Tell me about a time you had to work or study alongside someone difficult — how did you handle it?

A natural way to answer

I once shared a group project with someone who disagreed with every single suggestion. Rather than clash with them head-on, I tried to understand where they were coming from. Once I started asking questions instead of pushing back, things smoothed over surprisingly quickly, and we found a way to meet in the middle.

Key phrases to use

• keep my cool — to stay calm in a difficult or annoying situation“I managed to keep my cool even when he shouted.”
• rising to the bait — reacting angrily to a deliberate provocation“He was trying to wind me up, but I didn't rise to the bait.”
• smoothed over — (of a disagreement) made calmer or resolved“We smoothed over the misunderstanding quickly.”
• meet in the middle — to reach a compromise where each side gives a little“We disagreed but managed to meet in the middle.”
• takes the high road — to behave in a more moral or dignified way despite provocation“Rather than argue back, she took the high road.”
• lost my rag — to suddenly lose your temper“I nearly lost my rag when he interrupted me again.”
• meeting fire with fire — responding to aggression with the same aggression“Meeting fire with fire only made things worse.”