If you've applied for a job on one of those long and slightly annoying⑴ job application forms, then you will have probably come across⑵ a question like this...
'Demonstrate⑶ 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 variation⑷ 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 recruitment⑸ specialist⑹ with Adecco⑺, 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 after⑻."
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 logic⑼ is that it makes them look like they're a leader, innovative and determined potential employee. Whilst⑽ 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 over⑾ 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 off⑿. 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 suspicious⒀ 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 tick⒁ all the obvious boxes that we've discussed above.
Till next time - good luck, and happy job hunting.
阅读理解（单项选择）：
1 According to the above article, if you apply on an application form, ( ).
A you will be asked about your school activities
B you will spend hours on it
C you will come across questions on your last job
D you are likely to answer team work question
2 According to the article, team work experience ( ).
A is a rare thing
B is part of most people’s lives
B is difficult to think of
D is totally different between school and workplace
3 Why companies ask for examples of teamwork?
A Because they want to find the quality they need in the examples
B Because this is a easy question to answer
C Because teamwork is very important
D Because they want obedient employees
4 The mentioned mistakes in exemplifying are.
A those which shows the team works as one
B those which shows the applicant is the leader
C those which shows teamwork is not the decisive part in the success
D those which shows how team members support each other
5 If your role is not very important in the team, ( ).
A you’d better abandon that example
B it doesn’t matter as long as your team is a success
C you must make it appear more important
D you can find yourself a new role
6 The sentence “Share the success” means ( ).
A you should tell your successful experience to your interviewer
B you should share your success with other applicants
C you should tell your success story to everyone
D you should take your success as your team’s success
Answer Key：
1. D 2. B 3. A 4. C 5. B 6. D
