Teamwork and Communication Interview
Author:
Haya Bakour, MSc I/OA skills-based interview designed to capture different facets of your candidates' communication and teamwork skills such as presenting, active listening, and providing feedback to others (and more!).
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
Communication skills are really important to this role. When it comes to that skill set, what aspect are you best at, and can you share an example of how you've done this in a previous role?
What does this question reveal?
Understand their strengths and how communication is critical to success
Explore tips
- Clearly highlights their specific strengths in communicating
- Shares key communication tactics (e.g. active listening, tailoring to audience)
- Uses evidence from past experience to justify their strengths
- Tailors response with examples relevant to the position and organization
Question
3
Imagine you have two minutes to present your team's quarterly update to the rest of the organization. How would you focus and deliver that presentation?
What does this question reveal?
Summarize results and tailor the key message to the audience
Explore tips
- Discusses focusing on actual results and outcomes
- Suggests including how the team contributed to overall business goals/strategies
- Suggests only focusing on information that is relevant to the audience
- Suggests having only one key message, rather than trying to cover everything
Question
4
How would you explain/present technical concepts to a non-technical audience (such as a cross-functional team or management)?
What does this question reveal?
Tell a story with data
Explore tips
- Conveys technical data through charts, graphs and other visualizations
- Focuses on the impact of the solution instead of the technical details
- Crafts a story/narrative around the data to make it more memorable
- Uses visuals/images to complement or reiterate key information
Question
5
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
Question
6
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
7
Imagine an employee/colleague/customer was having a hard time grasping a concept. What tactics would you use to communicate the concept as you shared your knowledge with them?
What does this question reveal?
Communicate knowledge to others in an accessible way
Explore tips
- Seeks further information to clarify where the individual is having trouble
- Adopts an appropriate style, language and tone
- Shares relevant data to aid their understanding of the concept
- Reviews the key facts relating to the concept
Question
8
Imagine your boss gave you and your team instructions for a project, and you later realize that everyone on the team had interpreted the instructions differently. How would you handle that?
What does this question reveal?
Resolve issues associated with miscommunications among teams
Explore tips
- Engage others to collaboratively identify discrepancies among understandings
- Highlights and documents both commonalities and differences in understandings
- Prepares for a conversation with boss to clarify misinterpretations
- Asks boss specific questions to clarify understanding/obtain accurate message
Question
9
Give me an example of when you had to use your persuasiveness at work. What did you do to ensure you were effective?
What does this question reveal?
Convince others to agree with their point of view effectively
Explore tips
- Considers others' perspectives in order to convey their own effectively
- Builds rapport in the conversation by acknowledging others' needs/perspective
- Communicates their perspective by highlighting benefits it will bring to others
- Emphasizes common ground/similarities to persuade effectively
Question
10
Imagine you're asked by your boss to find a solution to a difficult problem. How would you communicate your solution to gain credibility and support for your proposal?
What does this question reveal?
Influence others by gaining support for positive change
Explore tips
- Suggests showing how the solution is aligned with the organization's goals
- Suggests using facts, evidence and data to convince others of their solution
- Demonstrates an ability to influence the boss and contribute to the organization
- Suggests tapping into the boss's values/beliefs to influence their decision
Question
11
What kinds of writing have you done in your job? Can you compare the similarities and differences between two different types of documents you have written?
What does this question reveal?
Experience and proficiency with different formats of written communication
Explore tips
- Demonstrates breadth through different formats (e.g., blogs, reports, executive summaries, technical documents)
- Emphasizes the importance of an outline/structure in most documents
- Considers formality/informality in style of writing
- Tailors writing style and language to the relevant audience
Question
12
If you were creating a written document to share with colleagues/customers, what would you do to communicate the message in writing effectively?
What does this question reveal?
Effectively structure and execute written communications
Explore tips
- Create an outline and structure content accordingly
- Clearly state the objective/purpose of the document at the beginning
- Tailor language to the audience (e.g., use jargon only when appropriate)
- Present key message in a plain, concise, and simple way
Question
13
Tell me about a tough conversation you had to have with a team member.
What does this question reveal?
Communicate issues diplomatically with others
Explore tips
- Prepares for conversation beforehand to identify key points and desired outcomes
- Seeks to understand the other's viewpoint of the situation to display empathy
- Communicates concerns in a respectful, non-accusatory manner
- Adjusts communication style and/or perspective based on the other's emotions
Question
14
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
15
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
