How to answer “What is your work style” in a job interview

Interviewing for a new position can be exciting, but it can also bring challenges that can leave us feeling insecure and worried that we are not fully prepared. This is especially true when we are asked questions such as “What is your work style” – about our preferred approach and style in tackling key job goals and responsibilities.

This question, while seemingly direct and simple, is typically asked to help the interviewer better understand whether your work approach is a good fit for the open role and the organization’s work culture. With the right preparation, you can craft your response so that it is not only useful, but also reflects what matters most to you and highlights your unique strengths, priorities, and values.

To understand how best to answer this question honestly and confidently, prepare by thinking about your specific style and approach and what “success” looks and feels like to you personally. Brainstorm in advance about the way you prefer to work, including the types of collaboration that are most successful for you and the business outcomes you find most rewarding and compelling to support.

Think of the top achievements and results you have achieved in the past that you are most proud of, and list the exact skills and abilities you possess that helped you achieve these results. Consider both individual contributions and your successes through collaborations, and what has been made possible by your adaptability, creativity and resilience.

What different versions of this question can you expect?

The question “What is your work style?” can be approached in several ways, each with subtle differences. Here are some common variations you may hear:

“How do you prefer to work?”

This wording offers a more open approach, giving you the freedom to describe your ideal work environment and work practices that will help you complete tasks and projects successfully.

“Tell me about your work process.”

Here the interviewer may want to explore how you approach the execution of your projects, and how you make decisions, handle tasks, collaborate with others, and deal with challenges and setbacks.

“What does your daily work look like?”

This version focuses on the current flow of your daily tasks and priorities, as well as the way you handle deadlines and multitasking. It also touches how you set priorities your current workflow.

“Do you work best independently or in a team?”

This question aims to explore your collaborative strengths and your comfort level working with others versus being self-directed and taking solo, independent initiative.

“How do you handle feedback and communication with teammates or managers?”

The interviewer investigates with this question your communication style, your openness to feedback (both positive and what you may experience as ‘negative’) and how you relate to others.

Each version of the question provides an opportunity to highlight your strengths and values. Be prepared to provide some concrete examples that demonstrate how you adapt to and thrive in different work environments and situations.

What hiring managers are really looking for with this question

When interviewers ask about your work style, they typically want to assess your fit for this specific role, including how you fit in with existing managers and leaders, other team members, and the organization’s values ​​and culture in general. Think about it what makes you unique and standing out, what you consider important in your career and roles, as well as the traits and actions that have that helped you achieve professional growth in the past, and share information that helps interviewers assess:

Your Self-awareness and self-control: Do you recognize your strengths and growth opportunities? Candidates who recognize and confidently discuss their key skills, achievements and work values ​​often stand out from the competition.

Adaptability and flexibility: Can you easily adapt your approach based on team or project needs? Adaptability is especially important in today’s dynamic workplaces.

Collaboration and communication: Effective communicators who respect others, work well with diverse team members, and collaborate openly thrive in team environments. Interviewers want to understand your interaction style.

Growth Mindset: Candidates demonstrating optimism, resilience and a commitment to growth and learning often yield high performance results.

Key themes to include in your answer

Your answers should be honest, clear and tailored to the specific role and company culture you are interviewing for. Below are some tips for developing a strong response:

Examine the company’s culture

Before the interview, take time to research the company’s culture and standout qualities. Check out their website, read employee ratings and reviews, and discover their social media presence and what leaders and employees share online. This will give you clues about their values, work environment and pace. If there is an energetic, collaborative atmosphere, emphasize your teamwork skills. If it’s a more independent, results-oriented environment, emphasize your ability to work autonomously and produce consistent results.

Tailor your answers to the requirements of the role

Think about the skills and attributes needed for the position. For example, if the role requires cross-departmental collaboration, discuss your strengths in communication and teamwork. If it is a role that requires self-management and independence, emphasize your organizational skills, focus and reliability.

Highlight your key features

Hiring managers look for certain qualities in almost every role, such as reliability, strong communication skills, flexibility and openness to feedback. Incorporate these themes that match your unique style into your answer. For example: “I respond very quickly when working in a team, making sure I communicate openly and receive useful feedback. When working alone and/or remotely, I am very organized and focused on deadlines, but also happy to ask questions when necessary, which helps me deliver quality results.”

Include specific examples

Illustrate your answer with examples from previous successes. Talk about a time when your approach to work helped you succeed on a project or contributed to an important goal. For example: “In my last role, I was in charge of a large business integration project involving many teams and departments and a newly acquired company with divisions in several countries. It was a crucial project with a hard deadline and affected the responsibilities and results of hundreds of employees. I organized weekly meetings with key stakeholders to ensure everyone was on the same page, but I also set aside focused time to dive into my own research and analysis, to formulate an effective strategy for the project and implement that strategy to adjust when necessary. This balance allowed me to complete the integration in a timely manner to ensure all key objectives of the leadership team were met.”

Prepare follow-up questions

The ‘work style’ question is also an invitation for you to ask follow-up questions. Remember, your interview is not an “audition.” It’s a two-way street. Consider asking questions that dig into what you need to understand, including team structure, communication style, work culture, key qualities that successful employees share, and more. This can help you determine if the company is a good fit for your personal values ​​and approach.

Pass your job interviews with more confidence

Provide a thoughtful answer to the question ‘What is your working style?’ Show that you have thought about your career path and your strengths and talents, and how these have contributed to growth and success in previous roles. It’s not about whether you’re “good” or “bad” at certain tasks; it is about alignment with the role and culture.

Viewing this question as a way to highlight your unique talents and the important ways you’ve contributed in the past will help you share the highest and best version of yourself while also listening for cues that will help you clearly to assess whether this opportunity is the right one. for you, and allows you to thrive and grow.

Kathy Caprino is a career and leadership coachauthor, trainer and podcaster, supporting the advancement of women in business.