Have you ever dealt with a difficult colleague? How did you handle the situation?
Why This Is Asked
LANDBANK is known to ask about handling difficult colleagues because branch staff must work closely in small teams, and interpersonal friction can disrupt customer service.
General Approach
Demonstrate emotional intelligence by describing how you understood the root cause, communicated privately, and collaborated on a solution. Avoid blame and focus on the positive resolution.
Sample STAR Answer▾
Situation
During my senior year, I was part of a group project where one member consistently missed deadlines and submitted incomplete sections, putting our grade at risk.
Task
My goal was to get the project back on track without causing conflict within the team, ensuring everyone contributed fairly.
Action
I requested a private chat with him after class to check in on his well-being, as I suspected there might be external stress. He opened up about personal challenges affecting his focus. I offered to help review his sections and proposed breaking his remaining tasks into smaller daily goals. I also lightly reminded him about how his delays impacted the team's timeline in a non-accusatory tone.
Result
He became more engaged, met the revised mini-deadlines, and the final project earned a high grade. Our working relationship improved, and he later thanked me for the support.
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- •STAR Structure
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