Communication Interview Questions

Download the free template for the best communication interview questions to improve the quality of your interview process.

In the modern world, the ability to communicate effectively has become a primary requirement in practically any workplace. Additionally, the employees are expected to be team players with modern workspaces, stressing the importance of delegating tasks to teams. As a result, communication skills are essential for every candidate since they need to communicate effectively with their teammates.

What is the use of communication interview questions?

There are several other benefits of communication interview questions. It is widely used in interviews for the following reasons:

• Effective ability to communicate helps avoid long conversations, thereby saving time.

• Presentations become more effective with clear and crisp communication

• Difficult situations can be handled with grace and tact by a good communicative leader

• Staff that communicate with the clients can be more empathetic

• Intra-team coordination becomes much easier.

What parameters are tested with communication skills interview questions?

Multiple communication-related parameters are tested by asking communication skills interview questions. Most of these queries are situational, requiring the candidate to think and answer the query. It helps the interviewer understand their mindset, situational awareness as well as their ability to communicate effectively.

What communication skills are the recruiters looking for?

During an interview, the interviewer is actively trying to find some positive signs that would help them find the ideal candidate for the position.

Some of the most common desirable communication skills are:

• Active listening

• Good non-verbal communication

• Displaying respect

• Friendly behaviour

• Confident body language

• Empathetic demeanour

Candidates with these skills are generally more inclined to be team players and would possess a higher emotional quotient (EQ), another requirement in the modern workplace.

Individuals with higher EQ are bound to be more empathetic towards others as they can put themselves in others’ shoes to understand their mindset.

Types of communication skills

The different types of communication skills relevant to an organization are:

Non-verbal Communication

This kind of communication includes various non-verbal cues such as body language, gestures, hand signals, etc. These can add to an individual’s verbal communication.

Verbal Communication

Verbal communication refers to the communication done with the help of words. It includes speaking, the tone of the speech, and listening actively to others.

Written Communication

Written communication skills include the written form of communication in which the words, punctuation, and the tone of the language are used to define the kind of interaction. It comes in various forms ranging from short messages to long emails.

Common job positions that require communication skills

Good communication is required for almost all positions in a modern company. However, some jobs require its usage more than others. Some of these positions include:

• Business Development Team
• Sales Team
• Customer Service Personnel
• Social Media Team
• Human Resources Department
• Managers

These job positions require the employee to converse with a myriad of individuals ranging from their colleagues to superiors to the clients and customers.

Best practices for assessing communication skills with interview questions

There are various ways to understand the candidate’s aptitude for handling different communication skills. Let us discuss a few of them below:

• The candidate’s resume can provide a good overview of their written communication skillset. It would be best if you observed their grammar, phrasing, and tone to understand their writing and proofreading expertise.

• Even during an interview, you can observe a candidate’s aptitude for communicating effectively by observing how well they are listening to your interview questions.

• If you are unsure of their skillset, you can ask them for real-life examples, as evident in the samples shared in our template.

• You may encourage the candidate to role-play under a specific situation as a part of their interview questions if their role requires them to converse directly with the clients and customers.