Top Communication Interview Questions and Answers

We can never overemphasize the importance of communication skills. In any environment you find yourself in, the ability to properly communicate what is in your mind almost always comes second to none. The same thing applies when you’re providing answers to top communication interview questions.

Imagine you have been working your ass off trying to land that dream job. After several gruesome hours of hard work and silent prayers, you get a call saying you have an interview scheduled!

Now you’re feeling thrilled, excited, and simultaneously nervous. It makes no sense to be worried, yet you are breaking into a cold sweat. It’s the interview day; the hour is finally upon you.

Upon entering the interview room, you meet this innocent and harmless-looking person that is supposed to interview you; still, you cannot find the strength to calm your racing heart.

Do you wonder why that is? Perhaps the answer to that question is lost on you.

You are nervous because you do not know the type of question that will be thrown your way. If you do not know what you will be asked, you certainly cannot prepare any answer consequently.

This article is a cheat sheet for the top communication interview questions. Knowing what to expect undoubtedly boosts your confidence, especially when preparing your answers beforehand.

What Your Interviewer Looks Out For

While being interviewed by the hiring manager, they look out for a few things.

Things like your communication skills, how effectively you can communicate, how you can deal with difficult work-related situations, and whether or not you are a team player. All these things mentioned are more or less linked with your ability to listen, observe, and communicate.

This article is a cheat sheet because I have narrowed down many possible top communication interview questions.

For prospective program managers, see the Top 10 Program Manager Interview Questions | 2023

Here are the top communication interview questions.

Top Communication Interview Questions

• Do you work well with other people?
• Tell me about yourself.
• How would your co-workers describe your personality?
• What significant challenges and problems have you faced? How did you handle them?
• Describe a difficult work situation/project and how you overcame it.
• What have you learned from your mistakes?
• What was it like working for your supervisor?
• How do you handle stress and pressure?
• What can you offer us?

We’ll briefly review all these questions and highlight their purpose and the best way to answer them.

1. Do You Work Well With Others?

In every workspace, you find yourself, your colleagues, and superiors always loving a team player. Being a team player doesn’t only entail being selfless by putting the goal first before your own whims and desires; it also entails being able to communicate effectively.

You have to be able to relay instructions perfectly to carry everyone along to achieve the best possible result.

Communication is a two-way street in that you have to be good at conveying your messages and listening to the people around you.

If you do not listen attentively, odds are you will not be a good team player as you are liable to miss out on key points that will hold heavily on the outcome of the workplace goals, long-term or otherwise.

Keep this in mind when preparing a good answer.

2. Tell Me About Yourself

Funny enough, one of the hardest things to do is accurately tell others about ourselves. The moment you are asked to do so, a million and one things fly through your mind, then the brain goes blank, and you are stuck stuttering.

The trick behind answering one of the communication interview questions is to do it expertly and look confident while doing it is making a quick mental list.

In this list, mark out the things that you love doing the most, your passions, your ideals, and your personal code of conduct.

When you talk about these things like a typical conversation you would have with your friend, you will come off as someone comfortable in their skin and quite self-aware. Confidence is attractive. Before heading out for that interview, do a quick soul-search.

3. How would your co-workers describe your personality?

Some experts believe that is, in fact, a trick question. Its main purpose is to see how you perceive yourself from the viewpoint of others.

Trick question or not, stick to this cheat sheet, and you can blow through it. The thing to do here is to describe your personality as YOU see it.

Here’s the thing; when you are always yourself, odds are everyone will come to see you for who you are without many varying opinions. You are you, and that’s just it.

Do not fall for the trick by trying to make yourself look like the best human being that has ever walked the earth. While giving a positive, lasting impression is good, you should avoid overdoing it.

4. What major challenges and problems have you faced? How did you handle them?

One way of knowing if one is a good communicator is by being able to talk about your challenges with relative ease. Many people are not good at talking about unpleasant memories for several reasons.

When you tell someone about the major challenges you have faced, you share an intimate part of your being with them, and doing that fosters some form of trust.

You need to be able to trust your colleagues and them. Take a deep breath, and take a trip down memory lane. Talk about the challenge and how you handled it as though you were talking to an old friend.

5. Describe a Difficult Work Situation and How You Overcame it.

This question is quite similar to the one I just finished talking about. The difference isn’t so big, so the approach remains the same. Also, this question aims to ascertain how diligent and resilient you are and to confirm if you are truly a team player.

Let’s assume you get this dream job, and everything seems like a ‘dream’; eventually, you will have to experience some tough work-related situations.

When that moment comes, and it is a definite ‘when,’ it will confirm what you told the hiring manager during the course of your interview.

Different work-related problems require different skills to navigate, but diligence, resilience, and good teamwork will ultimately be at the core of your success.

6. What have you learned from your Mistakes?

We can only grow as people by making mistakes and learning from them. The essence of the question is to discern if you are someone that can use their failures as a stepping stone to reach greater heights.

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7. What was it like working for your supervisor?

The next question in our compiled list of top communication interview questions concerns your experience in your last workplace when dealing with your supervisor.

This is quite straightforward. Based on your experience, your hiring manager can know what kind of subordinate you are.

8. How Do You Handle Stress And Pressure?

Your ability to manage stress and pressure well is an indispensable skill. There are times in the course of working when the pressure of deadlines and other factors will begin to pile up.

Are you the time to communicate and handle such pressure professionally or are you the type to lash out at co-workers and display some undesirable traits? Be sure your supervisor will keep a close eye on this.

9. What can you offer us?

This is another trick question. Your hiring manager already has your resume; he/she has studied it and is well aware of your skills, capabilities, and achievements. So, why ask this question when they are aware?

This question goes a long way in measuring your confidence and sense of self-worth. Sure, you may have some really good scoring points on your resume, but being able to sell your achievements and skills verbally is a whole different ball game.

The mistake people often make here is to overdo it. Overdoing often borders on lies. Lies are a fat NO in any interview.

Here is the trick; you achieved what you have achieved in the past, not someone else. Even if you had a little help on the way, it doesn’t matter; everyone needs help occasionally.

Use those achievements, the skills you learned along the way, and the lessons you learned from your failures; use them to tell your hiring manager the good things you can confidently and will offer the firm.

Some of the skills employers seek include; communication, teamwork, critical thinking, problem-solving, leadership, flexibility, and professionalism. Make sure you have these, as well as scenarios, to back them up.

Not interested in the interview anymore? See tips on How to Cancel a Job Interview | 2023 Job Tips

How Do You Prepare For a Communications Interview?

First, be well prepared. Make sure you do your research about the company. Also, you might want to look and appear confident and communicate your answers effectively and brilliantly. After all, it is a communications interview.

Also, Don’t speak poorly about your present or former employers; don’t tell lies or false stories! Lies are a no-no. Lastly, make a good impression through your walk, actions, the way you talk, manners, etc.

Things You Should Not Say in a Communications Interview

While providing top answers to questions in a communication interview, be careful not to say the following:

• Be positive. Ensure to keep your answers positive when you respond. Your responses will help show your interviewer your communication skills.
• Don’t overdo things. Effective communication is sometimes saying less rather than more. Most times, less means more. So, keep your answers brief and focused.
• Don’t forget to be attentive. Listening is one of the most important communication skills. Ensure you listen to each question carefully before you answer so that your answer matches what you’re being asked.

FAQs

Conclusion

This brings us to the end of our list of top communication interview questions. When you read this carefully, take your time before the big interview day and map everything.

If necessary, write your answers down and practice them in front of a mirror; this is a highly advised practice.

Use this cheat sheet diligently; with enough practice, you won’t break into a cold sweat or get a racing heart.

You will confidently walk into that office, leaving an excellent first impression on the hiring manager.

References

• indeed.com – Communication Skills Interview Questions With Example Answers
• talentlyft.com – Communication skills Interview Questions
• resources.workable.com – Communication interview questions and answers

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