How do you work with someone you don't get along with?
Keep the relationship professional, focus on shared goals, communicate clearly and in writing where useful, and look for common ground. You do not need to be friends to work well together.
Explain it simply
At work you will not choose your teammates. Some people will annoy you. The interviewer wants to know you can still deliver.
The key ideas are: separate the person from the task, agree on clear responsibilities, communicate politely and specifically, and give credit where it is due. Often understanding the other person's pressures reduces the friction.
Example
Situation: In college fest organisation, Rakesh had to work with a sponsorship head who constantly changed plans.
Task: Deliver the event's stage setup despite the friction.
Action: He stops arguing in group calls and instead sets up a 10-minute daily check-in with her. He writes the agreed plan in a shared doc after each call, so changes are visible. He also learns she is under pressure from sponsors, which explains the changes.
Result: The stage was ready on time, and they ended the fest on good terms.
What to say in the interview
"I keep it about the work. I agree on clear tasks, write down decisions, and try to understand the pressure they're under. We don't have to be friends to deliver together."
Common mistakes
- Saying you get along with everyone, always.
- Describing how you avoided the person.
- Speaking badly about the other person in detail.