What qualities in you make you a team player?

The Importance of a Good Team Player.Teams are created for several reasons. They may need to deliver a one-time project, or work together on an ongoing basis. Either way, if you take advantage of a group's collective energy and creativity, the team can accomplish much more in less time.

Possible Intention:

• To judge whether you are a team player.
• To know if being a team player is important to you.
• To know if you respect your team and can contribute to its business.

Insights:

• This is a tricky question and interviewer may reject and turn down whatever answer you give.
• Imagine that if interviewer is one of your team member, then how you would support him/her.
• Listen calmly for opposite views which you do not agree. Be firm on your opinion and convey it assertively being adamant. Politely agree to disagree.

Example Answer:

• As a team member, I respect the opinion though I may not agree to it.
• I can communicate my views clearly and firmly.
• I support the team by doing some task which may not be directly assigned to me.
• I always take interest and guide my junior team members.
• I seek opinion and help from my senior team members when required.

If possible, give example incidents from your project to support your statement that you are a team player.

Anti Pattern:

• Do not ever give an impression that you will go all out to help others. That might compromise your own deliverables.
• Team player does not mean only helping others; its about seeking timely help.

Interview's Interpretation:

• Here, interviewer is judging your attitude towards team and people who you work with. Question is not about whether you are an independent performer or not. Question is how you would fit in culture of project team where you would never know everything.
• Any derogatory remark about team, manager or any person from the team gives an impression that you are not a team player and find it difficult to accommodate.