15 Business Communications Interview Questions and Answers

In the business world, communication is key. Whether you’re communicating with clients, customers, or co-workers, being able to effectively communicate your thoughts and ideas is essential to success.

If you’re interviewing for a job in business communications, you can expect to be asked a variety of questions about your skills and experience. To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a list of common business communications interview questions and answers.

1. How would you describe your communication style?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your personality and how you interact with others. They want to know if you are a good fit for their company culture, so they may also ask questions about your work ethic or other soft skills. When answering this question, try to be honest while still being positive. Explain what makes you unique as a communicator and highlight any specific skills that make you effective in this role.

Example: “I would describe my communication style as friendly but professional. I am always willing to help others, but I understand the importance of maintaining boundaries between personal and professional relationships. I have excellent listening skills, which helps me connect with others on an emotional level. This skill has helped me build strong working relationships with colleagues and clients.”

2. Can you explain what the active listening technique is and how it’s different from normal listening?

Active listening is a skill that many employers look for in candidates because it shows you’re able to pay attention and understand what someone’s saying. This can be especially important when communicating with clients or customers, so your interviewer may ask this question to see if you know how to use active listening effectively. In your answer, explain the difference between normal listening and active listening and give an example of when you’ve used each technique.

Example: “Active listening is when you listen carefully to what someone says and actively try to understand their message. It’s different from normal listening because instead of just hearing what someone says, you actually process the information they’re giving you. I find that active listening is more effective than normal listening because it allows me to fully comprehend what someone’s saying and respond appropriately.”

3. What do you understand about verbal and non-verbal communication?

This question is a great way to assess your understanding of the importance of verbal and non-verbal communication in business communications. It also allows you to demonstrate your knowledge of how these two types of communication can be used together to create effective messages.

Example: “Verbal communication is essential for conveying information, but it’s important to remember that what we say isn’t always as important as how we say it. Non-verbal communication includes body language, facial expressions and voice tone, so I make sure to pay attention to all three when communicating with others. For example, if someone seems distracted or uninterested while I’m speaking, I’ll adjust my approach to ensure they understand me.”

4. What do you mean by cultural influence on business communications?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the cultural influences on business communications. It also allows you to show how you can apply this information in your own work.

Example: “Cultural influence refers to the impact that culture has on communication styles and preferences. For example, some cultures are more direct than others, so it’s important to take these differences into account when communicating with clients or colleagues from other countries. I’ve found that understanding cultural influence helps me create more effective messages by tailoring my language and tone to the audience.”

5. Why are internal and external communications important for a company?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you understand the importance of internal and external communications for businesses. You can use this opportunity to explain how these types of communication help companies succeed, especially if you have experience in both areas.

Example: “Internal and external communications are important because they allow employees to stay informed about company news and updates. This helps them feel more connected to their work environment and makes them more productive. It also allows customers to know what’s going on with the business and gives them an opportunity to voice any concerns or questions they may have.”

6. What are some of the common barriers to effective communication in a company?

This question can help the interviewer assess your ability to identify and overcome barriers that may prevent you from communicating effectively with others. Use examples of how you overcame these barriers in previous roles, or explain what steps you would take to address them if they arise in your new role.

Example: “Some common barriers to effective communication include a lack of clarity in messages, miscommunication between employees and departments and not having an established system for feedback. In my last position, I helped create a company-wide feedback program where employees could submit anonymous questions about their work environment and receive answers from management within two business days. This allowed us to better understand our team members’ concerns and develop solutions to improve their work experience.”

7. What is cross-cultural communication? Do you have any experience dealing with people from different cultures?

Employers may ask this question to see if you have experience working with people from different backgrounds. They want to know that you can communicate effectively and respectfully with others who speak a different language or come from a different culture than your own. In your answer, try to explain what cross-cultural communication is and how it relates to the job you’re applying for. If you have personal experience dealing with people of other cultures, share an example of how you did so successfully.

Example: “Cross-cultural communication is when two people from different cultural backgrounds interact. I’ve had some experience doing this in my previous role as a business communications specialist. My company hired a new employee who spoke Spanish fluently but was not fluent in English. I helped her learn more about our company by communicating with her in both languages. She also taught me some Spanish phrases that I could use at work.”

8. Can you give me an example of a time when you had to communicate effectively during a potentially stressful or awkward situation?

This question can help the interviewer get a better idea of how you handle stressful situations and whether or not you have experience with them. Try to think of an example that shows your ability to communicate effectively under pressure, but also one that highlights your interpersonal skills.

Example: “In my last role as a marketing specialist, I had to work on a project with a team member who was very quiet and didn’t speak up much in meetings. This made it difficult for me to understand what he needed from me when we were working together on projects. To solve this problem, I asked him if there was anything I could do to make our communication easier. He told me that sometimes he would forget to include important details in his emails, so I started sending him follow-up questions after reading his emails.”

9. What steps do you take to ensure that both sides are aware of the desired outcome of a meeting before it begins?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you plan and organize meetings, conferences or other events. Your answer should include a step-by-step process for planning these types of business functions.

Example: “I always start by asking my manager what they want to achieve from the meeting. Then I ask each attendee what their goals are for the meeting. This helps me create an agenda that meets everyone’s needs while also ensuring we cover all topics necessary to move forward with any projects or initiatives.”

10. What role does technology play in modern business communications?

Technology is an important part of business communications. Employers ask this question to make sure you understand how technology can help you do your job well. In your answer, explain what role technology plays in modern business communications and why it’s so important. You can also share any specific skills or software programs that you use regularly.

Example: “Technology has a huge impact on modern business communications. It allows us to communicate with clients and coworkers more quickly than ever before. I think it’s important for all professionals to have basic technological skills. For example, I know how to use Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. These are the three most common programs used by businesses today. I’m also familiar with several online collaboration tools like Slack and Trello.”

11. Can you describe the difference between assertive, aggressive, passive, and passive-aggressive communication styles?

This question is a great way to assess your ability to communicate effectively with others. It also helps the interviewer understand how you will interact with their team members and company culture. In your answer, try to explain each style in detail and give an example of when you’ve used it.

Example: “Assertive communication is direct and honest. I use this method when I want to make sure my message is understood clearly by the recipient. Aggressive communication is rude or disrespectful. This type of communication can be hurtful and should only be used as a last resort. Passive communication is indirect and vague. I would only use this method if I didn’t feel comfortable speaking directly about something. Passive-aggressive communication is indirect but also expresses anger or resentment.”

12. What are some examples of poor interpersonal skills?

This question is a great way to see how well you can identify poor communication skills. It also shows the interviewer that you know what good interpersonal skills look like and how they can help improve your work environment.

Example: “I once worked with someone who was very direct in their communications, which I appreciated at first. However, after working together for a while, it became clear that he didn’t care about my feelings or opinions. He would often make comments that were hurtful or demeaning without realizing it. This made me feel uncomfortable and unsure of myself when we communicated. I eventually learned to speak up more and ask him to be more respectful of others.”

13. What types of situations require a written rather than verbal response?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you prioritize your time and attention to detail. It also helps them understand what types of projects you might be working on in their company. Your answer should include a few examples of when you used written communication over verbal, as well as why it was more effective than speaking with someone.

Example: “I prefer written communication for any situation that requires detailed instructions or information. For example, I recently worked on a project where we needed to send out an email newsletter to our client base every week. We had to create content for each newsletter, including links to articles, social media posts and other relevant information. This required a lot of research and planning before writing the actual newsletter.

Another example is when I worked at my previous job. The marketing team would often have meetings about upcoming campaigns and events. I found that taking notes during these meetings helped me remember important details later. I could then use those notes to write up a summary of the meeting so everyone knew what they were responsible for.”

14. When should you use email versus face-to-face meetings in business communication?

This question can help the interviewer determine your understanding of when to use email versus in-person meetings. Use examples from your experience to explain how you make this decision and what factors influence it.

Example: “I prefer face-to-face communication because I find that it’s more effective for complex or sensitive topics. For example, last year my team was working on a project where we needed to collaborate with several other departments. We had weekly meetings with each department to discuss our progress and any challenges we were facing. This allowed us to have open discussions about our ideas and work together to solve problems as they arose.”

15. Can you tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult customer?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you handle conflict and challenging situations. Use examples from your previous experience to highlight your problem-solving skills, communication skills and ability to remain calm under pressure.

Example: “In my last role as a marketing specialist, I had a customer who was upset because they didn’t receive their order on time. They were very aggressive in their emails and phone calls, but I remained calm and responded with professionalism. After several back-and-forth emails, we determined that there was an issue with their shipping address. Once I confirmed this, I apologized for the inconvenience and offered them a discount code for their next purchase.”