communication-skills-interview-questions-and-answers

clendar October 11, 2023

clendar 13 minutes

34479 Viewers

Summary:

Communication skills are crucial in job interviews, as they allow hiring managers to assess a candidate’s ability to interact effectively in the workplace. Key interview questions often focus on verbal and non-verbal communication, listening abilities, and emotional intelligence. Employers look for candidates who can express themselves clearly, collaborate well with others, and resolve conflicts efficiently. Examples of strong answers include highlighting team-oriented experiences, conflict resolution strategies, and accomplishments related to communication. Preparing for these questions with specific examples can significantly improve your chances of showcasing your communication skills effectively during the interview.

Getting the communication skills interview questions and answers right is key to landing a job at any company. At any job interview, the hiring manager will ask about your communication skills. It includes how you handle challenging situations and the style of communication you expect from management.

Employers always seek employees who can get along with others and who have a good grasp of verbal and non-verbal communication. This article is here to help you with how to respond to communication skills interview questions and answers. We’ll also review examples of some of the best answers to the most frequently asked questions. So, let’s get started!

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What are Communication Skills Interview
Questions and Answers?

Communication skills interview questions and answers are used during an interview to help a hiring manager gauge the candidate’s competency.

Why interviewers test communication skills? These help managers and HR understand how well a candidate can interact with others. Additionally, it helps interviewers use candidates’ responses to these behavioural and competency-based questions about communication.

Gauging and analysing your behaviour during the interview also helps to determine the level of your verbal and non-verbal communication abilities. So, planning your responses beforehand will result in a stronger interview. Not to mention, it will make you stand out among other candidates.

What the Interviewer Wants to Know

There are many things an interviewer evaluates in an interview. For instance,

How good are your verbal and non-verbal communication skills?
How articulate are you?
How are your listening skills?
What does your body language say about you?
Do you make eye contact when you speak to the interviewers?

These things say a lot about what kind of people you are and how well you’d fit in their organisation. Therefore, it’s important to be self-aware and prepare well for an interview.

Here are some of the most common communication skills the interviewers look for in a candidate –

Verbal communication skills
Non-verbal communication skills
Listening skills
Confidence
Empathy
Respect for others
Friendliness

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How to Prepare for Communication Skills Interview Questions and Answers?

At a job interview, in addition to the responses you give to the questions, your ability to communicate will also be evaluated. For instance, what are your verbal and non-verbal communication skills like? They will also focus on how you frame your answers and how articulate you are. Make sure not to interrupt the conversation or try to be dominating. Always focus on what the interviewees are saying at first and pause to gather your thoughts.

The purpose of interviewing and asking questions is not only to gain information from you. It is also to understand how you communicate through verbal tone and non-verbal expressions. Sometimes, interviews can be challenging even for the best communicators. Always listen to what the interviewer is asking in order to provide a well thought out response to questions.

Take some time out to practice if you need to brush up on your communication skills in interview questions and answers. The more comfortable you get in the role of an interviewee, the easier it will be to showcase how well you can communicate.

Recommended Reading

20+ Effective Communication Skills (Good for a Resume)

The Importance of Listening Skills in Communication

Communication Skills Interview Questions & Answers

The key to workplace success for almost any position is great communication skills. And it is particularly true for any type of communication jobs. In any job interview, you can expect to field questions about the intricacies of your ability to communicate. So, you can prepare in advance by reviewing the most commonly asked interview questions.

With that in mind, we have put together 9 essential communication skills interview questions and answers. Practising the best answers will help you in formulating your own unique responses.

How Would You Describe Yourself?

This question gives a chance for candidates to illustrate their ability to effectively function within a particular position. You also get an understanding of your own ability to communicate.

An example answer would be:

“I am committed to adding value to the workplace through effective communication and listening skills. I like to think of myself as a great team player. My previous work experience has equipped me with the ability to lead and listen in a way that ensures I’m on the same page as my team. I make sure my colleagues and subordinates feel heard and understood.”

How Well Do You Work with Others?

This question is crucial to understanding whether a candidate is capable of working in teams and alongside others. Strong communication skills are needed to work with others. So, candidates who enjoy working with others often have the ability to effectively communicate.

Here is an example response that might come in handy:

“The success I have achieved in my role as a social media manager can largely be attributed to my ability to effectively communicate. By working with other team members and listening to the employees I oversee, it has allowed me to continuously motivate and improve my team’s performance. Our entire team managed to increase their productivity through regular communication and dedication.”

How Would You Show Strong Communication Skills at Work?

This question comes with an opportunity for you to show how well you control your emotional responses. And how nicely you can relay important messages through verbal and non-verbal cues. One of the best ways to answer this is to base your response on the core job requirements.

You can go about it in this way:

“I always speak up when it is necessary. In the last quarter at my work, I disagreed with my project manager, who was eager to send in our plan to the client. But during our final meeting, I noticed that we had missed a key point that our client really valued.

So, I halted the plan immediately and convinced our team members to work on the plan for a couple more days before presenting. Although we didn’t meet our specified deadline, we delivered quality work. And the client was happy enough that the missed deadline issue never came up.”

Tell us about a Time of Conflict and What Role You Played in Resolving it?

With this question, the interviewer is testing to verify whether you can keep a cool head under pressure.

You should approach the question with the STAR method. Try to focus more on resolution instead of the conflict itself.

Here is an example:

“I believe, to manage conflict, it is important to have empathy and understand the other person’s perspective. The key to conflict resolution is to listen to what the other person says and to read their body language.

So, I try as much as I can to understand the situation from the other person’s point of view. I go about this by coming up with possible solutions and consulting with them to understand what will meet their needs.”

Tell Us About Your Greatest Accomplishment?

This question is asked with interest in getting to know you and how you define success. So, your answer to this behavioural interview question should celebrate a major personal or professional accomplishment. Ideally, the accomplishment you describe should be related to the communication field.

An example answer could be:

“I volunteered as a fundraising coordinator for a non-profit organisation. It is something I’m very proud of because the money I help raise allows the organisation to help new immigrants find jobs. Last November, we had a fundraising drive and I spent most of my weekends and evenings calling donors. I was successfully able to exceed the fundraising goals by £5000 which was a great accomplishment for me.”

Where do You See Yourself in Five Years?

This is one of the most frequent communication skills interview questions and answers. Keep in mind that your potential employer will be spending a lot of time and money to get you up to speed.

So, hearing about you wanting a diverse career with different companies will definitely not help you make the cut. Your answer to this question should include natural career progression. Progression should be front of the position that you are interviewing for to more senior roles.

Try answering something along these lines:

“Naturally, I would like to start out in a position that allows me to master the skills necessary to move onto a more senior position. I do realise that my success will also depend on having a strong understanding of the company’s foundation and structure. And this goes without saying, I would love to progress into more senior roles with the company when the time is right.”

What Skills do you Possess that might give you a Headstart in the Communication Field?

The interviewer is asking this question to make sure you have an understanding of the skills that are necessary for the role. Make sure to include descriptions of a mix of hard skills and soft skills in your answer.

An example answer could be:

“Throughout my work experience and education, I’ve always tried to develop strong communication skills. And I have made sure to clearly convey points to different audiences. I also like to think of myself as a good listener, which aids in my ability to intimately understand a situation. And it further allows me to prepare an appropriate response. I also believe that my strong organisational skills will also be an asset in this role.”

What Measures Would You take to Succeed in your Role?

Your interviewer wants to know whether you have an ongoing motivation and commitment to learning. They want to hear whether you will be taking an active role in keeping your professional knowledge and skills up to date.

Here’s how you should respond:

“For me, learning is an ongoing process that I plan to continue throughout my career. I try to take an active part in keeping my skills sharp by reading industry articles. I also enjoy attending communication workshops and events.”

Why should We Hire You?

This is one of the trickiest communication skills interview questions and answers where most candidates go wrong. With this question, you get a chance to sell yourself, but don’t be overly boastful or pompous. Instead, begin with a modest statement and then display quiet confidence by providing a tangible example of your success in the past.

Additionally, mention any special skills you have that will be valuable to the role. This way, you can prove that you will be a great fit for this role.

Here’s how you should reply for Communication Skills Interview:

“Since I don’t have an idea about your pool of candidates, I can’t really tell if I’m the best or not. But I can say that I will be able to hit the ground running, as I did for my previous employer. And I can surely provide tangible, positive results. For example, during my first quarter with ABC telecoms, I ranked as the #1 salesperson in the western region, using my knowledge to increase my client base by 40%.”

Conclusion on Communication Skills Interview Questions & Answers

Communication skills interview questions and answers are asked to understand how candidates will communicate with others in this multifaceted workplace. So, exhibiting effective communication skills during an interview assures potential employers that you are a viable candidate for the position. Remember, confidence and preparation are critical for you to shine in the interview.

Become interview ready with our Effective Communication Skills course and master the successful strategies to improve your communication skills. Develop your interpersonal skills and become an expert communicator.

FAQs

How would you describe your communication skills?

Strong communicator with clear, concise, and empathetic delivery, adapting to diverse audiences and fostering collaboration.

How do you introduce yourself in an interview?

Start with your name, current role or education, key skills, and relevant experience. Keep it concise, confident, and aligned with the job.

How would you demonstrate communication skills in an interview?

Show communication skills in an interview by speaking clearly, listening actively, and responding thoughtfully. Use examples, maintain eye contact, and adapt your tone to the conversation.

What would you say is your type of communication style?

Direct, adaptable, and empathetic, focusing on clarity and understanding while tailoring responses to the audience.

How many years of work experience do you have with communication?

Years of communication experience depend on your roles. Share specific examples to highlight your expertise.

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The Secret to Communicating: Interview Questions and Answers

Find the Course That Suits You!

What are Communication Skills Interview
Questions and Answers?

What the Interviewer Wants to Know

How to Prepare for Communication Skills Interview Questions and Answers?