15 Listening Interview Questions and Answers

In our fast-paced, constantly-connected world, it’s more important than ever to have strong listening skills. Whether you’re communicating with co-workers, clients, or customers, being a good listener is essential to success.

If you’re interviewing for a job that involves communication, it’s likely that the interviewer will ask you questions about your listening skills. To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a list of common listening-related interview questions and sample answers.

1. How will you make the other person feel that they are being listened to?

This question is a great way to test your listening skills and how you can use them to make others feel comfortable. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think about the last time someone listened to you and made you feel important.

Example: “I find that active listening is one of the best ways to show someone that they are being heard. I will ask questions to clarify what they’re saying and repeat back key points so they know I’m paying attention. Another way I’ll show people they are being listened to is by making eye contact with them while they speak. This shows them that I am focused on their words and not distracted.”

2. Can you explain what active listening is and how it differs from passive listening?

Active listening is a skill that many employers look for in their employees. It’s important to show your interviewer you know how to actively listen and apply this skill when interacting with others at work. In your answer, explain what active and passive listening are and give an example of when you’ve used each type of listening.

Example: “Active listening involves paying attention to the speaker and asking questions or making comments to show you’re interested in what they have to say. Passive listening is more like hearing someone speak but not really paying much attention to them. I think it’s important to use active listening whenever possible because it shows respect for the person speaking and helps me understand what they’re saying.”

3. What do you understand about empathetic listening?

Empathetic listening is a skill that allows you to understand the feelings and emotions of others. Employers ask this question to see if you have experience using empathetic listening in your previous roles. Use your answer to explain what empathetic listening is and how it can help you connect with customers or clients.

Example: “Empathetic listening is when you listen to someone’s concerns without interrupting them. I think this skill is important because it helps me better understand my customers’ needs. In my last role, I had a customer who was upset about their order. Instead of trying to solve the problem right away, I listened to their concerns and asked questions to make sure I understood everything they were saying. By doing so, I learned that there was an issue with their delivery. After talking through the situation, we were able to come up with a solution.”

4. Is there a difference between hearing and listening? If yes, then what’s the difference?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the two terms and how they relate. Hearing refers to the physical process of receiving sound, while listening involves paying attention to what someone else is saying. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide an example that shows the importance of both processes.

Example: “Hearing and listening are different processes because hearing only requires you to pay attention to sounds, but listening also includes understanding what’s being said. For instance, if I’m in a crowded room with many people talking at once, I may hear all of their voices, but I won’t understand any of them unless I listen carefully.”

5. Do you think people really listen or just wait for their turn to speak?

This question is a great way to see how the candidate thinks about interpersonal communication. It’s important for employees to understand that listening is an active process and requires more than just waiting for their turn to speak.

Example: “I think people listen, but they also wait for their turn to speak. I’ve noticed this in my previous work experience when I would ask someone a question or make a statement, and they would respond with something unrelated. They were clearly listening, but they wanted to get their own thoughts out first. I try to be mindful of this when speaking with others so I don’t interrupt them while they’re sharing their thoughts.”

6. Why is listening such an important skill in today’s world?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you understand the importance of listening and how it can help you succeed in your career. When answering this question, consider what makes effective listening important and why it’s beneficial for both yourself and others.

Example: “Listening is an essential skill because it allows us to communicate effectively with one another. If we’re not actively listening to someone, we may miss important information or misunderstand what they’re saying. This could lead to miscommunication and even conflict. Listening also helps us learn more about people and situations, which can be helpful when working on projects or interacting with customers.”

7. What are some of the steps involved in communicating effectively with someone?

This question can help the interviewer assess your listening skills by asking you to describe how you would approach a conversation with someone. You can answer this question by describing the steps involved in communicating effectively and explaining why each step is important.

Example: “Effective communication involves more than just speaking clearly and loudly enough for the other person to hear you. It also means being able to listen to what the other person has to say, ask questions when necessary and respond appropriately. I think it’s important to be prepared before starting a conversation so that I can focus on the other person rather than trying to remember everything I want to say. Also, actively listening to what the other person says helps me understand their needs better and allows me to respond to them more effectively.”

8. Which skills do you need to develop if you want to become a better listener?

This question can help the interviewer determine your self-awareness and willingness to improve. It also shows that you are willing to take steps to develop yourself as a professional. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention specific skills or techniques you have already developed in order to become a better listener.

Example: “I think one of the most important skills I need to develop is active listening. This means paying attention to what someone says without interrupting them and asking questions when necessary. Another skill I would like to develop is paraphrasing. This helps me make sure I understand what someone said correctly and lets them know that I am actively listening.”

9. When should you start preparing for your interview so that you can be a good listener during the interview?

Interviewers want to know that you are prepared for the interview and have done your research. They also want to see that you understand how important listening is during an interview. Your answer should include a few details about what you did to prepare for the interview, such as when you started preparing and what you researched.

Example: “I start preparing for my interviews at least two weeks in advance so I can make sure I am ready to discuss any questions they may ask me. I also do some research on the company beforehand so I can be familiar with their mission statement and values. This helps me feel more confident during the interview.”

10. What are the common mistakes everyone makes when listening to someone?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of listening skills and how they can be improved. It also shows the interviewer that you understand what not to do when listening to someone, which can help show them that you know how to listen effectively.

Example: “The first common mistake everyone makes when listening to someone is not paying attention. When we’re in conversation with someone, it’s easy to get distracted by our surroundings or other thoughts. I always make sure to focus on the person speaking so I don’t miss anything important. Another common mistake is interrupting the speaker. Even if you have something to add, it’s best to wait until the speaker has finished their thought before adding anything. The last common mistake is assuming you know what the speaker is going to say next.”

11. Why is verbal communication more effective than non-verbal communication?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of verbal and non-verbal communication. It also allows you to show the interviewer that you understand why it’s important to use both types of communication in business settings.

Example: “Verbal communication is more effective than non-verbal communication because it allows you to clearly convey what you’re thinking or feeling without having to rely on body language. This makes it easier for others to understand exactly what you mean, which can help reduce misunderstandings. Verbal communication is also more efficient because you don’t have to spend time trying to interpret someone else’s body language.”

12. How can we avoid misunderstandings due to poor listening skills?

This question can help the interviewer assess your ability to recognize and correct poor listening skills. It also shows that you are aware of how important it is to listen carefully when communicating with others. In your answer, try to explain what steps you take to ensure you’re paying attention during a conversation.

Example: “I always make sure I’m prepared for meetings or conversations so I don’t have to look up information while someone else is speaking. If I am in a meeting where several people are talking at once, I will repeat back key points from each speaker to show that I understand them. This helps me avoid misunderstandings due to my own poor listening skills.”

13. How can you improve your listening skills?

Listening skills are an important part of being a successful employee. Employers ask this question to see if you have any strategies for improving your listening skills and how you plan to do so. When answering, think about what helped you improve in the past. Consider mentioning specific techniques or methods that you used to become better at listening.

Example: “I find it helpful to take notes while someone is talking. This helps me focus on what they’re saying and remember key points. I also try to avoid distractions when someone is speaking. If I’m distracted, I’ll write down what I missed and ask them to repeat it later. Another thing I do is make sure I understand the topic before asking questions. It’s best to wait until someone has finished their thought before interrupting.”

14. Can you give me some examples of different levels of listening?

Interviewers may ask this question to see if you understand the different levels of listening and how they can be applied in a work environment. When answering, it can be helpful to list out each level of listening and give an example of when you’ve used that type of listening before.

Example: “There are three main types of listening—selective, active and empathetic. Selective listening is when you’re only paying attention to certain parts of what someone is saying. For instance, I was working with a client who had a lot of questions about our services. Instead of trying to answer all their questions at once, I focused on just answering one question at a time. This helped me better communicate my message and allowed the client to feel more comfortable asking additional questions.”

15. What do you understand by selective listening?

This question is a good way to test your knowledge of the concept and how you apply it in your daily life. Selective listening is when someone focuses on certain aspects of a conversation while ignoring others, so it’s important that you can explain what selective listening means and why it’s beneficial.

Example: “Selective listening is when I focus on one aspect of a conversation while tuning out other parts. For example, if my manager was talking about our company’s new marketing campaign, I would listen for details about the budget, who we’re targeting with our ads and any challenges they faced during development. This allows me to tune out irrelevant information like their opinion on the color scheme or whether they think the campaign will be successful.”