15 Communication Interview Questions and Answers

In today’s world, communication is key. Whether you’re applying for a job in customer service or as a CEO, you’ll need to be able to communicate effectively.

That’s why it’s so important to be prepared for communication-related interview questions. In this article, we’ll give you some sample questions and answers to help you ace your next interview.

1. What’s the difference between a good communicator and a bad one?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of communication skills and how they can impact an organization. When answering this question, it’s important to highlight the importance of effective communication in any workplace.

Example: “A good communicator is someone who has excellent verbal and nonverbal communication skills. They’re able to clearly convey their thoughts and ideas while also listening to others’ opinions. A bad communicator is someone who doesn’t have these skills or isn’t willing to put in the effort to improve them. This person may be unclear when speaking or not listen to what others are saying.”

2. How can communication skills be improved?

This question can help an interviewer understand your communication skills and how you’ve developed them over time. Use examples from your own experience to explain what helped you improve your communication skills, or discuss the steps you would take to help someone else develop their communication skills.

Example: “I think that communication skills can be improved by practicing active listening. I used to have a hard time paying attention when people were talking because I was so eager to share my thoughts. However, after taking a public speaking class in college, I learned about the importance of actively listening to others. Now, I try to make eye contact with whoever is speaking and avoid interrupting until they’re finished.”

3. Can you explain what active listening is in context of communication?

Active listening is a skill that many employers look for in their employees. It’s important to be able to listen to others and understand what they’re saying, especially when you’re communicating with customers or clients. Your answer should show the interviewer that you know how to actively listen to someone and respond appropriately.

Example: “Active listening means paying attention to what the other person is saying and asking questions if I don’t understand something. For example, if my coworker was telling me about her vacation, I would make sure to ask follow-up questions so I could get more details about where she went and what she did while she was there. This shows the other person that I’m interested in what they have to say.”

4. What do you think are some common barriers to effective communication?

This question can help an interviewer assess your communication skills by seeing how you apply them to overcome barriers. You can answer this question by identifying some of the barriers that may occur in a workplace and explaining how you would address them.

Example: “I think one barrier to effective communication is when people don’t take time to listen to each other. When I’m communicating with someone, I always make sure to give them my full attention so they feel like their thoughts are being heard. Another common barrier is not having enough information about a topic before speaking up about it. To avoid this, I try to do as much research as possible on any topics I’m unfamiliar with before making statements or asking questions.”

5. What are some techniques for improving non-verbal communication?

Non-verbal communication is a key skill for effective communication. Employers ask this question to see if you know how to use non-verbal cues to improve your verbal communication skills. Use examples from past experiences where you used non-verbal cues to help you communicate more effectively with others.

Example: “I find that eye contact is one of the most important aspects of non-verbal communication. When I’m speaking with someone, I make sure to maintain eye contact so they feel like I am listening to them and understand what they are saying. Eye contact also helps me read their body language and facial expressions to better understand what they are feeling or thinking. Another technique I use is mirroring body language. This can be helpful when trying to build rapport with someone who may be nervous or uncomfortable.”

6. What is your opinion about body language and its role in communication?

This question is a great way to assess your communication skills and how you use body language. It also allows the interviewer to see if you have any unique opinions about this topic that might make you stand out from other candidates.

Example: “Body language plays an important role in communication, especially when it comes to nonverbal cues. I believe that we can learn a lot about someone’s personality by observing their body language. For example, someone who crosses their arms may be closed off or defensive. Someone who smiles often seems more friendly than someone who doesn’t smile much. These are just some of the many ways that body language can help us understand what someone is thinking.”

7. What are some ways you can become a better listener?

Communication skills are important for any role that requires you to interact with others. Employers ask this question to see if you have strategies to improve your communication skills and become a better communicator. Show them that you’re willing to learn new ways to communicate more effectively by sharing some methods you’ve used in the past.

Example: “I find it helpful to take notes while someone is speaking so I can remember what they said. This helps me focus on what they’re saying instead of trying to write everything down at once. Another strategy I use is repeating back what I heard to make sure I understood correctly. If there’s something I didn’t understand, I’ll ask for clarification before moving forward.”

8. Would you consider yourself an extrovert or an introvert? Do you think this has anything to do with your ability to communicate well?

Extroverts and introverts have different communication styles. An interviewer may ask this question to see if you understand the differences between these two personality types and how they affect your ability to communicate with others.

Example: “I would consider myself an extrovert, although I think it’s more important to be a good communicator than whether or not you’re an extrovert or introvert. Extroverts are typically better at communicating in large groups because they enjoy being around people. Introverts prefer one-on-one interactions and tend to be more comfortable speaking with smaller groups of people. However, both personality types can learn to adapt their communication style to fit any situation.”

9. Why do you think it’s important for everyone on the team to have excellent communication skills?

This question can help the interviewer determine your understanding of communication skills and how they relate to teamwork. Use examples from your own experience or those you’ve seen in others that show how effective communication can benefit a team’s overall success.

Example: “I think it’s important for everyone on a team to have excellent communication skills because it helps them understand each other better, which leads to more productive collaboration. In my last role, I worked with a group of people who were all very talented but had different ways of approaching problems. By listening to one another and communicating our ideas, we were able to come up with solutions that met everyone’s needs.”

10. What does “think before you speak” mean in the context of communication?

This question is a great way to test your communication skills and how you apply them in the workplace. It’s important to show that you understand what this phrase means, but also how it can be applied to your work life.

Example: “Think before you speak” is an important concept when communicating with others because it helps us avoid saying something we might regret later. I’ve had situations where I was excited about a project or idea and spoke too quickly without thinking through my words. This led to me making statements that were unclear or confusing, which made it difficult for others to support my ideas. Now, I take a moment to pause and think about what I’m going to say before speaking.”

11. How would you describe a successful conversation?

This question can help an interviewer assess your communication skills and how you define success. Your answer can show the interviewer that you know what makes a conversation successful, which can be important for any role that involves communicating with others.

Example: “A successful conversation is one where both parties feel heard and understood. It’s also important to me that I’m able to clearly convey my thoughts and ideas so that the other person understands them. In addition, it’s essential that I listen carefully to what the other person has to say so I can respond appropriately.”

12. What makes someone a ‘good’ speaker?

This question is a great way to test your communication skills and how you can apply them in the workplace. When answering this question, it’s important to show that you know what makes someone a good speaker and how you can be one yourself.

Example: “A good speaker should have excellent public speaking skills. They should also be able to connect with their audience and make sure they’re always on time for their speeches. I think being a good speaker means having confidence in yourself and your message. It’s important to be passionate about what you’re saying so people will listen.”

13. What are some things that you should avoid when trying to convey a message?

This question can help the interviewer understand your communication skills and how you apply them in a professional setting. It can also show them what you value when communicating with others. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention some specific things that you avoid doing when trying to communicate effectively.

Example: “I think one of the most important things to remember is to not assume anything about the person you’re speaking with. I’ve seen many people make assumptions about someone’s intelligence or background based on their accent or appearance. This can lead to miscommunication and hurt feelings. Another thing I try to avoid is using jargon or acronyms that may confuse the person I’m talking to. Instead, I try to explain these terms as best as I can so they can understand me.”

14. What is the most common problem people face while communicating with each other?

This question is a behavioral one that an interviewer may ask to see how you apply your communication skills in the workplace. Your answer should show the interviewer that you can help others overcome challenges with communicating effectively.

Example: “The most common problem people face when communicating with each other is not being able to listen well enough. When I was working as a receptionist, I noticed that many of my coworkers had trouble listening to their clients and colleagues. So, I started offering weekly training sessions on active listening techniques. These trainings helped my coworkers learn how to actively listen to others by asking questions and paraphrasing what they heard.”

15. In your experience, what are some problems associated with poor communication?

This question is an opportunity to show your interviewer that you understand the importance of communication and how it can affect a team. You can use examples from your own experience or refer to common issues in the workplace.

Example: “In my previous role, I worked with a group of people who were all very talented but didn’t communicate well. This led to misunderstandings and miscommunication, which caused some projects to take longer than they should have. When I became the manager, I implemented weekly meetings where everyone could discuss their progress on current projects and ask questions about other team members’ work. This helped us avoid many problems by allowing us to address them before they became major issues.”