Why they ask it
Many jobs mean working with other people. The interviewer wants to know you'll pull your weight, help others and get along.
The UK Civil Service calls this working together. At entry level, it includes helping with the whole team's work and being open to new roles.
It also means asking for help when you need it, and supporting others. Its team player strength is about helping the team pull together.
How to answer: your part in the team
Use the STAR method, as England's National Careers Service sets it out. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action and Result:
- Situation: where you were and what was going on, in a line or two.
- Task: what you had to do, or the problem to solve.
- Action: what you did, step by step. This is most of the answer, so say "I", not "we".
- Result: what changed, with a number if you can, and what you learned.
Aim for about 90 seconds out loud. Keep it short and to the point, and be ready for follow-up questions about it.
The trap in teamwork answers is "we". The panel needs to hear what you did inside the team. Show:
- your role in the team
- how you helped someone else
- how you shared information
- how you dealt with a problem in the group
An example from the National Careers Service
The National Careers Service's own teamwork example is a school netball team's bake sale. The person held a meeting, shared out the tasks and made sure everyone could join in.
They raised £200 for new equipment. Note the shape: a shared goal, a clear personal part, and a result with a number.
No work team yet? The National Careers Service says team sports can show you're a team player with good communication.
Common mistakes
- Saying "we" all the way through.
- Telling a story where you did everything. That's not teamwork.
- Blaming a teammate.
- No result.
Make it fit the job ad
Match your story's team to the one in the job, such as a shift team or a project group.
If the ad mentions "stakeholders" or "working across teams", pick a story with people outside your own team.
A full answer, as a made-up example
Here is a made-up answer from a restaurant kitchen. Notice how clearly it shows his own part.
Made-up example
Tomás, a kitchen hand applying for his first full-time job
Question
Situation
Task
Action
- I asked the chefs which items they ran short of first. It was always small plates.
- I washed small plates first between 7 and 9 pm.
- I helped the waiters clear tables on quiet Tuesdays, and they helped me stack racks on Fridays.
- I agreed a signal with the head chef: one call when stocks were low.
Result
Tomás says what he did, and how he helped and was helped. The result is the team's, with numbers.
Questions
Can I use a school or sports example?
Yes, especially for a first job. Make your part clear and give the result.
What if the team didn't get along?
That can make a good story. Show how you helped the group work better together.
How is this different from a leadership question?
Teamwork is your part in a shared effort. Leadership is how you guided the group.
Sources
Written by Seal the Offer from these pages, last checked on . Rules change, so check the employer's own page and the job ad before you apply.