How to recruit employees with teamwork skills?

If the answer is yes, then an interview is the best way to assess a candidate's teamwork skills. That process can help recruiters effectively distinguish true teamwork from those who can work in a normal team. It's important to ask the right interview questions and listen to the cues that tell you this is a team player.

New definition of a person with teamwork skills

According to the old definition: a person who has a team spirit and works in a team is someone who always follows and supports the company's programs, even outside of working hours.

However, this definition is no longer relevant today. In today's fast-paced and fast-moving world, hiring professionals when it comes to the team element will be interested in this person's ability to:

– Provide meaningful feedback to colleagues

– Raise questions/problems without aggression or tension

– Ability to work well with colleagues horizontally and vertically

– Prioritize the benefits/success of the group over individual success

Here are 8 questions to ask if someone really has teamwork skills

1. You are on your way to the first meeting of a new project team, what questions will you ask?

2. What is a person capable of teamwork?

3. Imagine you are in a virtual work group (almost do not see the members in person), so how do you build trust with the team members?

4. Can you still be a good team player and still disagree with your boss?

5. For a good team player, are strong technical skills or communication skills important?
6. In a technological, global, and fast-changing world, what is the most valuable work team logo?

7. In our company, you will work with many groups, each with its own goals.  So how do you adapt when you work from one team to another?

8. Imagine you are part of a project. Another team member is pushing the team to accomplish an overwhelming goal, specifically in terms of goals and timing. You are confused by these tasks – you want to do the task right away, and are given a demanding time in the imposition. How would you react in this case?

As you listen to the candidate's responses, you can consider how often the candidate mentions the word "we" or "me". True team players will tell you “we have the ability to cut costs” rather than using the first person “I have the ability to cut budgets”.

Ask questions about the candidate's previous work

A candidate's previous jobs can give employers clues about their teamwork skills.

The point is to dig under the surface of the truth with interview questions and find the teamwork-requiring aspects of the job.

Ask questions related to the candidate's behavior in the previous job.

Ask further questions to find out what percentage of this factor contributes to his/her success and what percentage contributes to another colleague's success, such as “What is your role? what? And what is your colleague's role?"

This question really goes to the heart of exploiting teamwork skills – the ability to build trust with others while each person has his or her own need to shine.