A big part of getting a job is making a good first impression, and a big

part of making a good impression is how you dress for the interview.

While you don't have to spend a lot of money on your wardrobe, putting
in a bit of extra effort pays off in the long run. Before your next interview,
make sure you're not making any interview attire mistakes by avoiding
these fashion don'ts. 

Keep Bright, Flashy Colors to a Minimum

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Be mindful when choosing clothes.  A short hemline and plunging

neckline aren't acceptable for a job interview, and if an outfit is also in a
bright, flashy color (like red), it will accentuate the clothing's
inappropriateness for an interview setting. If you plan to wear a daring
color, make sure the overall design of your outfit acts as a
counterbalance.

For instance, wear a bright red shirt, but pair it with a black suit. There
are other less-dramatic colors that work well for business interviews.
And, it's a good idea to avoid short hemlines and skin-tight fits
altogether.

A Blazer Doesn't Upgrade the Rest of Your Outfit

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While a blazer is a good go-to choice for almost any interview, be

mindful of what you wear underneath. Inevitably, the deep-v formed by
the blazer's lapel creates a plunging neckline. If you're going to wear a
camisole or a shell underneath, make sure it covers you appropriately.
Of course, layering with a button-down is a no-fail option, too.

This tip also applies to men. Unless you're interviewing in a casual

environment, like at a startup company, wearing a blazer on top doesn't
give you the excuse to wear a tired t-shirt underneath. Take the extra
effort and put on a button-down or v-neck sweater.

Go Light on Perfume and Cologne

Take it easy on the perfume and cologne, as you never know if your
interviewer might have an allergy or aversion to strong scents. Either
way, you don't want your overwhelming spray of perfume or dab of
cologne to be the first or last thing your interviewer notices about you.

Leave Your Headphones at Home

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What's wrong with this picture? At first glance, it doesn't seem like much,
as the young man is dressed in a dapper suit and tie. But, take a closer
look: the headphones have got to go.

While it's fine to listen to music on your commute to the interview, take
them off before you enter the office, and stow them away before you're
called in for the appointment. Otherwise, you risk seeming distracted and
unfocused — you certainly don't want to be fumbling with tangled cords
or wireless earbuds as you meet and shake hands with your interviewer.

Be Careful About Casual

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It can be hard to figure out what to wear for a summer job interview. No
one wants to suffer in a heavy suit when the weather is warming up. But
warmer temperatures don't mean that you can throw professionalism out
the window and wear casual shorts or a sundress.
Fortunately, because many summer jobs tend to be more "business
casual" than especially dressy, most likely you won't have to dress in a
dark wool suit or heavy blazer. Both men and women can consider
wearing tailored khakis, a nice polo shirt or button-down and a pair of
sensible shoes— but no flip-flops!

Avoid Looking Too Dated

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In a competitive job market, everything matters — including your overall

appearance. If your wardrobe is outdated, or if you have been out of the
workforce for a while and your closet reflects it, invest in some modern,
fashion-forward clothes to wear to your interview.

Don't forget about shoes, either. Throwing on a pair of sneakers, an old

pair of pumps, or beat up dress shoes certainly won't make you look
polished or professional. You don't have to spend a lot of money on your
wardrobe because you can easily find great pieces at discount stores
like TJ Maxx and Marshalls, or major chains such as Target and Old
Navy. You might be surprised by how much your shopping trip will pay-
off.

Don't Overdo Your Makeup

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While it's important to look your best, loading on makeup is not the ideal
way to go about it. Keep your look natural by avoiding dark eyeshadow,
bright lipstick, or heavy foundation. Your best bet is to stick with a light
coat of mascara, a touch of powder, and some tinted lip balm. Aim to
look refreshed and awake, without looking too done up.
Interview makeup do's and don'ts will help you get the perfect look.

Traditional Ties Make the Best Impression

moodboard /Cultura/ Getty Images

Now is not the time to pull out that novelty tie you got last Christmas.
Even if you think your tie will make a statement, err on the side of
caution and stick with something that's more traditional. A pattern with
conservative colors is perfectly fine — like subdued stripes or tasteful
paisley — but don't try to be the funny guy who wears the tacky tie.

Keep Accessories to a Minimum

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Both women and men should keep accessories to a minimum. Ladies

should avoid excess jewelry; instead of big hoops or chandelier earrings,
opt for classic studs. It's also a good idea to avoid wearing flashy
necklaces, large sunglasses, or anything bedazzled.

While accessories aren't so much of an issue for men, it's important to

be mindful of your cufflinks, your tie clip, and your belt; don't wear
anything you might wear out to a club, for example.

Regardless of the accessories you choose to wear, just remember that

you want to look polished and professional. Don't let your outfit detract
from the focus on the interview: you, your work experience, and how you
would be the best fit for the job you want.

Make the Best Impression

Wearing the right clothes to a job interview is as important as what not to
wear. Choosing appropriate interview attire will help you make the best
impression.
QUESTION ANS

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 Are Teamwork Interview Questions 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.

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1:09

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.

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.

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.

More Answers: Tips for Sharing Examples of Teamwork at an Interview

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.

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.
More Answers: Answer Interview Questions About Being a Team Player
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.

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.

More Answers: How Do You Feel About Working in a Team Environment?

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.

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.  

More Answers: Work Independently vs Being Part of a Team

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.

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.  
More Answers: How to Respond to Interview Questions About Teamwork
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.

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.

More Answers: Leadership Interview Questions and Answers

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).

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.
More Answers: Have You Ever Had Difficulty Working With a Manager?
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.

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.

More Answers: Interview Questions About Problems at Work

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.

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.

More Answers: Answers for Questions About Team Motivation Strategies

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.

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.

More Answers: Interview Question: “What Can You Contribute to This

Company?”

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.
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.

More Answers: Describe a Time When Your Workload Was Heavy

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.

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.

More Answers: Important Teamwork Skills That Employers Value

Possible Follow-Up Queustions

 Do you like working in a fast-paced team environment?

 How did you fit in with the company culture?
 Why should we hire you?

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.”