#4 in the series ‘interview questions’

This week in the series ‘interview questions’: “Are you a team player or an individualist?”. Our colleague Michael Bandel shares his knowledge to help you give the right answer during an introductory interview.

This is a nice and tricky question (in my opinion). Most people are actually both. On one hand, working together generally helps you make progress, and in large projects, you quickly find yourself working in a team. On the other hand, you should also be an individualist. You often have your own goal and must demonstrate that you can ‘score’, win the assignment.

Make sure you have a concrete answer ready.

What they want to know is: will you fit into the team and add value or not? Nobody wants a professional on their team who works entirely individually and brings down the team’s morale.

It is important to indicate that you can work both in a team and as an individual. That you are open to collaboration, developing yourself within the team, and will make a positive contribution to the team. Mention some specific examples that demonstrate your ability to work both in a team and as an individual.

Here’s an example response:

“I am both. In a team, I am helpful to colleagues and ready to assist them with advice and action. When it comes to large projects, I enjoy working together on the assignment. When we have multiple perspectives, we can determine even better solutions, and some colleagues have a different expertise different than me. It is my task to present the appropriate solution to the client and win the assignment.”

Every week, our colleague Michael addresses questions that you can expect during an interview. Keep an eye on our website or follow us on LinkedIn.