Questions to Expect: Teamwork

Interviewers, inevitably, seek the ideal candidate. To become this perfect hire, put yourself in the mind of the interviewer. Take a good look at yourself. What does this person look like? How does this person dress, and carry him or herself? Which qualities does this interviewee demonstrate in his or her answers? Increasingly, interviewers will ask behavioral questions -- questions that seek to understand you through the prism of your past behavior and accomplishments. Here's a look at some questions you might receive. These questions are designed to get you talking about your ability to work in a team.

Are we all on the same page?

Are you a team player? Teamwork is a big buzzword among HR professionals. This quality, beloved by many high school coaches, is also a darling of most employers. Because many managers, especially in sales positions, like to see themselves as coaches and use motivational speeches similar to those you might hear in a football locker room, it's a good idea to be aware of the team player concept when you step into the office for your interview. Are you willing to sacrifice some of your own needs, desires, free time and glory, for the greater good of the team? Being a team player, especially in entry-level positions, means doing the dirty work while someone else gets the glory. But it also means not shouldering more of the burden than you can bear. It means evenly distributing the work and the resulting credit and wealth.

1. How well do you work with others?

2. Describe a situation in which you sacrificed your immediate needs for the larger good of a team.

3. Have you participated in any team activities? What were they and what did you learn from them?

4. How important is recognition to you?

5. What do the words "team player" mean to you?