Answers to situational questions during job interviews do not have to be divorced from reality. In fact, some of the best use actual events.
Start by addressing the hypothetical situation, but shift gears if you can think of a true story that parallels the fictional one. For example, if you are asked how you would handle a difficult colleague, do not hesitate to tell a true story of an actual difficult colleague and the steps you took to manage the situation effectively.
Stories from real life make better examples than what-ifs. In this context, of course, the only stories you should tell are those with happy endings.
Piles more tips here, of course.
