Good Team Work: How to be a team player

If you've applied for a job on one of those long and slightly annoying job application forms then you will have probably come across a question like this ...

'Demonstrate your ability to work in a team' or

'Provide evidence of a time when you have worked in a team to solve a problem'

... or some other variation that's basically asking you to prove you can or have worked in a team.

Seems straight forward enough - and I'd be confident in saying nearly everyone has worked in a team at some point. School was all about working in teams, and workplaces don't seem to be much different.

So it shouldn't take much to pull out a teamwork example. Problem is - you need to pull out the right example. Here's how.

Hannah is a recruitment specialist with Adecco, a recruitment company based in the UK and other countries around the world.

"Everyone can come with an example of teamwork. It's pretty simple. And the company knows that so it's important to choose an example of team work that demonstrates what [the company] is after."

It seems obvious but don't bring up an example where teamwork has not been the key to success. Don't talk about how you worked in a team of 6, but only 2 of you did the work. This is a common mistake that graduates make when they're applying for their first round of jobs. Their logic is that it makes them look like they're a leader, innovative and determined potential employee. Whilst those qualities may well be very attractive in a job seeker - the team work question is NOT the place.

Team work is all about the team.

What did the team do well?

How did they get over the barriers?

What did they do to manage the project in the time line?

What was your role in the team?

"Don't talk about things like holding the team together. People seem to think that when an employer asks about your experience working in a team, it's an opportunity to show off. Don't make that mistake. Talk about common goals; shared experiences; working together; sharing the jobs between the members and the general harmony of the group."

Employers want to know that you can be part of a successful team. Don't be afraid to talk about your role; the role of other team members and the success of the team as a whole. But don't be selfish.

So when you're deciding on team work example, here are some things to think about talking about:

- managing a time timeline and how the team did that

- different skill sets and different personalities working together to get the job done

- overall successes, barriers and how the barriers were overcome

- your role, the role of others and the work of the team overall

Lastly, make it a recent experience. Potential employers might get a bit suspicious if you start talking about the time you and little Johnny worked together back in high school.

Don't spend too much time on the team work question, but make sure you tick all the obvious boxes that we've discussed above.

Till next time - good luck, and happy job hunting.

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