What do you do if a team member disagrees with you during a software development interview?

3 Ask questions and learn from them

Another way to handle a disagreement is to ask questions and learn from the team member's point of view. You may not know everything about the problem domain, the company's standards, or the best practices in the industry, so it’s beneficial to gain some insights and knowledge from someone who has more experience or expertise. You may inquire about how they would solve the problem differently, what advantages and disadvantages their solution has compared to yours, what common pitfalls or challenges they have encountered with this type of problem, and how they test or debug their code in this scenario. Asking questions demonstrates that you are curious, humble, and open to learning - qualities that are essential for a software developer.

4 Agree to disagree and move on

Finally, if you and the team member cannot reach a consensus or a compromise, you can agree to disagree and move on. You can express your appreciation for their perspective and feedback, while still maintaining your solution is valid. Respect their opinion and experience, but also explain your reasons and constraints for your choice. You don't have to agree with everything they say, as long as you can justify your choices and respect theirs. Nonetheless, avoid dwelling on the disagreement or letting it affect your performance or attitude for the rest of the interview. Instead, focus on the next question or task, demonstrating your enthusiasm and interest in the role and the company.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?