How to Answer: Have You Worked with Someone You Didn’t Like?

Another common question asked during a flight attendant interview is, “Have you worked with someone you didn’t like? If so, how did you handle it?” This question can be a tricky one, with seemingly no clear right answer. When you answer this question, you should not blurt out personal things that you don’t like about a previous colleague, as this could be viewed negatively by the interviewer. Instead, you can explain how you managed to work with people who may have had a different set of values or goals than yours without compromising your own standards.

Also Read: How to Answer: What Does Excellent Customer Service Mean to You?

Share with the interviewer how you were able to remain professional and maintain a courteous attitude while navigating differences in opinion.

Let me stress that it is crucial to remain professional and diplomatic during the interview process, avoiding any negativity or personal attacks. In this article, we will guide you through the best way to answer this question.

Why Do Airline Companies Ask This Question?

The interviewer is looking for insight into how you work with others, especially those who may have different personalities or working styles. As a flight attendant, you will work closely with your team, and it is essential to have strong communication and collaboration skills.

The personality of a previous colleague is irrelevant because, at work, you have a professional obligation to do your job and be respectful to colleagues. The interviewer wants to know if you can remain professional even when faced with difficult situations.

Your answer to this question will reveal your attitude towards working with others, your problem-solving abilities, and your stress management skills.

In another way, if you say something negative about a personal trait or characteristic of a previous person, it will speak volumes about your own character and integrity. So please don’t dig yourself a grave and try to keep the tone of your answer as professional and respectful as possible.

Also Read: How to Answer: Tell Me About a Time You Dealt with a Difficult Customer

A Quick Way to Answer This Question

One quick way to answer this question would be to have a general statement that you are aware that you’ve worked with different personalities in the past and yet you’re able to work with them to perform a particular task/project as a team.

You could say something along the lines of:

• “Yes, I’ve worked with people in the past who had different values or goals than me, and while we may not typically hang out outside the office, we were able to work together professionally towards a common goal.”
• “I don’t think so. I believe that if there are any disagreements, we should approach the person involved in a polite and considerate manner to resolve the issue quickly if there are any issues.”
• “Not really. It doesn’t really matter if I may like a particular person or not, so long as they are competent in the job and are professional and courteous. I believe in always offering respect to others, regardless of our differences.”

These are just a few examples of how you can answer this question. Remember that it is important to remain professional and diplomatic during the interview process, avoiding any negativity or personal attacks.

How to Answer “Have You Worked With Someone You Didn’t Like?” in Specific Scenarios (Conflict Resolution Examples)

Now if you want to be a bit more specific in answering this question, you can share a story or anecdote that highlights how you were able to overcome a difficult situation or conflict with someone else. Here are some examples of how you can share such stories:

• “One time I had to work with a colleague who was constantly disagreeing with me and would often challenge my decisions. It was quite frustrating as we had different approaches to get to the same end result. I knew that if we didn’t find a way to compromise, nothing would be accomplished. So, I decided to take some time and explain my thought process behind every decision and why it was important for us to move forward in certain ways. He eventually understood my approach and we were able to work together as a team in the end.”
• “I had to work with someone who was always very critical and would never really take responsibility for their mistakes. I knew that this kind of attitude could have a negative effect on the entire team, so I took it upon myself to speak with them privately and explain why it was important that we all take ownership for our actions. After a few conversations, this person started to change their behavior and instead of criticizing others, they began to take responsibility for their mistakes. This allowed us to all work together more effectively as a team.”
• “Yes, I have worked with colleagues with different personalities and working styles. With proper communication and collaboration skills, I was able to adapt and work successfully with them.”
• “I have been in situations where there have been differences of opinion between colleagues. We solved the disagreements by having an open and honest conversation, finding common ground and a suitable solution that worked for both parties.”
• “I have worked with someone who had different views on how things should be done. Instead of letting personal opinions come in the way, we had an open mind and worked together to find workable solutions that met both our standards.”

When answering this question, you should demonstrate that you are capable of working with people who have different opinions or goals than yours by showing your problem-solving abilities and understanding of others.

Bad Examples: How NOT to Answer This Question!

A word of warning as we keep on sharing in this post, do not focus on the negative attributes of other people, or badmouth your previous colleagues. Even if there were issues you had to deal with in the past, avoid making personal attacks on other people’s character. This cabin crew interview is NOT a platform for you to air out your grievances. This is also NOT a place to gossip about a previous colleague.

Here are some bad example examples which you should never say:

• “Yes, I had to work with someone who was really difficult to be around and I just couldn’t handle it.”
• “I worked with someone who always did things differently than I wanted them done and it drove me nuts!”
• “I had a colleague that was always late for shifts and often caused delays, so I just tried to ignore him the best I could.”
• “There was one person on my team that constantly argued with me about everything – it was exhausting having to deal with them every day.”
• “I worked with someone who was always trying to get ahead of me in line for assignments. It was really frustrating.”
• “Yes, I’ve worked with a colleague where I didn’t like the way they talked and because they were creeping on my nerves. I had to tell them off to our superior and I was glad that my colleague was reprimanded for his behavior.”

The above examples are terrible answers because they are disrespectful and unprofessional. Not only do these kinds of answers reflect poorly on you, but it also shows that you don’t know how to handle difficult situations in a constructive way.

Also Read: How to Answer: Why Would You Be a Good Flight Attendant?

Step-by-Step Guide to Coming up with a Good Response

When answering this question, follow these steps to ensure a diplomatic and professional response:

1. Acknowledge that you have worked with difficult colleagues in the past.
2. Describe the situation in a neutral and factual manner, avoiding negative or personal comments.
3. Explain how you handled the situation objectively.
4. End with a positive outcome or lesson learned from the situation.

Tips for Answering the Question

Here are some tips to help you answer this question diplomatically:

• Be honest, and professional, and avoid any negativity or personal attacks on your co-worker.
• Use a neutral and objective tone to describe the situation.
• Focus on highlighting the strategies you used to address the issue and the resulting positive outcomes.
• Whenever possible, give examples of how you collaborated and worked positively with others to solve difficult situations.
• Always maintain a professional and diplomatic demeanor when answering this question.
• Do NOT make negative comments about anyone you worked with.
• Do NOT be defensive or aggressive in your answer.
• Do NOT blame others for the situation.
• Do NEVER speak badly about your former colleagues or employers.

Questions to Ask Yourself to Help You Answer this question

Here are some questions you should ask yourself when preparing to answer this question:

1. What was the nature of the problem, and how did it arise?
2. How did you approach your colleague to discuss the issue?
3. What strategies did you employ to improve the situation, and did they work?
4. What did you learn from the experience, and how did it help you grow professionally?
5. What impact did the situation have on the team’s performance?
6. What is the reason why you don’t like the other person?

Video: Tell me about a time you worked with a person you didn’t like

Check out this video by AirJobBoss on YouTube as he discusses this interview preparation question:

Video: Coworkers are NOT Your Friends, Keep it Professional

Here’s another helpful video by Jennifer Brick on YouTube about the workplace environment:

Many individuals seek advice on how to build relationships with colleagues. However, it’s important to recognize that coworkers are not equivalent to friends. It’s crucial to maintain professionalism and amicably interact with your coworkers, avoiding getting entangled in dramatic workplace friendships.

Also Read: How to Answer: Why Do You Want to Work for our Airline?

Summary

This question may be intimidating during your flight attendant interview. However, if you prepare in advance, you can provide a diplomatic, professional, and positive response to the interviewer.

Remember, the interviewer is looking to gauge your teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills, so focus on highlighting these areas in your response.

Lastly, always maintain professionalism and diplomacy when answering this question, and remember not to bring up the personal beliefs and characteristics of the co-worker.