15 Assertiveness Interview Questions and Answers

When it comes to job interviews, assertiveness is key. Hiring managers want to see that you have the confidence to stand up for yourself and your ideas. But what does assertiveness really mean?

Assertiveness is the quality of being self-assured and confident without being aggressive. It is the ability to express your opinions and needs clearly and confidently, while respecting the rights of others. Assertiveness can help you build better relationships, both in and out of work.

If you’re looking to improve your assertiveness, start by preparing for interview questions that will test your skills. In this guide, we’ll share some of the most common assertiveness interview questions, along with sample answers to help you prepare.

1. What is assertiveness?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of assertiveness and how it can be used in the workplace. When answering this question, you should define what assertiveness is and explain why it’s important for an employee to have assertiveness skills.

Example: “Assertiveness is the ability to express yourself confidently while also respecting others’ opinions. It’s important to show respect when being assertive because it shows that you’re confident in your own opinion but willing to listen to other people’s thoughts as well. Assertiveness is especially useful in the workplace because it allows employees to voice their concerns without making anyone else feel uncomfortable.”

2. What do you understand about the different types of communication styles?

This question is a great way to assess your understanding of assertiveness skills and how they relate to different types of communication styles. Your answer should include an explanation of each type of style, including examples of when you’ve used them in the past.

Example: “There are four main types of communication styles that I understand. The first is passive-aggressive, which involves someone who expresses their feelings through actions rather than words. Next is aggressive, where someone speaks or acts aggressively toward others without regard for their feelings. Passive is when someone doesn’t speak up for themselves or express their thoughts or opinions. And lastly, there’s assertive, which is when someone communicates clearly and directly with respect for both themselves and others.”

3. Can you explain what passive, aggressive, and passive-aggressive behavior means in context with assertiveness?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of assertiveness and how it relates to other behaviors. You can use this opportunity to show the interviewer that you understand what each behavior means, when to use them and why they are important in an office setting.

Example: “Passive-aggressive behavior is when someone expresses their anger or frustration through nonverbal actions like ignoring others or being late for meetings. Aggressive behavior is when someone expresses their anger or frustration by using verbal or physical attacks on another person. Passive behavior is when someone doesn’t express their feelings at all. I think these three types of behavior are very different from one another and should be avoided in the workplace.”

4. How would you define an assertive person?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of assertiveness and how it relates to the workplace. It also allows you to show that you understand what an assertive person looks like in action. When answering this question, try to define assertiveness with examples from your own life or experiences.

Example: “Assertiveness is someone who knows their boundaries but isn’t afraid to speak up when they need something. They are confident enough to ask for help when needed and know when to say no. I think being assertive is important because it shows respect for yourself and others.”

5. Do you think it’s possible for someone to be too assertive or not assertive enough? Why?

This question can help an interviewer understand your perspective on assertiveness and how you might use it in a work environment. It can also show them whether or not you have experience with being either too assertive or not assertive enough, which could be beneficial to the company if you’ve had those experiences.

Example: “I think that there are times when someone can be too assertive, but I don’t think that’s something that happens often. In my experience, people who are overly assertive tend to be so because they’re trying to compensate for their lack of confidence. If someone is too assertive, I would try to find out why they feel the need to act this way and then address the issue at its root cause.”

6. Is there any difference between being assertive and being self-confident? If yes, then how can we make this distinction?

This question is a great way to test your understanding of assertiveness and how it relates to other personality traits. Your answer should show the interviewer that you understand the difference between these two concepts and can apply them in different situations.

Example: “Assertiveness is about standing up for yourself, while self-confidence is more about having faith in yourself. When I am being assertive, I am making sure my voice is heard and my opinions are respected. On the other hand, when I am self-confident, I know that I have the skills and abilities to perform well at work.”

7. What are some ways to develop an assertive personality?

Employers may ask this question to see if you can apply your assertiveness skills in a professional setting. They want to know that you have the ability to develop these skills and use them to help yourself and others succeed at work. In your answer, try to explain how you’ve developed an assertive personality in the past. You can also mention any specific strategies or techniques you used.

Example: “I think it’s important to be assertive because it helps me communicate my needs and opinions effectively. I’ve found that one of the best ways to become more assertive is by practicing communication with others. For example, when I was working as a server, I would practice communicating with customers about their orders so they could understand what I was saying. This helped me learn how to speak clearly and confidently.”

8. How can you tell if a person is assertive or non-assertive?

This question can help an interviewer understand your knowledge of assertiveness and how you might apply it in a work environment. You can answer this question by defining what each type of behavior looks like and explaining the benefits of being assertive.

Example: “Assertiveness is when someone expresses their thoughts, feelings or opinions without fear of offending others. Non-assertiveness is when someone doesn’t express themselves because they’re afraid of conflict or rejection. I’ve found that people who are non-assertive often feel isolated from their colleagues and don’t get as much support as they need to succeed at work.”

9. What makes someone unassertive?

This question can help you show your understanding of assertiveness and how it relates to other personality traits. You can answer this question by describing the different reasons someone might be unassertive, such as being too passive or not knowing how to express their needs.

Example: “There are many reasons why people may be unassertive. For example, they may have low self-esteem or feel like they don’t deserve what they want. They may also lack confidence in themselves or fear rejection. Another reason is that they’re afraid of conflict, so they avoid expressing their opinions. Finally, some people may simply not know how to be assertive.”

10. Can you give me some examples of behaviors that indicate that a person is assertive?

This question is a great way to show the interviewer that you understand what assertiveness looks like in action. You can use examples from your own life or refer to the job description and highlight how you would apply those skills to this role.

Example: “I think it’s important to be direct when communicating with others, especially if I’m asking for something. In my last position as an administrative assistant, I had a meeting with my manager about requesting more time off during the holidays. Instead of just asking for the time off, I gave her a list of reasons why I needed the time off and how I could make up for any work I missed. She was impressed by my thoroughness and granted me the extra days.”

11. What do you understand by assertiveness training?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to assess your knowledge of assertiveness training and how you apply it in your daily life. Your answer should include an explanation of what assertiveness training is, as well as examples of how you’ve used this skill in your personal or professional life.

Example: “Assertiveness training is a method that helps people learn how to express their thoughts and feelings appropriately. It’s important to understand when to be assertive and when not to be so that you don’t offend others. I have taken several assertiveness training courses throughout my career, which has helped me become more confident in expressing myself.”

12. What is the difference between verbal and non-verbal assertiveness?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of assertiveness skills. It also allows you to show the interviewer that you can apply these skills in real-life situations. In your answer, try to give an example of when you used verbal and non-verbal assertiveness skills.

Example: “Verbal assertiveness involves speaking up for yourself or another person. Non-verbal assertiveness is using body language to communicate what you want. For example, I once had a manager who was very critical of my work. Instead of getting defensive, I decided to use non-verbal assertiveness by standing tall and making eye contact with her. This helped me remain calm while she spoke and showed her that I was listening to what she said.”

13. What are some common causes of conflict at work?

This question can help the interviewer assess your ability to resolve conflict in a professional setting. Use examples from your previous work experience or discuss how you would handle common causes of workplace conflict if they arise at your new job.

Example: “Some common causes of conflict include personality clashes, disagreements over projects and misunderstandings. In my last role, I had a coworker who was very outspoken about their opinions on certain matters. This person often disagreed with me during meetings and made it difficult for others to speak up. To resolve this issue, I scheduled one-on-one meetings with this individual so we could talk through our differences and come to an agreement.”

14. Can you explain why people sometimes have difficulty expressing their needs?

This question can help the interviewer understand your awareness of common barriers to assertiveness and how you might overcome them. You can answer this question by describing a time when you helped someone develop their assertiveness skills or overcame a personal barrier yourself.

Example: “People sometimes have difficulty expressing their needs because they’re afraid of conflict, they don’t want to be seen as demanding or they feel like it’s not worth the effort. I once worked with an employee who was hesitant to ask for a raise. He felt that asking for more money would make him seem greedy and he didn’t want to risk his relationship with his manager. We talked about why he deserved a raise and what he could do to communicate his request in a way that wouldn’t offend anyone.”

15. Where does the term “assertiveness” originate from?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of assertiveness and how it relates to the workplace. It also shows that you have an interest in this topic, which can be beneficial for employers who are looking for employees who care about their work.

Example: “Assertiveness comes from the word ‘assertion,’ which means to make a claim or statement. In psychology, it’s used as a term to describe someone who has the ability to express themselves clearly while maintaining respect for others. This skill is important because it allows people to get what they want without hurting anyone else.”