It’s rare to find a job that doesn’t involve interacting with others. Even if you work in a solo role, there will be times when you need to share ideas with coworkers or communicate with clients or customers. That’s why interviewers often ask, “Do you work well with other people?”
It might sound like a simple question, and many are tempted to just say, “Yes,” but there’s more to it. The right response will highlight your teamwork skills and other strengths in a memorable way.
Why Interviewers Ask If You Work Well With Others
Collaborating effectively is crucial for most jobs. You may work on group projects, interact with clients, or communicate regularly with vendors. In certain roles—like human resources or communications—strong people skills are at the core of the job. Recruiters want to gauge your ability to collaborate and learn about past instances where you’ve excelled on a team.
Even though it might seem like a yes-or-no inquiry, they’re actually asking how you work with others and picturing how you’d fit on their team. Sharing real examples demonstrates your team spirit in action.
Potential situations to mention include:
- Completing a group project
- Facilitating better collaboration among coworkers
- Mediating disagreements between teammates
- Providing or receiving constructive feedback
- Handling difficult customers
- Communicating complex information
By describing relevant examples, you help the interviewer envision you working effectively in their environment.
How to Answer “Do You Work Well With Others?”
Highlight your teamwork skills with specific examples
When describing your approach to teamwork, think about the soft skills you use, such as:
- Teamwork: Cooperating to meet shared goals
- Communication: Sharing ideas and listening actively
- Leadership: Guiding others toward success
- Organization: Keeping tasks on track
- Problem-solving: Collaborating with team members to find solutions
- Empathy: Respecting the feelings and perspectives of others
If you use technical tools or platforms to collaborate, mention those as well (e.g., project management tools like Trello or Asana or communication platforms like Slack or Microsoft Teams).
Match your skills to the job requirements
Review the job description and identify which teamwork-related skills are most relevant. For instance, a customer-facing position might call for strong communication and empathy. A supervisory role may demand leadership and organization. Highlighting the most applicable skills shows you’re an ideal fit for what the role entails.
Share a real story that demonstrates your collaboration
Provide an example from your past that brings these skills to life. It could be from work, volunteering, or a school project, as long as it displays your team-centered approach. Some possibilities include:
- Finishing a group project: “While working with a cross-functional team on a product launch, I helped coordinate everyone’s responsibilities and establish check-in meetings. We launched on time and received positive feedback from leadership.”
- Improving team communication: “When I noticed poor communication at my previous job, I suggested quick daily huddles. That simple change kept everyone informed and improved our on-time delivery rates.”
- Resolving conflicts: “During a volunteer event, two members clashed over how to divide tasks. I listened to both and guided them to a compromise, which helped us finish on schedule.”
- Providing helpful feedback: “On a large project, I offered input on a teammate’s presentation, which made it clearer. Later, I received valuable feedback on my data analysis. We finished with high marks from our manager.”
- Managing difficult customers: “In a retail position, I stayed calm when a customer was upset, listened to their concerns, and worked with my coworker to issue a prompt solution. They ended up leaving a great review.”
- Explaining complex info: “While mentoring new hires, I broke down company processes into easy-to-understand steps, making it easier for them to get up to speed.”
Sharing these experiences helps paint a picture of how you’ll fit into their team.
How Not to Answer
Avoid just saying, “I enjoy working with people,” without examples
It’s good to say you’re collaborative, but backing it up with a story or specific details resonates more with hiring managers. Employers want evidence of your teamwork, not just verbal assurances.
Example of a weak vs. strong response:
- Weak: “Yes, I love working with people.”
- Strong: “Yes, I’m a strong collaborator. In my previous role, I set up weekly check-ins to discuss milestones with our department. That helped everyone stay on track and improved our project completion time.”
Don’t forget to tie your skills back to the company
Talking only about your own style—“I like working in teams because it’s fun”—misses an opportunity to show what you bring to their specific environment. Make sure to connect your teamwork to the value you can add for them.
Sample Answers to “Do You Work Well With Other People?”
Example #1
“Yes, I work well with others. In a recent group project, we had a strict deadline to design a marketing campaign. I offered to organize our schedules so we all knew who was responsible for each piece. We checked in regularly, which helped us spot issues early and keep moving forward. We delivered on time, and the campaign exceeded expectations.”
Why this works:
- Demonstrates organization and collaboration
- Highlights effective communication and planning
- Shows a clear end result
Example #2
“Absolutely! At my internship, the team had conflicting ideas on how to pitch a new product, and I encouraged everyone to share their ideas during a brainstorming session. Once we saw the pros and cons, we chose the approach that made the most sense. Our final pitch was a hit, and I believe it’s because we combined everyone’s strengths.”
Why this works:
- Addresses a challenge (disagreement)
- Outlines a practical solution (brainstorming session)
- Emphasizes synergy and a successful outcome
Example #3
“I do. In my last retail role, we were preparing for a storewide sale and had a lot to set up in a short timeframe. One coworker was falling behind on merchandise displays, so I jumped in to help. Later, she assisted me with finalizing the register area. By teaming up and sharing duties, we finished an hour early and had time to triple-check everything.”
Why this works:
- Shows a willingness to pitch in and support others
- Highlights give-and-take collaboration
- Ends with a positive result (finishing ahead of schedule)
Focusing on your specific abilities rather than simply claiming to be a “people person” proves you can collaborate effectively. Sharing real experiences with outcomes shows interviewers how you’ll contribute to their team culture and business goals.