How to Answer: “Do you prefer working alone or as part of a team?”
A complete guide to answering this common interview question — including what interviewers are really looking for, practical tips, and a worked example answer.
What interviewers are really asking
The right answer is neither extreme. Show that you value both, explain what you get from each, and demonstrate self-awareness about when you need deep solo work versus collaborative energy. Give a concrete example of thriving in both contexts.
Tips
- Don't pick a side — show you genuinely value both.
- Be specific about what each mode gives you.
- Demonstrate self-awareness about your working style.
- Show how you manage the balance in practice.
- Give an example of excelling in both contexts.
Example answer
Sample response
“Genuinely both, at different stages of the work. I do my best analytical and creative work alone with protected time — I'm not someone who brainstorms well in a group. But I find the implementation and validation stage benefits enormously from close collaboration. My most successful project last year started with two weeks of solo research, then a two-day working session with the team that transformed the plan, then mostly solo execution with regular check-ins. The work was better for having both.”
Adapt this to your own experience — never use any example answer verbatim.
Use the STAR method
Structure your answer as: Situation (brief context), Task (your specific responsibility), Action (what you personally did), Result (the quantified outcome). Most strong interview answers follow this pattern.
Full STAR method guide