30 Communication Skills Interview Questions & How To Answer Them

Prepare to answer the recruiter's questions.

Professionals across all industries and career levels need to effectively communicate with co-workers, managers, customers, or external partners. For this reason, "strong communication skills" is a popular requirement in job postings.

Employers rank communication skills as the most important in new hires. Moreover, 86% of executives believe that the lack of communication and collaboration is to blame for most workplace failures.

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General communication skills questions	details...
Verbal communication skills questions	details...
Written communication skills interview questions	details...
Conflict resolution and feedback skills	details...

During job interviews, hiring managers test the communication skills of candidates, mostly by asking behavioral interview questions.

In this post, you will find questions that companies use to test communication styles and skills in candidates so you can practice them at home and make an excellent impression during your next job interview.

What do communication skills mean, exactly?

Effective communication is a sought-after skill. Yet, it appears in job descriptions of all kinds, and it might be tough to understand what exactly employers expect.

HR managers define communication skills as the ability to convey information to others in a simple and unambiguous way. It also includes understanding instructions, conveying the message appropriately to different audiences, understanding the emotions of others, and building positive relationships in the workplace.

Good communication skills include verbal and non-verbal communication, including body language, maintaining eye contact, and knowledge of communication tools.

Most large and mid-sized companies look for candidates with strong verbal and written communication skills. To access them, they use behavioral interview questions, questionnaires, and situational judgment tests.

What do communication skills include?

When asking for strong communication skills, hiring managers also look for these skills that all great communicators have:

• respectful communication and active listening skills
• persuasion and presentation skills (with visual aids)
• emotional intelligence and empathy
• ability to build positive relationships at work
• ability to overcome communication challenges and navigate conflicts.

Are communication skills essential for every profession?

To assess the candidate's communication skills, employers consider their job titles and overall competencies. Roughly speaking, we can divide professionals into two categories.

For the first group, good communication skills are a key professional competency. This group includes sales managers, project managers, Human Resources professionals, SMM managers, and department heads. They interact with clients, vendors, external partners, or multiple subordinates. For a professional in this group, poor communication skills hinder their ability to get the job done. Thus, you need to demonstrate persuasion, presentation, conflict mediation, cultural sensitivity, and lots of related communication abilities.

The second group are professionals for whom but communication and negotiation aren't primary responsibilities. Examples of such professionals are data analysts, accountants, software developers, visual artists, and researchers. These are mostly analytical jobs that don't require heavy people interaction. Employers check the employee's ability to adapt to a new team, handle negative feedback, and collaborate effectively in a team.

Why do employers assess communication skills?

• To understand your cultural fit. Candidates whose communication style is different from the team's will have a hard time fitting it.
• To find a top performer. If you have great communication and collaboration skills, you'll resolve issues proactively and achieve better results at work.
• To boost morale and job satisfaction. If coworkers communicate effectively, it creates a productive job environment which in turn leads to increased engagement and job satisfaction.

Now, let's have a look at specific questions companies use to test the candidate's ability to communicate during the interview process.

General communication skills questions

Employers ask these basic communication skills interview questions to candidates in every industry. These questions check how well you convey your message to the recipient and make your point. Plus, employers check the candidate's ability to interact well with a team, negotiate, and communicate remotely.

1. Tell me about a time when you made the most out of your communication skills. How did it benefit the employer?
2. Describe a time when you had to communicate complex information to a non-technical audience.
3. Explain how gravity works to your five-year-old nephew.
4. How do you handle misunderstanding and communication issues in the workplace?
5. Would you prefer in-person or written communication and why?
6. How do you manage multiple channels of communication, including, email, chats, phone, and in-person meetings?
7. Imagine a situation where your coworker diminishes your contribution to the project in public. What will you do?
8. You know that your supervisor is 100% wrong about something. What steps will you take?

Wondering how to highlight your communication skills on a resume? Read our guide on listing these skills effectively.

Verbal communication skills questions

These questions check how well you handle in-person interactions. Employers want to know your active listening skills, how you use non-verbal cues, and persuade others. Moreover, these interview questions check your adaptability and cultural sensitivity in communication.

1. Describe a time when you had to communicate complex information to a non-technical audience.
2. How do you ensure that you listen actively during in-person or virtual meetings and other events?
3. Tell about a situation when you had to adapt your communication to a different culture.
4. How do you control non-verbal communication and ensure its consistency with your words?
5. Tell me about a time when you had to communicate with a difficult audience.
6. Describe a time when you had to handle a difficult conversation with your coworker or subordinate.
7. Have you ever had to deliver a presentation before a client or management with no proper preparation? How did you handle it and what challenges did you face?
8. Tell me about a time you resolved a misunderstanding at the workplace. What did you do?
9. Could you tell me about a situation when you had to convey complex ideas to a non-technical audience?

Written communication skills interview questions

These interview questions are important for remote employees and those who communicate with clients and stakeholders in writing. A hiring manager might ask about your communication style, what tools you use, and how you communicate critical information and ensure transparent communication in your texts.

1. How do you ensure clarity and effective message delivery in written communication?
2. What are your preferred written communication channels?
3. How do you tailor your writing style and tone of voice to different audiences in written communication?
4. Describe a time when you used your written communication skills to persuade a key stakeholder about something.
5. How do you ensure transparent and open communication with remote teams?
6. What communication methods and project management tools do you use to communicate project progress to all stakeholders on time?
7. Tell about a situation when you had to describe a project vision to a remote team.

Conflict resolution and feedback skills

These skills are essential for managers and supervisors but are also helpful for those working in a team. Employers check how you act during the conflict, what steps you take to resolve misunderstandings, and overcome communication barriers.

1. What does constructive criticism mean to you? What feedback do you need to improve your performance?
2. What do you do if you encounter a drawback in team communication?
3. Tell me about a situation when you resolved a conflict using communication and active listening skills.
4. How do you provide feedback to your subordinates?
5. Describe a time when you mediated a conflict between team members.
6. How do you foster open communication and collaboration among team members?

How to answer communication skills interview questions?

1. Use the STAR method. To give effective answers to skills interview questions, apply the STAR (Situation - Task - Action - Result) technique. Describe a challenge or a situation you faced, the specific task you had to resolve, actions you decided to take, and the result it led to.
2. Share accomplishments. Add numbers and percentages if possible when listing your accomplishments. For example, when speaking that you resolved issues with client communication, specify how it improved satisfaction or retention.
3. Be concise. Ideally, respond to interview questions in 5-7 sentences. Thus, you will describe the situation effectively and not bore the recruiter with unnecessary details.
4. Don't lie. If you have never delivered presentation to a large audience, don't stretch the truth. Everything will be revealed once you get hired, and you risk losing the job.

Example answers to communication interview questions

1. Tell me about a time when you had to resolve a conflict in a team.

"During the software development project, two senior developers disagreed on the approach to developing a key component of the new website. I facilitated a meeting, encouraging them to express their viewpoints. After actively listening to both developers, we found out that Jack's solution was more cost-effective for the project. I also noticed that Tim has plenty of good ideas which we also incorporated, leading to a positive project outcome."

2. Describe a time you had to communicate complex ideas to a non-technical audience.

"As a senior marketer, I had to explain to the older business owner what tools and strategies I use for online business promotion. I simplified technical jargon and used visual aids and analogies to explain the peculiarities of social media ads and SEO strategy. They approved my marketing plan, which led to a 20% increase in sales in the next six months."

3. What are your preferred written communication channels?

"In my previous role, I preferred email for formal reports and documentation exchange with leaders and prospects. For discussions with the team and my supervisor, I used Slack and Microsoft Teams. Yet, I am more than comfortable adapting to new messaging platforms and ways of communication that your team is using."

4. Have you ever had to deliver a presentation with no proper preparation? How did you manage?

"Once I had to deliver a presentation about our software solution to a client with very little notice. I reviewed the presentation quickly to focus on key benefits and address potential concerns. My main challenge was to beat nervousness as I didn't feel comfortable speaking in public. I relied on stress relief techniques and focused on delivering value to the client, which helped me deliver a convincing presentation."

5. How do you approach building positive relationships with coworkers?

"I believe in the power of doing something nice for my colleagues. I sometimes bring some cookies and sweets to the office, can get a coffee for a coworker who is overwhelmed, and ready to help others as long as it doesn't interfere with my work duties. I also treat everyone with respect and consideration, which helps me thrive in multicultural teams."

How do companies assess candidates communication skills?

When listening to your answers, potential employers pay attention to specific criteria. Here is what they will look for in your responses:

• Real-life examples. When answering any communication-related question, use a real example. Specify in what situation and context you had to communicate and what goal you needed to achieve. Thus, your responses will be more informative for recruiters.
• Ability to adapt your communication style. You'll need to speak differently to a non-technical prospect and a team leader of the software development team. Show your ability to adjust your communication style and ways depending on the audience, context, and situation.
• Empathy and unbiased thinking. In conflict situations or when dealing with dissatisfied clients, empathy and the ability to understand others' perspectives are priceless. When describing how you resolved conflicts or misunderstandings, capitalize on these traits.
• Proficiency with all types of communication. In the modern workplace, you should effectively communicate in person, on the phone, by email, and in messengers.

Red flags that can turn off the recruiter

When you know that the interviewer evaluates your communication skills, make sure to avoid these mistakes:

• Being rude or arrogant. Complimenting the hiring manager in an unprofessional manner, interrupting them, and acting too casual instantly show communication skills. During an interview, you should be professional and respectful.
• Poor self-presentation skills. If you struggle to speak about your previous project or your biggest achievements, it can raise concerns. The recruiter might think that you have poor communication skills and will struggle to communicate effectively at work. Or, they might assume that you're hiding something.
• Bad body language. If you sit with your legs crossed, don't make eye contact, and trim your hair, it shows nervousness and insecurity. Bad body language during the interview often means that you'll have a hard time communicating with coworkers or clients.
• Too long/too short answers. Avoid answering the communication interview questions with one sentence, or worse yet, a couple of words. Your goal is to sell your skills to the interviewer, so you want to give detailed answers, showcase examples, and get your point across. On the flip side, you don't want to tell an endless story about your skills and achievements that will take too much time.

Answering communication skills questions: Key takeaways

• Effective communication skills are sought-after for all types of roles, from sales, PR, and management positions to administrative, creative, and finance roles.
• Practice your answers to popular communication skills interview questions. It will help you give a structured response and prove your interpersonal skills to a recruiter.
• Use the STAR method to illustrate how you communicate in different context, and list achievements if possible.
• Avoid popular interview mistakes, such as closed-off body language, very short responses, or acting too casual.

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