Interpersonal Skills Interview
Author:
Alycia Damp, PhD IRHRA skills-based interview designed to help you assess candidates' social and interpersonal skills. It focuses on the behaviours and tactics one uses to interact and work with others effectively.
Focus area:
Question
1
Why are you interested in making a career move to our company as [Insert Role]? How do you see this opportunity within the context of your career?
What does this question reveal?
Fit and motivation to join the company
Explore tips
- Is seeking an opportunity to grow by applying and developing multiple skills
- Wants to make a defined impact on others and the organization’s success
- Is motivated to add value to the company's culture and work environment
- Is passionate when discussing how this connects with their strengths/interests
Question
2
Interpersonal skills are really important to this role. When it comes to that skill set, what aspect are you best at and why?
What does this question reveal?
Self-awareness of interpersonal skill proficiency
Explore tips
- Clearly highlights their specific strengths
- Connects their strengths to the role in question
- Uses evidence from past experience to justify their strengths
- Tailors their response with examples that are relevant to the organization
Question
3
Tell me about a time you had to adjust your communication style to adapt to a person from a different background or culture.
What does this question reveal?
Tailor communication styles/approaches to others
Explore tips
- Highlights specific characteristics of the person relevant to communication
- Explains tactics used to communicate effectively (e.g. avoid cultural jargon)
- Checks with the other person to ensure they are following/understanding
- Encourages questions to ensure the right message is received
Question
4
Tell me about a time a problem came up a with a colleague at work that upset you. How did you react and why?
What does this question reveal?
Reflect on one's emotions to guide appropriate behavior
Explore tips
- Explains the situation and why they were upset
- Reflects on one's emotions and responds in a composed/rational manner
- Considers how their emotion would be perceived by others
- Takes time to plan a response (versus reacting immediately)
Question
5
Describe a time you went the extra mile to gain trust with a colleague/client/business partner. How did you develop their trust? What did you find challenging?
What does this question reveal?
Build trust and overcome challenges
Explore tips
- Describes the business context and their relationship with the other party
- Explains why building trust was important and shares the actions they took
- Discusses any challenges in detail and shares how they overcame them
- Describes the outcome and how they developed trust
Question
6
Tell me about a time you developed a strong working relationship with a colleague. What made it strong?
What does this question reveal?
Build effective and productive relationships
Explore tips
- Built a mutual sense of trust with the colleague
- Describes making each other feel valued
- Discusses being interested in the colleague's point of view/perspective
- Describes how they read each other's emotional cues well
Question
7
What does being empathetic to others mean to you and how do you display empathy in your work?
What does this question reveal?
Understand the experiences and perspectives of others
Explore tips
- Adapts their approach and communication style to the unique needs of others
- Directs effort towards understanding and building trust with colleagues
- Engages in active listening and encourages others to share ideas
- Offers support to colleagues to help them succeed and reach their goals
Question
8
Can you tell me about a time you were particularly empathetic to a colleague? What tactics did you use to connect with them, and how did you manage the situation?
What does this question reveal?
Understand the experiences and perspectives of others
Explore tips
- Listens actively to their colleague's concerns
- Acknowledges and validated their feelings
- Works to understand their perspective and build trust with them
- Offers to help or support them
Question
9
How would you rate your active listening skills on a scale of 1-10, and what tactics do you use to employ active listening in your work? Can you give me a specific example of when you used these tactics?
What does this question reveal?
Communicate and truly listen to what others are saying
Explore tips
- Avoids interrupting at all costs
- Withholds their own ideas/feelings until they understand the other's
- Asks clarifying questions to understand what is being said
- Establishes rapport and building trust when entering conversations
Question
10
In your past experience, when have you had a difficult time understanding the nature of a customer's/colleague's concern? How did you navigate that conversation?
What does this question reveal?
Understanding complicated or ambiguous communications/concerns
Explore tips
- Exhibits patience and calmly asks questions to clarify understanding
- Repeats back what they hear to ensure their understanding is accurate
- Ensure they reach an understanding of the other's viewpoint
- Takes note of non-verbal cues to gauge other's emotions/respond appropriately
Question
11
Imagine you are working on a project with a tight deadline, and you are still waiting on something from a coworker who said they would get it to you last week. What would you do?
What does this question reveal?
Communicate with others and hold each other accountable for deliverables
Explore tips
- Asks the coworker about potential issues with completing the task
- Suggests offering to assist the team member with the deliverable if needed
- Shows consideration and respect for the coworker
- Discusses objectives to ensure coworker is clear on expectations
Question
12
Describe a project you worked on where you felt the group was not cooperating. How did you deal with this situation? What was the outcome?
What does this question reveal?
Facilitate cooperation among others
Explore tips
- Clearly explains the initiative and why they felt the group was not cooperating
- Communicates the importance of finding a way to cooperate with others
- Asked questions to understand the perspectives within the group
- Shows they can exercise patience and remain calm in frustrating scenarios
Question
13
What is one thing you wish I had asked you in our conversation today?
What does this question reveal?
Self-awareness of unique strengths and value-add
Explore tips
- Gives a response that is relevant to the role in question
- Justifies their suggestion by explaining their value-add
- Exhibits strengths that were not previously covered
