Teamwork

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Common Questions 

  1. What are the qualities of a good team player?
  2. Give an example where you worked as part of an MDT
  3. How do you manage working with colleagues who has a different clinical approach than you?
  4. What attributes or qualities would you add to our team?
  5. Describe a time where you supported a colleague at work

Question #1: What makes you a good team player? 

The following are a few key attributes of a good team player. 

  1. Understand their role in the team 
  2. Deliver quality results in timely manner with consistency
  3. Work hard and do their share of work
  4. Involve team members appropriately
  5. Work as a problem solver 
  6. Respect and supportive 
  7. Considerate and corteous 
  8. Show appropariate respect towards their colleagues 
  9. Respond to others' request for help 
  10. Go beyond their differences
  11. Don't attempt to undermine others 
  12. Flexible, adaptable and can compromise
  13. Adapts to ever changing situations 
  14. Able to strike a compromise between own beliefs and others'
  15. Show willingness to change their working methods 

Crafting Your Response: 

Do not attempt to list all of the above qualities in your answer. Pick only three to four qualities and expand on them with your personal examples. 

Example Answer

Being a good team player means knowing your role and contributing effectively while supporting others. One key strength I bring is the ability to deliver consistent, high-quality work on time. For example, during my foundation training, I managed multiple patients efficiently, ensuring care wasn’t compromised, which kept the team running smoothly.

I also value being respectful and supportive of my colleagues. When a junior colleague was struggling during a busy shift, I stepped in to help with patient admissions, which eased their workload and improved overall team performance.

In addition, I’m adaptable and flexible. Medicine can be unpredictable, and I’ve had to adjust quickly to sudden changes. For instance, I was asked to cover an extra shift at short notice, and I was able to step in without affecting patient care.

Lastly, I focus on solving problems rather than dwelling on them. During a ward round, we faced an issue with a patient’s care plan, and I quickly worked with the multidisciplinary team to find a solution and ensure the patient got the treatment they needed.


Question #2: Give an example of a situation where you worked as a part of a team 

The question seeks to test your ability to demostrate good team playing qualities. You should find an example where you played an important part of the team. 

Creating Your Answer: 

  • The answer should emphasize on your role as a team member i.e., what did you do, why did you do it, what effect did your action have on the situation.  
  • You are going to describe an example of a situation, so its better to use the STAR approach. 
  • You should not describe in detail the clinical aspects, focus on the aspect of teamwork and your role in the team. 
  • Your answer should not be generalized or vague.

Below are some examples that you can use: 

  1. Complex emergency situation while being understaffed. 
  2. Dealing with a complex patient 
  3. Organization of an event or project


Question #3: How do you manage working with colleagues who has a different clinical approach than you?

The question again tests your team-playing abilities in context of a specific situation. 

Creating Your Answer: 

  • You are going to describe an example of a situation, so its better to use the STAR approach. 
  • You should not describe in detail the clinical aspects, focus on the aspect of teamwork and your role in the team. 

The answer should contain:

  1. The situation
  2. Your and the team member's role
  3. Your approach to the situation 
  4. How you resolved the situation 
  5. What did you learn from this 

Example Answer 

"During my time working in a busy emergency department, I encountered a situation where a senior colleague and I had differing opinions on how to manage a patient with suspected sepsis.

I believed we needed to initiate early aggressive fluid resuscitation based on sepsis guidelines. However, my colleague wanted to follow a more conservative approach due to concerns about the patient's existing heart condition.

As a junior doctor, my role was to ensure the patient’s immediate safety while working closely with my senior colleague to manage the case. 

I calmly and respectfully shared my viewpoint, backed by evidence from current sepsis guidelines. I suggested that we consult a senior consultant to get an expert opinion and ensure we made the best decision for the patient. 

The consultant agreed that both concerns were valid and recommended a balanced approach of administering fluids while closely monitoring the patient's cardiovascular status. This compromise ensured the patient's safety while incorporating both viewpoints.

This experience taught me the importance of open communication and respecting different clinical approaches. I now approach such situations with an open mind, always seeking a collaborative solution that benefits the patient."