AO Working Together Interview Questions

AO Application Help Working Together Interview Questions
AO behaviour interview
Prepare flexible answers for Working Together
Working Together questions examine how you contribute to shared delivery, build supportive relationships, listen to different needs and ask for or offer help. Strong AO answers also show awareness of wellbeing and a clear response to bullying, harassment or discrimination rather than treating teamwork as simply getting along.

For written evidence, use the matching AO Working Together Behaviour Statements guide. Strength questions are separate and should be prepared through the global Civil Service Strengths Interview Questions guide.

What the panel is testing

Working Together questions examine how you contribute to shared delivery, build supportive relationships, listen to different needs and ask for or offer help. Strong AO answers also show awareness of wellbeing and a clear response to bullying, harassment or discrimination rather than treating teamwork as simply getting along.

1
“proactively contribute to the work of the whole team and remain open to taking on new and different roles”
2
“get to know your colleagues and build supportive relationships”
3
“listen to alternative perspectives and needs, responding sensitively and checking understanding where necessary”
4
“ask for help when needed and support others when the opportunity arises”
5
“are aware of the need to consider your own wellbeing and that of your colleagues”
6
“understand that bullying, harassment and discrimination are unacceptable”

How to prepare your evidence

1
Prepare more than one story
Use a primary example that covers all 6 criteria and at least one reserve example with a different setting or challenge.
2
Map actions to the criteria
Write one short note beside every official point showing the action in your story that proves it.
3
Prepare your reasoning
Know why you chose the communication method, priority, check, support or escalation used in the example.
4
Prepare follow-up detail
Be ready to explain guidance, alternatives, individual needs, obstacles and what you would improve.
5
Keep the result credible
Use a specific outcome that follows from your actions. Do not add invented figures simply to make the answer sound stronger.

AO Working Together question bank

Shared delivery
1
Tell me about a time you worked with others to meet a difficult deadline.
2
Describe a situation where you took on a different role to help the team.
3
Give an example of preventing duplicated or missed work through cooperation.
Relationships and perspectives
4
Tell me about a time you built a better working relationship with a colleague.
5
Describe a disagreement where you listened to a different point of view.
6
Give an example of adapting your approach to a colleague’s needs.
Support and wellbeing
7
Tell me about a time you asked for help and why it was the right decision.
8
Describe a time you supported a colleague who was under pressure.
9
Give an example of managing team workload without ignoring wellbeing.
Inclusion and conduct
10
Tell me about a time you helped create an inclusive team environment.
11
Describe how you responded to inappropriate behaviour at work.
12
Give an example of ensuring that a colleague was able to contribute fully.
Members can unlock the complete AO Working Together interview section below, including a flexible answer framework, four full model answers to different questions, scoring breakdowns, likely follow-up questions and a final preparation checklist.

Preparing for an AA or AO interview? The AA/AO Civil Service Behaviour Interview Pack includes 18 full B-STAR model answers across all nine behaviours, with two realistic questions for each behaviour.

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