Tell me about a time you disagreed with a teammate on a project's direction under a tight deadline. How did you resolve it?

What the interviewer is looking for

• This question tests teamwork & collaboration. Shows constructive disagreement, shared credit and dependable delivery in fast-paced teams.
• What to bring out: Listened to understand, used evidence, agreed how to decide, escalated if needed and committed to the outcome.
• Expect a follow-up like: How did it affect your working relationship afterwards?

Another way it may be asked: You and a colleague see the project differently and time is short. Tell me how you once worked that out.

A structure to follow: STAR, with the weight on Action and Result

1. Step 1

   Situation

   One or two sentences: where, when and what was at stake. Pick a real example you were close to.

2. Step 2

   Task

   What you personally were responsible for. Say "I", not only "we", so the teamwork & collaboration you showed is visible.

3. Step 3

   Action

   The two or three things you did and why you chose them over the alternatives. This should be about half your answer.

4. Step 4

   Result

   What changed, in your own measure of it, and what you would do differently. Only use numbers you can stand behind.

This is guidance on shape, not a script. Use your own real experience and facts; never invent details to fill a gap. See the STAR guide and answer frameworks.

Common slips

• Describing what the team did without saying what you did.
• Choosing an example with no clear outcome, or one you cannot answer detailed questions about.
• Ending on the action and skipping the result and what you learned.

How to practise it

Write two bullet points for each STAR letter, then say the answer aloud in about two minutes.

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