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How to Answer Interview Questions About Teamwork

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Teamwork is a priority for many employers, so when you’re preparing for your next interview, be ready to talk about your ability to work with others so you can respond properly to questions about teamwork.

There’s a variety of questions about teamwork that an employer might ask. For example, you might be asked questions such as, «Describe being a part of a team,» «Tell me about a challenging workplace situation that you had to deal with,» or «What role have you played in team situations?» All of these questions help the interviewer gauge your experience and comfort with teamwork.

These questions provide you with the opportunity to discuss some of the characteristics that enable you to work well with your co-workers, supervisors, and clients.

Read below for information on how to answer interview questions about teamwork, as well as sample answers to common questions.

What the Interviewer Really Wants to Know

Interviewers pose these sort of questions when good teamwork is an essential element of their work environment and company culture. In many industries, the ability of team members to collaborate effectively is critical to productivity and operations success. If you are someone who prefers to work independently and lacks interpersonal “people” skills, you may not be the best candidate for the job.

Here are some teamwork skills that you’ll want to keep in mind as you prepare to answer questions about teamwork:

How to Answer Questions About Teamwork

Before an interview, think of at least two team situations when you displayed some of the teamwork skills listed above. At least one of these examples should include a moment when you helped solve a problem or challenge that struck the group.

For example, perhaps two other team members had a conflict, and you helped resolve it. Or perhaps your boss pushed up a deadline at the last minute, and you helped your team speed up the rate of work to complete the project successfully and on time.

Don’t limit yourself to paid employment situations if you have a limited work history. Consider group projects for classes, clubs, and volunteer organizations.

Telling a story from your past is the most effective way to communicate your strengths as a team member. When using an example in your answer, use the STAR interview response technique:

In your answer, while you want to focus on how you helped the group achieve a result, try not to focus too much on your individual successes. Again, you want to show that you’re a team player. Avoid answers where you imply that the group only succeeded because of your efforts. Instead, focus on how you helped the group achieve something together.

Examples of the Best Answers

Below are sample answers to various interview questions about teamwork. Use these samples as a template for your own answers. Be sure to replace the examples in these sample answers with examples from your own experiences.

Question: “Do you prefer to work independently or on a team?”

Example Answer

I am equally comfortable in either situation, actually. In my last job, I had the opportunity to do both independent and team projects, and I really enjoyed the variety. My favorite work scenario is when we begin a project as a team, brainstorming our approaches and establishing our deadlines and individual responsibilities before going off to work independently on our assigned tasks. Even when working independently, however, I think it’s invaluable to be able to reach out to a team for advice and support. I also make sure that I’m available to help other project team members when they need assistance.

Why It Works: This answer is effective because it shows that, although the candidate likes to work independently, she also understands the value of teamwork. Her comfort in working in both situations, as shown by the example she presents, adds value to her candidacy.

Question: “Tell me about a time you worked well as part of a team”

Example Answer

When I was a junior, I worked on a case project for a marketing class where six of us were asked to analyze the marketing practices of Amazon.com and make recommendations for alternative approaches. Early on, we floundered in an effort to find a focus. I suggested that we look at Amazon’s advertising strategy within social media.

I led a discussion about the pros and cons of that topic and encouraged a couple of the more reticent members to chime in. Two of the group members didn’t initially embrace my original proposal.

However, I was able to draw consensus after incorporating their suggestion that we focus on targeted advertising within Facebook based on users’ expressed interests. We ended up working hard as a group, receiving very positive feedback from our professor, and getting an A grade on the project.

Why It Works: This is a great example of how to use the S.T.A.R. interview response technique. The past situation the candidate describes shows how he has demonstrated key teamwork skills, including framing key issues, communications, conflict resolution, and consensus building.

Question: “What role have you played in team situations?”

Example Answer

I have years of experience in team projects at my previous marketing job, and that has helped me develop into a strong listener who can resolve conflict and ensure the timely completion of projects.

About a year ago, I was working on a team project with a tight deadline. One team member felt that his voice was not being heard, and as a result, he wasn’t working quickly enough on his element of the project. I sat down with him and listened to his concerns, and together we came up with a way for him to feel he had more input in the project.

By making him feel listened to, I helped our team complete the project successfully and on time.

Why It Works: This response focuses on the importance of active listening within a collaborative team environment. It also shows how the candidate welcomes the opinions of others, and is willing to work constructively to resolve differences of opinion.

Tips for Giving the Best Response

What Not to Say

Nothing. When a hiring manager asks about your teamwork experience, it’s because this skill will be required of you should you be offered the job. Don’t try to duck the question. Even if you prefer to work independently, couch your response so that it’s clear that you would be comfortable working on teams (if you wouldn’t be, then you might want to ask yourself if the job is really the right fit for you).

Don’t criticize former team members. Although it’s acceptable to describe a team situation where you needed to mediate between team members, do so carefully. Describe how you were able to resolve differences of opinion without negatively labeling the people involved.

Don’t insist on being a leader. While an employer is going to be interested in your leadership potential, part of good teamwork is the ability to also be a follower. Focus primarily on how you have been a solidly contributing team member in the past, taking personal initiative when this was called for. Be careful not to give the impression that you might be someone who would be difficult to manage.

Possible Follow-Up Questions

Key Takeaways

KNOW YOUR TEAMWORK SKILLSET: Demonstrate your command of important teamwork skills like active listening, conflict resolution, consensus building, and delegation.

STRUCTURE A S.T.A.R. RESPONSE: Describe, in detail, the situation, task, action, and result of an occasion where you needed to work well on a team.

USE VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE IF NECESSARY: If you lack real work experience, talk about how you have served on teams for school projects or as a volunteer with community organizations.

Common Teamwork Interview Questions and Answers

How to Prepare for Job Interview Questions About Teamwork

Theresa Chiechi / The Balance

A common topic in job interviews is teamwork. Often, an interviewer will ask you a question such as, “How do you feel about working on a team?” or “Tell me about a time you solved a problem as a team” or “How would you motivate team members if you were working on a project together?”

There are many ways you can respond. The most important things to remember when answering questions about teamwork are to remain positive and to provide specific examples.

Why Teamwork Interview Questions Are Important

With these questions, interviewers can get a sense of whether or not you like working on a team, how well you work in groups, and what role you tend to take on a team project (for example, a leader, a mediator, a follower). These questions also show whether you are easy to get along with, which is important in almost any work environment.

3 Ways to Answer Questions About Teamwork

12 Teamwork Interview Questions and Best Answers

During your interview, expect to be asked about your affinity for teamwork and for examples of when you have worked on teams in the past. These questions may take the form of behavioral interview questions (regarding how you’ve acted in the past) or situational interview questions (about how you think you would react in any given situation).

Here are some of the most commonly-asked job interview questions about teamwork, along with some sample answers.

1. Give some examples of your teamwork skills.

What They Want to Know: The employer wants to learn about your teamwork skills, and whather you enjoyed participating on a team. Share examples, shows how you’ve developed skills that will help you succeed on the job.

Example Answer

I’ve participated on sports teams since I played T-ball as a kid: I played softball and baseball in high school and on an extracurricular team in college, and I play on a local softball team here. This has really helped me in my professional life, since I know how to evaluate the individual strengths of my associates, communicate well with them, and coordinate my efforts to support theirs.

2. How do you feel about working on a team?

What They Want to Know: Most jobs—at least those in traditional work settings—require that you be able to communicate and work well with others. Try to provide a recent example or two of how you’ve contributed to a team at your job.

Example Answer

I prefer to work as a team member, because I believe that the best ideas are developed in partnership with others. I’m equally comfortable being a team member and a team lead—a few months ago I was selected to lead our team in a deadline-critical implementation project. Because of our great teamwork, we were able to produce our deliverables to the client well before deadline.

3. How do you feel about working in a team environment?

What They Want to Know: This question is a clear indicator that, should you be hired, you will be expected to be able to work well in a collaborative team environment. Keep your answer positive, and mention a few of the strong teamwork skills you could offer your employer.

Example Answer

I’m a “people person”—I enjoy working with others, and I know how to communicate well, actively listen to my associates’ opinions, and mediate any conflicts that arise. As an extrovert, I’m really energized by team dynamics and excited as I witness the progress we make towards our goals.

4. Do you prefer teamwork or working independently?

What They Want to Know: Different people have different comfort levels with teamwork; the hiring manager is interested in your personality, your preferred method of doing your work, and your ability to work without direct supervision.

Example Answer

I can honestly say that I’m comfortable both in working independently as well as in contributing to teams, and I was lucky enough in my previous job to be able to do some of both. Especially at the beginning of projects, I appreciate being able to strategize approaches with team members. Once we have our plan of action established, though, I enjoy working independently on my assigned tasks.

Behavioral Interview Questions

Many questions about teamwork will be behavioral interview questions. These questions require you to provide an example from your past work experiences. For example, an interviewer might ask, “Tell me about a time you had to complete a group project under a tight deadline.”

These kinds of teamwork questions require you to think of examples from past experiences working in a group.

To answer these questions, describe the specific example you are thinking of (it helps to think of examples in advance). Then explain the situation, and what you did to either solve the problem or achieve success. Finally, describe the result.

5. Tell me about a time you worked well as part of a team.

What They Want to Know: Your interviewer will be interested not only in your response to this question, but also in your tone of voice and positivity. Be prepared with an upbeat response that demonstrates your appreciation of the value of teamwork.

Example Answer

Good teamwork is an essential part of working back-of-house in a restaurant. Although I am primarily a sous chef, I realize that at any point I may be called upon to cover other responsibilities—be it stepping up when the head chef is absent, expediting orders, or even washing dishes when we’re understaffed. I also know how important it is to keep up team morale. A year ago we had several new hires who weren’t getting along. I initiated a monthly team-based cooking competition, with prizes, that motivated them to work together and provided them with a fun creative outlet.

6. What role have you played in team situations?

What They Want to Know: Some people are natural leaders, while others are excellent followers. By asking this question, an employer is trying to gauge both how you would fit into the department’s current team dynamics and to assess whether you are someone they should flag for eventual leadership responsibilities.

Example Answer

Sample Answer: While I’m happy being a strong team player, I also love being able sometimes to take the lead and coordinate everyone’s efforts. I have great organizational, scheduling, and follow-up skills, which is why my supervisor and other team members often call upon me to take the lead in important projects, such as our major new mobile technology system acquisition last year.

7. Have you ever had difficulty working with a manager or other team members?

What They Want to Know: This, like most teamwork questions, addresses your collegiality and your ability to work on a team and accept supervision. Keep your answer upbeat, and avoid complaining about previous managers or team members (you don’t want your interviewer to peg you as a negative whiner).

Example Answer

Not really. Sometimes I’ve had a new manager or team member who struggled slightly to adjust to our team dynamics and organizational culture, but I’ve found that talking to them privately and taking advantage of informal opportunities to connect them with our different team members has always eased those transitions.

8. Tell me about a challenging workplace situation that you had to deal with.

What They Want to Know: Employers want to know how you handle stress in the workplace, particularly when it involves other team members.

Example Answer

A few months ago we had a situation where one of our older team members actively criticized a new hire, publicly pointing out her mistakes and just generally trying to “throw her under the bus.” I spoke to her privately, reminding her of how challenging we had all found our first few months to be. I also made it clear to the team that I was mentoring the new hire, which helped both to instill confidence in her work and to defuse any bad-mouthing.

Situational Interview Questions

Even if the question is not a behavioral interview question, it is often helpful to provide a specific example. For instance, situational interview questions ask you to consider a possible future situation at work. An interviewer might ask, “How would you handle a conflict between two team members?” Although these are about future situations, you can still answer with an example from a past experience.

9. What strategies would you use to motivate your team?

What They Want to Know: How you answer this question will demonstrate whether you have the personal leadership qualities employers are seeking.

Example Answer

Most people, even when they love their job, want to be noticed and appreciated for the work they do. I make it a point to recognize my team members’ contributions both privately, with informal “thank you” emails, and publicly during weekly staff meetings.

10. What would you contribute to our team culture?

What They Want to Know: Interviewing, hiring, onboarding, and training new employees costs both time and money for employers, so they don’t want to have to repeat the process because an employee proves unable to adapt to their corporate culture. Research the organization ahead of time so that you can present yourself as someone who would fit seamlessly into their team culture.

Example Answer

I’m fortunate in having both the energy and the flexibility to work overtime or on weekends when staffing issues arise. My last manager really encouraged our team members to take care of one another, and sometimes that involved covering for others during unexpected absences. I was always happy to step in to help, knowing that my associates would do the same for me.

11. How would you handle it if there was a problem with a member of your team not doing their fair share or work?

What They Want to Know: Team dynamics can often be challenging, particularly when resentment brews over people who may not be pulling their own weight. Be ready to provide a viable solution to this common work situation.

Example Answer

I would first talk to them privately in a non-confrontational manner, using “I” statements to suggest that there might be a problem that we should resolve together. I’d also do my best to determine the root of the issue and to see if I or other team members could improve this person’s productivity. This approach works for me about 95% of the time; in cases where it doesn’t, I ask for a private consultation with my supervisor to brainstorm other solutions.

12. Would you still be interested in this job if you knew, at some point in the future, the work environment would change from an individual environment to a team-based approach?

What They Want to Know: This query assesses whether you have the flexibility to adapt to change in the workplace. The ideal answer should demonstrate your capacity to work both independently and as part of a new team.

Example Answer

Absolutely. I’ve had opportunities to work both independently and on teams in the past, and I feel like I’m effective in both settings, so long as lines of communication remain open.

Possible Follow-Up Questions

Tips to Answer Teamwork Interview Questions

Here are some more tips for structuring winning answers to job interview questions about teamwork.

Tailor your answers to the job, providing examples that are closely related to the job you are applying for. Think about past work, internship, or volunteer experiences that required skills similar to those needed for this job.

Consider also the company and position-level of the job. Large and corporate companies may value different teamwork traits than small businesses or start-ups. If you are applying for a management-level position, try to use examples that display your leadership skills and team-building skills. If you’re applying for a support position, share how you’ve helped resolve conflicts or kept team members on deadline.

Prepare for the possibility of a group interview. Some employers conduct group interviews to see how well candidates respond to questions and challenges within a stressful group environment. To prepare for this eventuality, check out these group interview questions, sample answers, and interviewing tips.

Prepare for the possibility of being asked to participate in a teamwork simulation. Teamwork simulations are sometimes used during situation (or “performance”) interviews. You’ll be asked to role-play a job function as part of a larger team tasked with solving a particular problem. After the simulation is completed, you may be asked to evaluate the effectiveness of the team dynamics and / or to assess your own or other team members’ performances.

Use the STAR technique. A good strategy in answering questions about teamwork is to use the STAR interview response technique where you describe a work situation involving teamwork, explain the team’s task and mission, recount the actions you took, and explain the result of these actions.

How to Make the Best Impression

You want to demonstrate to the employer both that you are enthusiastic about teamwork and that you get along with colleagues.

Before your interview, think about what you most enjoy about working on a team. This will help you to be positive when answering questions about teamwork. For instance, you might appreciate the opportunity to gain insight and feedback from colleagues.

Of course, you also want to be honest. Sometimes, you have to describe a negative teamwork experience. For example, an employer might say, “Tell me about a difficult experience you had when working on a team project.” If you say you have never had a difficult experience, the employer may think you’re not telling the truth. Plus, that answer doesn’t reveal how you are as a team player or how you handle difficult situations, which is what interviewers really want to know.

Instead of dodging the question, try to focus on how you solved a difficult problem.

For instance, you might answer, “I have worked on teams where one or two voices tend to dominate the group, and other peoples’ ideas are not heard. I try to be a good listener in teams, taking the time to understand everyone’s ideas, and making sure everyone’s suggestions are discussed.”

40 Simple Yet Awesome Welcome Messages for New Employees

Crafting welcome messages for new employees is a tedious task.

They say, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” The quote holds when we are talking about onboarding new employees to the company. Making every employee feel comfortable and familiar with their new working environment is the best way to start a healthy work relationship. And this crucial step can help you pave the path for boosting employee engagement and building a productive workforce.

69% of employees who undergo effective onboarding are more likely to stay with an employer for at least 3 years, and 58% are more likely to stay on for more than 3 years. (Source: O.C Tanner)

Here’s a list of 40 thoughtful welcome messages that your new employees would love to hear. Choose the best ones from the list to convey your wishes and give them a great onboarding experience.

Learn about the top actionable strategies to engage your new joinees.

40 Awesome Welcome Messages for New Employees

(Image Source: Welcome post via Vantage Circle’s Social Feed)

We are delighted to have you among us. On behalf of all the members and the management, we would like to extend our warmest welcome and good wishes!

Welcome to the team! We are thrilled to have you at our office. You’re going to be a valuable asset to our company, and we can’t wait to see all that you accomplish.

The entire team of [name of the company] is thrilled to welcome you on board. We hope you’ll do some amazing work here!

A warm welcome and lots of good wishes on becoming part of our growing team. Congratulations and on behalf of all the members. We are all happy and excited about your input and contribution to our company.

We just heard that our company hired an excellent new employee to join our team, and guess what? That’s you. Welcome aboard!

Congratulations on being part of the team! The whole company welcomes you, and we look forward to a successful journey with you! Welcome aboard!

A big congratulations on your new role! On behalf of the members and supervisors, we would like to welcome you to the team. We are delighted and excited about working as a team starting today.

A warm welcome to the office! Your remarkable skills will be a great addition to our team and the company. We look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship with you!

Congratulations on being part of our dynamic team! The entire office welcomes you, and we hope to have a long and successful journey together.

We love to form a team, work with enthusiastic, creative people, and have a great learning attitude. And hear that you fit the bill perfectly. It’s great to have you with us. Warmest welcome!

Having you in our company is a great honor! Indeed, all of us here are very excited to work with you. Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard,[Name]! You are one of the most proficient and resourceful candidates we have hired so far. We hope you like the amenities here, and make sure your talents are utilized!

Welcome aboard! Our team is pleased to have you with us. Your expertise would be of great use to the company and its success.

An employee like you, intelligent, talented, and full of energy, is an asset to any company. We can’t wait to start working with you! Welcome to our company!

Welcome aboard, new buddy! We are sure that you will prove to be a great addition to our team and the office!

It’s amazing to have such a young, fresh, and talented new member as part of our team. Hope we can together take the company to new heights. Welcome Aboard!

The office welcomes you today with open arms to be a part of our strong team! We hope we can together help the company grow bigger and broader.

Warm welcome and congratulations on getting hired! You are an asset to the company, and we hope you have a fantastic time working with the team!

Our heartiest welcome goes to you. Congratulations on being part of our growing and dynamic team here! We’re honored to have you with us!

Thanks for accepting the job offer. Your skills will be highly valuable for the team and the company. Welcome to the company!

We are thrilled to welcome you to the XYZ team here at [company name]. We are doing some exciting work here, and we are hopeful that your talent, enthusiasm, and fresh ideas will be invaluable to us!

Congratulations on becoming the newest member of this team! We hope you find your new role rewarding and challenging. Welcome Aboard!

Welcome aboard! We are proud to have you with us. We all have faith that you’ll deliver results, excel, and make us all proud.

Thanks for choosing to be part of the company! We are all working towards a common goal, and your contribution is integral. Congratulations, and welcome aboard!

Need help with welcoming your hybrid workforce to the team?

Congratulations and welcome to the team! We believe that what a strong group of people can accomplish together is much larger, far greater, and will exceed what an individual can achieve alone.

We hope that your new journey with us will be exciting and fruitful. Welcome aboard!

Your talent and skill will add great value to our organization. We are hopeful that your learning experience will grow with us. Congratulations and welcome!

Having a talented individual like you will help us take another pivotal step towards the organizational goals. We look forward to working with you. Welcome!

We are thrilled to have you in our organization. Your skillset, creative mindset, and personality will positively impact the workforce. Hope you have a great time here!

With the organization growing rapidly, your addition to the team will greatly assist us in achieving our goals. We look forward to providing you with the best professional and personal opportunities.

Everyone on the team extends a warm welcome. With your exceptional skills and personality, we believe you will be a good fit for us.

Starting a new job can be overwhelming. But do not worry; we are here to help and support you in every way possible. So, sit back, relax, learn and enjoy the journey with us!

Welcome to a work culture that values a positive attitude and camaraderie. I hope you have a good time here!

With newer perspectives and ideas, we hope you bring a new dimension to our workplace. Welcome aboard, and congratulations!

We hope that you will surprise us with your innovative ideas and influence the whole organization in a positive way. Hope you have a good time working with us!

Hard work and dedication are something that we value the most, and we know that you are ready to put in all your efforts from the first day. Congratulations on joining the team!

Persist in your work, learn from your mistakes, cultivate positive relationships, and always give your all. That is all we ask from you. Congratulations and welcome to the team!

Never be afraid to try new things because that is exactly what we encourage our employees to do. You experiment, and you learn. The team is always available to help you. Welcome to the group. Hope you have an amazing time here!

Happy joining day! Please let me know if HR made you feel welcome because we have something better in the works. I am delighted you have decided to join us.

In Conclusion: Why Do Welcome Messages For New Employees Matter?

A warm welcome is essential for making your new employees feel at ease, developing strong peer relationships, and settling in quickly. Consider including an introduction to the team as part of your overall employee onboarding (and vice versa). It can be through a guided office tour, personal 1-to-1s, your employee newsletter, social channels, teambuilding exercises, or even a special office getting-to-know-you afternoon.

The blog for passionate planners

7 Ways to Get Your Team Members More Engaged

Look at the team roster for your project. How many team members are fully engaged with their work? How many are just going through the motions? And how many are actively disengaged?

These can be hard questions to face, but important ones to ask. If your team mirrors the U.S. workforce, three out of 10 employees are fully engaged; five are “present” but engaged, and two are actively disengaged, according to the Gallup organization’s State of the American Workplace: 2010-2012 report. Gallup has been conducting this research since 2000, issuing periodic reports, and the percentages in each category barely vary over time.

What does engagement mean?

Engagement is more than keeping employees happy or satisfied, although both are worthy goals. Satisfied or happy employees are not necessarily engaged. Engaged employees have well-defined roles in the organization, make strong contributions, are actively connected to their larger team and organization, and are continuously progressing.

Why does engagement matter?

Gallup’s research found well-established connections between employee engagement and nine performance metrics:

Also, engagement has a greater impact on employees’ well-being than perks such as vacation time and flexible hours.

So what does engagement have to do with a project manager?

The research found that managers have the single most powerful influence on workers’ engagement levels and teamwork skills, so if you’re in a management position, you’re on the front lines. Although Gallup slants its message to C-Level executives, the findings can help managers of any team size.

How to improve your team members’ engagement

As a manager, you can impact your team’s engagement in simple but profound ways. Here are 7 tips to help you get started.

1. Define realistic engagement goals in everyday terms. Make lofty objectives meaningful to employees’ day-to-day experiences. Weave engagement into daily interactions and activities by discussing how you want employees to involve themselves with team tasks and goals at weekly meetings, planning sessions, and in one-on-ones with employees.

2. Find ways to connect with team members individually. A number of variables play vital roles in shaping a team member’s workplace experience – from generation to gender to career. Managers should know the talents and needs of each employee. Here are some facts and figures to keep in mind:

3. Show you care about your team members’ work and lives. This is especially important for Baby Boomers in the workforce.

4. Focus on and develop employees’ strengths. Building employees’ strengths is far more effective than trying to improve weaknesses, and it boosts engagement. Gallup says that emphasizing strong points can nearly eliminate active disengagement, and could double the average of U.S. workers who are engaged. People who use their strengths every day are six times more likely to be engaged on the job.

5. Help employees verbalize and internalize what the company’s mission and purpose mean to them. For a lot of people, having a strong sense of what their organization stands for boosts their engagement, especially when their values are aligned. In short, being able to connect work to a sense of purpose is a key way to raise engagement.

6. Extend and intensify the engagement level of new team members. Employees are as engaged as they will ever be during the first six months of their tenure at an organization. To increase this level early on, consider pairing a new hire up with a workplace friend or mentor who can show them the ropes and provide plenty of recognition for their early efforts. This plan can also develop a strong sense of teamwork in your group as well.

7. Enhance employees’ well-being. Don’t expect employees to compartmentalize their work lives and their personal lives. It’s the whole person who comes to work – and each employee’s well-being influences individual and organizational performances.

We all want to love our jobs and care about the work we do on a daily basis. So much so that employees who are engaged in their jobs are generally in better health than employees who aren’t. If you’re a team manager, there are always ways to improve your team members’ experience and performance at work – and feel engaged in the process yourself.

If you found this article helpful, there’s more. Learn how to take your project management skills to the next level. Download the eBook, 5 Practical Habits for Today’s Project Manager.

What Are Teamwork Skills?

Teamwork is an important life and work skill!

Working Well In A Team

Working well in a team means:

Successful Teamwork

A successful team is one where everyone’s unique skills and strengths help the team achieve a shared goal in the most effective way.

If you have good people skills you’ll make a good team player, and skills like communication and having a positive attitude make a team great.

How to boost your teamwork skills.

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Why are teamwork skills important?

Teamwork is vital if you want to work well with colleagues and teammates. You will probably have to work as part of a team in many areas of life; from class projects to planning a birthday party.

Even if you work well on your own due to great self management, being a team player is a valued skill for most jobs.

The better you work with others, the more successful your team will be in achieving their goals. Employees often need to collaborate or work with others to complete tasks and projects. Having teamwork skills and experience will make it a much better experience for you and everyone on your team.

Teamwork Skills For Students

The obvious way to enhance your teamwork skills is to be part of a team! There are lots of opportunities to do this in school and education. You could work on a class project in pairs or as a group. You could join a school sports team, orchestra or drama production. You could participate in a school-wide charity event and encourage friends and family to contribute and take part too.

Building teamwork skills in school will help you:

Teamwork Skills At Work

Most types of work involve you working as a team. Good teamwork means everyone working well together.

Your teamwork skills can help you at work in all sorts of ways. Perhaps you’re working in construction and thinking about the health and safety of yourself and your team mates. Maybe your team has work together to create a report for a client to a tight deadline. Teamwork also helps gets things done when you’re planning a birthday party for someone you work with!

Having teamwork skills will make it a much better experience for everyone, whether you are working long hours or trying to choose which cake to buy.

Building teamwork skills at work will help you:

Good teamwork skills will give you more chances to move forward in your career, too. People can see you as someone with a positive attitude who thinks the company’s goals are important. This can help you get more opportunities, responsibility, training and promotions over time.

Activities And Thinking As A TEAM

Teamwork Activities

A great way to build your teamwork skills is to volunteer for any team projects and say to yourself “we can do this together.”

Say YES to working in groups

Find opportunities to work in a group. Then make sure you contribute to the group and help others to get involved.

Try local volunteering

Lots of groups run in local areas for all kinds of interests including conservation, politics, special interests and team sports. Getting involved in a group is a great way to build your teamwork skills.

Understand how to work in a team

Communication, planning, problem solving and negotiating are some of the skills you will need to develop. Work on these skills and your teamwork skills will improve too!

Can You Think As A TEAM?

Ask yourself:

How To Show Your Teamwork Skills To Employers

Teamwork is a life skill. That means you can grow it over time. There are so many chances in life to do something as part of a group, both inside and outside of work/education.

Creating a good CV and cover letter

Your CV is the first place where you can show a future employer your teamwork skills. Record the teams you are involved in from work or personal situations. Summarise how you have contributed to these teams and helped them meet their goals.

If you are writing a cover letter, think about how you can show team spirit when talking about your achievements and experiences in working as a team. For example, you can use phrases like “working as part of a team” or “I helped a team to” if you helped to contribute to a successful project but didn’t do all the work yourself.

Here is an example achievement that shows you have team spirit:

“Working as part of a team, I help to re-organise the food section of a retail store to create a more comfortable shopping experience for customers.”

Job interviews

Demonstrating your teamwork skills in a job interview can be tricky. You’re often on your own in an interview, and have to rely on giving examples of your experience to show an employer you’re good at working with others.

If you have an assessment centre or group interview, that’s a great chance to let your teamwork skills shine. These tips for team exercises at assessment centres will help your teamwork and problem solving skills shine.

As always, remember the STARRS method – it’s an expansion on the popular STARR method by one of our own Youth Ambassadors. It helps you think about what went well in a past situation and what you would do better next time.

Next Steps

Think about the last time you worked as a team. Which teamwork skills do you think you used well? Which do you think you could work on next time a group project comes up?

Pick a time you worked as a team to achieve something. How would you talk about it to an employer? Write a sentence or two about the experience and describe how you showed your skills as a team player. This will help you be prepared in job interviews – and will remind you what you’ve already achieved in life.

Try asking a friend, teacher, or family member how well they think you have worked as part of a team project they know about and if they have any pointers to help you improve.

Exercise: Test Your Teamwork

Think about the questions below. See if you can come up with real examples from your own life.