A positive attitude in the workplace goes beyond just being cheerful – it represents a fundamental approach to work that influences resilience, collaboration, and performance under pressure. According to research from the Society for Human Resource Management, employees with positive attitudes are 31% more productive and demonstrate 37% higher performance than their counterparts.

Assessing attitude during the hiring process is essential because it directly impacts team dynamics, customer relationships, and organizational culture. A candidate with the right attitude can navigate challenges with resilience, embrace feedback constructively, and maintain professionalism even in difficult situations. While technical skills can be taught, attitude is deeply ingrained and difficult to change, making it a critical factor in predicting long-term success and cultural fit.

When evaluating candidates for attitude, interviewers should listen carefully for specific examples that demonstrate how they've responded to challenges, collaborated with difficult personalities, or bounced back from failures. The most revealing insights often come from follow-up questions that probe deeper into candidates' thought processes and emotional responses during challenging situations. By focusing on behavioral examples rather than hypothetical scenarios, you'll gain authentic insights into how candidates have actually behaved when their attitude was tested.

Interview Questions

Tell me about a time when you faced a significant setback or failure at work. How did you handle it?

Areas to Cover:

• The nature and significance of the setback
• The candidate's initial reaction and emotions
• Specific actions taken to address the situation
• How they communicated with others about the failure
• What they learned from the experience
• How they applied these lessons to future situations
• How long it took them to bounce back emotionally

Follow-Up Questions:

• What was your first reaction when you realized things weren't going as planned?
• How did you communicate about this setback with your team or manager?
• What specific steps did you take to ensure you wouldn't face the same issue again?
• How did this experience change your approach to similar situations in the future?

Describe a situation where you had to work with someone who was difficult to get along with. How did you handle the relationship?

Areas to Cover:

• The nature of the difficult relationship
• Specific challenges the relationship presented
• The candidate's approach to understanding the other person's perspective
• Strategies used to improve communication
• How they maintained professionalism despite difficulties
• The outcome of their efforts
• What they learned about handling interpersonal challenges

Follow-Up Questions:

• What did you do to try to understand this person's perspective?
• What specific techniques did you use to maintain a professional relationship?
• Were there moments when you struggled to maintain a positive attitude? How did you handle those?
• Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently?

Tell me about a time when you received criticism or feedback that was difficult to hear. How did you respond?

Areas to Cover:

• The nature of the criticism received
• Initial emotional reaction
• How they processed the feedback
• Actions taken in response to the feedback
• How they communicated with the person who provided the feedback
• Evidence of growth or change resulting from the feedback
• Long-term impact on their approach to receiving criticism

Follow-Up Questions:

• What was your initial reaction to this feedback?
• How did you decide which aspects of the feedback to act upon?
• What specific changes did you make based on this feedback?
• How has this experience affected the way you give feedback to others?

Describe a situation where you had to maintain a positive attitude despite challenging circumstances. What was your approach?

Areas to Cover:

• The nature and extent of the challenging circumstances
• Impact of the challenges on the candidate and their team
• Specific strategies used to maintain positivity
• How they influenced others during this difficult time
• Obstacles to maintaining a positive outlook
• The outcome of the situation
• Lessons learned about resilience

Follow-Up Questions:

• What specific techniques did you use to stay positive during this time?
• How did you help others maintain their motivation or morale?
• Were there moments when your positive attitude wavered? How did you handle those?
• What did you learn about yourself through this challenge?

Tell me about a time when you had to adapt to a significant change at work. How did you approach it?

Areas to Cover:

• The nature and scope of the change
• Initial reaction to the change
• Specific challenges the change presented
• Steps taken to adapt to the new situation
• How they influenced others during the transition
• Results of their adaptation efforts
• Lessons learned about flexibility and adaptability

Follow-Up Questions:

• What was your initial reaction when you learned about this change?
• What specific steps did you take to adapt to the new situation?
• How did you help others who might have been struggling with the change?
• How has this experience influenced how you approach changes now?

Describe a situation where you had to work on a task or project that you weren't particularly excited about. How did you approach it?

Areas to Cover:

• The nature of the task and why it wasn't appealing
• The candidate's initial mindset
• Strategies used to motivate themselves
• How they maintained quality and commitment despite lack of enthusiasm
• Communication with others about the task
• The outcome of their work
• Lessons learned about professionalism and motivation

Follow-Up Questions:

• How did you shift your mindset to approach this task constructively?
• What specific strategies did you use to stay motivated?
• How did you ensure the quality of your work didn't suffer?
• What did you learn from this experience that you've applied to other situations?

Tell me about a time when you had to balance multiple competing priorities with tight deadlines. How did you handle the pressure?

Areas to Cover:

• The nature of the competing priorities
• The specific pressures and challenges involved
• Organization and planning strategies used
• How they maintained composure under pressure
• Decisions made about prioritization
• Communication with stakeholders about constraints
• The outcome of their efforts
• Lessons learned about handling pressure

Follow-Up Questions:

• What specific strategies did you use to stay organized and focused?
• How did you communicate with others about your constraints and priorities?
• Were there moments when the pressure affected your attitude? How did you handle those?
• What would you do differently if faced with a similar situation again?

Describe a situation where you had to go above and beyond your normal responsibilities to help achieve a goal. What motivated you?

Areas to Cover:

• The context and importance of the goal
• What "going above and beyond" entailed
• Their internal motivation for taking on extra responsibilities
• Challenges faced during this process
• How they balanced additional work with existing responsibilities
• The outcome of their efforts
• What they learned about their own motivations and capabilities

Follow-Up Questions:

• What specifically motivated you to take on these additional responsibilities?
• How did you maintain your energy and commitment throughout the process?
• How did this experience impact your approach to your regular responsibilities?
• What did you learn about yourself through this experience?

Tell me about a time when you had to work as part of a team where not everyone was pulling their weight. How did you handle the situation?

Areas to Cover:

• The nature of the team dynamics
• Specific challenges created by uneven contributions
• The candidate's initial reaction and emotions
• Actions taken to address the situation
• How they maintained a positive attitude despite frustrations
• Impact on team outcomes
• Lessons learned about teamwork and leadership

Follow-Up Questions:

• How did you initially feel when you realized some team members weren't contributing equally?
• What specific steps did you take to improve the situation?
• How did you balance addressing the issue while maintaining positive relationships?
• What would you do differently if faced with a similar situation in the future?

Describe a time when you had to persist through multiple obstacles to achieve a goal. What kept you going?

Areas to Cover:

• The nature and importance of the goal
• Specific obstacles encountered
• Strategies used to overcome each obstacle
• How they maintained motivation despite setbacks
• Support systems or resources leveraged
• The eventual outcome
• Lessons learned about persistence and resilience

Follow-Up Questions:

• What was the biggest obstacle you faced, and how did you overcome it?
• Were there moments when you considered giving up? What kept you going?
• How did you maintain your confidence throughout this challenging process?
• How has this experience influenced how you approach difficult goals now?

Tell me about a situation where you had to deal with a significant disappointment at work. How did you process and move forward from it?

Areas to Cover:

• The nature of the disappointment
• Initial emotional reaction
• How they processed their emotions
• Actions taken to address the situation
• Communication with others about the disappointment
• Time frame for emotional recovery
• What they learned from the experience

Follow-Up Questions:

• How did you manage your initial emotional response to this disappointment?
• What helped you gain perspective on the situation?
• How long did it take you to fully move past this disappointment?
• What would you do differently if faced with a similar disappointment in the future?

Describe a time when you had to work in an environment or culture that didn't align perfectly with your preferences. How did you adapt?

Areas to Cover:

• The nature of the misalignment between personal preferences and the environment
• Specific challenges this created
• Strategies used to adapt effectively
• How they maintained professionalism despite discomfort
• Efforts to understand and appreciate different perspectives
• Impact on their performance and wellbeing
• Lessons learned about adaptability and cultural fit

Follow-Up Questions:

• What specific aspects of the environment or culture were most challenging for you?
• What strategies did you use to adapt while staying true to your values?
• How did this experience affect your understanding of workplace culture?
• What did you learn about yourself through this challenge?

Tell me about a time when you turned a negative situation into a positive one. What was your approach?

Areas to Cover:

• The nature of the initial negative situation
• The candidate's initial reaction
• Specific steps taken to reframe or improve the situation
• How they influenced others' perspectives
• Challenges faced in shifting the dynamic
• The positive outcome achieved
• Lessons learned about optimism and problem-solving

Follow-Up Questions:

• What specifically helped you see the opportunity in this situation?
• How did you convince others to adopt a more positive perspective?
• What obstacles did you face in turning things around?
• How has this experience influenced how you approach negative situations now?

Describe a situation where you had to remain calm and professional despite feeling frustrated or upset. How did you manage your emotions?

Areas to Cover:

• The context and cause of the frustration
• The potential impact of expressing negative emotions
• Specific techniques used to maintain composure
• How they processed their emotions privately
• Communication strategies used
• The outcome of the situation
• Lessons learned about emotional regulation

Follow-Up Questions:

• What specific techniques did you use to maintain your composure in the moment?
• How did you process your emotions after the situation?
• Has there been a time when your emotions did get the better of you? What did you learn from that?
• How has this experience influenced how you handle similar situations now?

Tell me about a time when you had to motivate yourself to complete a challenging or tedious task. What strategies did you use?

Areas to Cover:

• The nature of the task and why it was challenging or tedious
• Initial attitude toward the task
• Specific motivation strategies employed
• How they maintained focus and quality
• Any creative approaches to making the task more engaging
• The outcome of their efforts
• Lessons learned about self-motivation

Follow-Up Questions:

• What specific technique was most effective in maintaining your motivation?
• How did you break down the task to make it more manageable?
• How did you reward yourself for progress?
• What have you learned about what motivates you personally?

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are attitude-focused interview questions important in the hiring process?

Attitude questions reveal how candidates handle challenges, work with others, and approach their responsibilities. Unlike technical skills that can be taught, attitude is deeply ingrained and difficult to change. Research shows that employees with positive attitudes are more productive, collaborative, and resilient, making this assessment critical for predicting long-term success and cultural fit within your organization.

How can I differentiate between a candidate who has genuinely positive attitude versus one who is just giving polished interview answers?

Look for consistency and specificity in their examples. Candidates with genuine positive attitudes will provide detailed stories with specific emotions, challenges, and growth moments rather than generic or idealized answers. Use probing follow-up questions to dig deeper, listen for candidness about struggles alongside solutions, and watch for non-verbal cues that align with their stories. Multiple questions across different scenarios will also reveal patterns that are difficult to fake.

How many attitude-related questions should I include in an interview?

Include 3-4 well-chosen attitude questions with thorough follow-up rather than many superficial ones. This approach allows you to explore the depth of candidates' experiences while still covering other essential competencies. Select questions that address different aspects of attitude (resilience, collaboration, adaptability) and that relate specifically to challenges they might face in the role.

Should I evaluate attitude differently for junior versus senior positions?

While the core elements of a positive attitude remain important at all levels, you should adjust your expectations based on experience. For junior roles, look for foundational attitudes like openness to feedback, eagerness to learn, and basic resilience. For senior positions, evaluate more complex dimensions like maintaining positivity during organizational change, modeling constructive attitudes for teams, and balancing optimism with pragmatism when facing strategic challenges.

If a candidate shares an example where they struggled with their attitude, should this be viewed negatively?

Not necessarily – honesty about struggles can actually indicate self-awareness and growth mindset. The key is how they learned and improved from the experience. A candidate who can honestly discuss how they overcame an attitude challenge and what they learned often demonstrates more authenticity and potential for growth than one who claims to have never struggled with maintaining a positive attitude.

Interested in a full interview guide with Attitude as a key competency? Sign up for Yardstick and build it for free.

‍