get a sense how to work around the answers to get used to them by the interview. You can ask others how they would answer this or that question if you have a zero idea after thinking about it.
If they ask about a co-worker and you have none at this moment, they would probably want you to talk about your co-workers in a place where you observed... So just discuss the conflict you had with whoever and tell them it's a co-worker.
I also would not tell them I have not had any conflicts because as someone said above, a conflict does not have to be something dramatic. It can be something like your co-worker does not show up at work on time and you talk to him about it and explain why it causes inconvenience, bad impression for patients/clients, etc. Or 2 co-workers are speaking language other than English when having English-speaking patients around. Or not wiping equipment between the patients. Or eating lunch in the gym when patients are present. Or leaving food crumbs on the desk and not cleaning after themselves...