Describe a situation where you had a conflict with a colleague or teammate. How did you resolve it?
RoleConsulting Associate
DifficultyMedium
TopicBehavioral
Asked at
Why This Is Asked
EY consultants frequently work in diverse teams under tight deadlines. This question assesses your conflict-resolution skills, emotional intelligence, and ability to maintain professional relationships while upholding quality. It also reveals your problem-solving approach and willingness to collaborate.
General Approach
Use the STAR format: briefly describe the context, your specific role, what you did in detail, and the tangible outcome. Emphasize actions that show empathy, active listening, and a solution-oriented mindset. Conclude with what you learned and how you apply it in team settings.
General Answer
Start by choosing a real, specific conflict that ended constructively, and frame it as a shared problem rather than a personality clash. Say plainly what the disagreement was about, whether it was a difference in methodology, a missed deadline, or a disagreement over the quality of a deliverable, and make clear that your goal was to protect the work, not to win an argument. Describe the moment you realized the other person had a valid point, and show that you listened before pushing back, because in a consulting environment where client work is at stake, being right matters less than being effective together. Explain the concrete steps you took, such as scheduling a private conversation to avoid putting your teammate on the spot, asking open-ended questions to understand their constraints, and proposing a compromise that used the strongest parts of both approaches. If the conflict happened under pressure, acknowledge the deadline and say how you kept the relationship functional despite the stress, perhaps by separating the issue from the person in your language. Close with the outcome, not just the solution, but the fact that the team delivered on time and that your working relationship improved, and tie it back to how you now approach disagreements, like checking assumptions early or setting clearer expectations. In a Philippine context, you can note that you kept the tone professional and direct, without being confrontational, which is often appreciated in local teams that value harmony but also respect candor when it is paired with respect.
PH Interview Gotcha
Avoid starting your answer with 'Actually po, sir/ma'am...' or overusing 'po' and 'opo' in an English interview. Filipino candidates sometimes soften disagreements too much, like 'Medyo hindi po ako sang-ayon...' which can sound hesitant. Instead, use direct but respectful phrases like 'I respectfully disagree because...' and maintain a confident tone. Also, don't over-apologize with 'Sorry po' repeatedly; a simple 'I understand your point, but...' suffices.
Sample STAR Answer▾
S
Situation
During my internship at a local manufacturing company, I was part of a team of four interns tasked with analyzing the production line's efficiency. My teammate, Mark, insisted on using only historical data, while I advocated for adding real-time observation data. The disagreement escalated to the point where we couldn't agree on the methodology, causing delays.
T
Task
My task was to find a compromise that would incorporate both data sources without further delaying the project and to maintain a collaborative atmosphere.
A
Action
I scheduled a one-on-one coffee meeting with Mark to understand his perspective better. I listened actively and acknowledged his concerns about data reliability, then explained how real-time observations could supplement historical trends. I proposed a pilot: we would use both methods for one production line and compare the outcomes. I also involved our supervisor to validate the approach, ensuring it aligned with the project's objectives.
R
Result
Mark agreed to the pilot. The combined data revealed a 12% inefficiency that historical data alone hadn't captured. Our final recommendation was well-received by management, and we earned a commendation from our supervisor. Mark and I developed a stronger working relationship and continued to collaborate effectively on other tasks.
Key Takeaway
I learned that conflicts often stem from communication gaps and that taking the time to understand the other person's viewpoint can lead to innovative solutions. Proposing a small-scale test was a low-risk way to gain consensus.
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