How would your colleagues describe you?
Why interviewers ask this
This question checks how you see yourself in a team and whether that matches how others are likely to see you. It is harder to exaggerate when you are speaking for your colleagues, especially if references might be checked.
It also tells the interviewer how you would fit in. Are you the organiser, the problem-solver, the calm one in a crisis? Different teams need different things. A specific, honest answer here suggests you pay attention to how your work affects the people around you.
How to answer
- Pick two or three traits you genuinely hear from colleagues, managers or performance reviews.
- Support each trait with a short example or a real piece of feedback.
- Choose traits that are useful in the role and the team you are applying to.
- Keep it consistent with what your references would say.
- It is fine to add a light, honest note, such as a trait colleagues tease you about, if it is harmless.
Example answers
I think my colleagues would describe me as reliable and calm. In a pharmacy it can get very busy, especially in the late afternoon, and I’m usually the one who keeps the queue moving without cutting corners on checks. In my last appraisal, my manager wrote that the team feels more settled when I’m on shift, which meant a lot to me. They’d probably also say I’m patient with patients — I don’t mind taking a few extra minutes to explain how to take a new medication properly. And if I’m honest, they’d say I’m a bit too fond of checklists, but they’ve started using some of them too.
My colleagues would probably say I’m a good listener and that I keep things moving. When we start a new feature, I spend time with engineering, design and support to understand their concerns before we commit to a plan, so people feel heard. But I also make sure decisions actually get made — after one long-running debate about our pricing page, I set up a single meeting with the options and data laid out, and we agreed on a direction that day. In a recent 360-degree review, several engineers mentioned that my requirements are clear and that I protect them from last-minute scope changes, which is something I work hard on.
Mistakes to avoid
- Listing flattering adjectives with no evidence, which sounds like you are describing yourself, not what others say.
- Describing traits that conflict with what your references would actually say.
- Saying “I don’t know”, which suggests you have never asked for or noticed feedback.
- Choosing only personality traits (“fun”, “friendly”) and nothing about how you work.