15 Persuasive Communication Interview Questions and Answers

In a persuasive communication job interview, employers will be looking to see if you have the ability to influence others. This guide will give you an overview of the types of questions you may be asked, as well as some sample answers to help you prepare for your interview.

1. What is persuasive communication?

This question is an opportunity to show your understanding of the communication process and how it applies to persuasive skills. You can answer this question by defining what persuasive communication is, explaining why it’s important and giving examples of when you’ve used it in a professional setting.

Example: “Persuasive communication is a type of communication that helps people change their minds or opinions about something. It involves using facts and evidence to support your position on a topic so others are more likely to agree with you. I have used persuasive communication many times throughout my career as a public relations specialist. For example, I once worked with a client who was trying to convince the media to write positive stories about them. I helped develop a strategy for pitching our story to journalists and provided information they could use to write articles that would be beneficial to our company.”

2. Can you explain what a call to action is in the context of persuasive communication?

A call to action is a statement that encourages the audience to take an action. Call to actions are important in persuasive communication because they help you achieve your goal of persuading the audience. Your answer should show the interviewer that you understand what a call to action is and how it can be used effectively.

Example: “A call to action is a statement that tells the audience what you want them to do after hearing your message. For example, if I were giving a speech about why we need more funding for public education, my call to action would be something like ‘Please contact your local representative to tell them you support increased funding for public schools.’ A call to action helps me persuade the audience to take action by showing them exactly what I want them to do.”

3. What are some examples of powerful calls to action that you’ve used in your previous work?

A call to action is a statement that encourages the reader or listener to take an action. This question helps employers understand how you can use persuasive communication skills to encourage others to act in a certain way. Use examples from your previous work experience where you helped someone make a decision, encouraged them to try something new or convinced them of a different perspective.

Example: “In my last role as a marketing specialist, I worked with a client who was looking for ways to increase their sales. We discussed several options and decided on creating a social media campaign. I created a series of posts that included images and videos that would be most appealing to our target audience. The campaign resulted in a 10% increase in sales within the first month.”

4. How do you create an effective call to action?

A call to action is a statement that encourages the reader or listener to take an action. This can be something as simple as asking them to visit your website, but it could also include more complex actions such as signing a petition or donating money. Employers ask this question to make sure you know how to encourage people to take action and are able to do so in a way that’s effective.

Example: “I believe that every piece of communication should have a clear call to action. I always try to make my calls to action specific and relevant to the audience. For example, if I’m writing for a business publication, I would use language like ‘visit our website’ rather than ‘check out our website.’ I think it’s important to speak to the audience in a way they understand.”

5. Can you give me an example of how you’ve created and implemented a successful call to action?

Call to action is a term used in marketing that refers to the steps you take to get customers to buy your product or service. Employers ask this question to see if you have experience with call to action and how it can help their company’s sales. In your answer, explain what you did to create a successful call to action and give an example of one you’ve done before.

Example: “In my last role as a social media manager, I was responsible for creating content that would encourage people to subscribe to our newsletter. To do this, I created several blog posts each week about different topics related to our business. Each post included a link at the end to subscribe to our newsletter so they could receive more information from us.”

6. What’s the difference between logical persuasion, emotional persuasion, and fear-based persuasion?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of persuasive communication. It’s important to show that you understand the different types of persuasion and how they can be used effectively in business situations.

Example: “Logical persuasion uses facts, data and statistics to convince someone to take action or change their mind about something. Emotional persuasion focuses on appealing to people’s emotions to get them to act or think differently. Fear-based persuasion involves scaring people into taking action by making them feel afraid. These are all effective ways to persuade others, but I prefer using logical persuasion because it’s more sustainable than fear-based persuasion.”

7. When is it best to use each type of persuasion?

This question can help an interviewer determine your understanding of the different types of persuasion and when to use each one. Use examples from past experiences where you used each type of persuasion, such as logical or emotional, and explain why it was effective in that situation.

Example: “I find that using both forms of persuasion is most effective because they work together to convince someone to take action. For example, I once worked with a client who wanted to increase sales by 10% within six months. We decided on a goal of increasing sales by 5% per month for five consecutive months. This way, we could reach our overall goal while also making sure the company didn’t lose money during the first few months.

We then created a plan based on this strategy and presented it to the board of directors. They approved the plan, and I implemented my persuasive communication skills to ensure everyone understood the goals and how we would achieve them.”

8. What do you understand about the Aristotle’s five modes of persuasion model?

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your knowledge of persuasive communication and how you apply it in your work. Use examples from your experience that show you understand each mode and can use them effectively.

Example: “I have used Aristotle’s five modes of persuasion model many times throughout my career, as I find it an effective tool for understanding what makes people take action or change their minds. In my last role, I was tasked with creating a campaign to increase sales on our website. Using Aristotle’s five modes of persuasion, I created a marketing plan that included logos, colors and messaging that appealed to the target audience based on their needs and wants. The campaign resulted in a 20% increase in sales.”

9. What types of situations require using formal versus informal language?

This question can help an interviewer assess your ability to adapt your communication style based on the situation. Use examples from past experiences where you had to use formal or informal language and how it impacted the outcome of a conversation.

Example: “In my last role, I was responsible for writing weekly emails to our sales team about new products we were launching. In this case, I used more formal language because I wanted to make sure everyone understood what I was saying. However, when I’m speaking with clients one-on-one, I prefer using informal language so they feel comfortable asking me questions.”

10. What are some common mistakes people make when trying to persuade others?

This question can help an interviewer determine how you might avoid common mistakes when persuading others. You can answer this question by identifying some of the most common mistakes people make and explaining what you would do differently to persuade someone effectively.

Example: “One mistake I see a lot is that people try to persuade others without knowing their audience or why they want to persuade them. If you don’t know who you’re talking to, it’s hard to understand what matters to them and tailor your message accordingly. Another common mistake is not being prepared for objections. When trying to persuade someone, it’s important to anticipate any questions or concerns they may have so you can address them before they become a problem.”

11. Why is persuasion so important for salespeople?

Salespeople need to persuade customers to buy their products. Employers ask this question to make sure you understand the importance of persuasion in sales and how it can help your company succeed. In your answer, explain why persuasion is important for salespeople and what skills are required to be a successful persuader.

Example: “Persuasion is an essential skill for salespeople because it helps them convince customers to buy their product. A good persuader knows how to communicate with others effectively and understands that different people respond differently to certain persuasive techniques. I have experience using several types of persuasive communication, including active listening, storytelling and logical arguments. These skills allow me to connect with my customers and find out what they want so I can sell them the right product.”

12. What is the importance of empathy in persuasion?

Empathy is a key skill in persuasive communication. It allows you to understand the perspective of your audience and connect with them on an emotional level. When answering this question, it can be helpful to give examples of how empathy has helped you persuade others in the past.

Example: “Empathy is one of the most important skills for persuasion because it helps you understand what your audience cares about and connects with them on an emotional level. In my last role as a marketing manager, I was tasked with creating a new campaign that would encourage customers to buy more products from our company. After conducting research, I found out that many of our customers were parents who wanted to provide their children with healthy snacks. So, we created a campaign that focused on the health benefits of our products and included images of happy families.”

13. What role does body language play when persuading others?

Body language is an important part of persuasive communication. Employers ask this question to see if you understand the role body language plays in persuading others and how it can help or hurt your ability to persuade someone. In your answer, explain that body language is a nonverbal way of communicating with others. You should also mention that body language can be more powerful than verbal communication because it’s processed by the brain faster.

Example: “Body language is a nonverbal form of communication that uses gestures, facial expressions and posture to convey meaning. It’s actually processed by the brain faster than spoken words, so it’s very effective when trying to persuade someone. I make sure to use open body language when speaking with clients to show them that I’m approachable and friendly. This helps me build rapport with my clients and makes them feel comfortable.”

14. How can you improve your listening skills to become better at persuasion?

Listening is an important skill for persuaders because they need to understand their audience’s needs and concerns. Employers ask this question to see if you have strategies for improving your listening skills. In your answer, explain how you can improve your listening skills and what steps you take to do so.

Example: “I think the most important thing I can do to improve my listening skills is practice active listening. To do this, I make sure that I am paying attention to what the other person is saying and not just waiting for my turn to speak. Another way I can improve my listening skills is by practicing mindfulness. Mindfulness helps me focus on the present moment and be aware of what the speaker is saying.”

15. What steps should be taken to convince someone who doesn’t initially agree with you on something?

This question can allow you to demonstrate your communication skills by showing how you use them to persuade others. You can answer this question by describing the steps you take when persuading someone who disagrees with you, and you can also include a specific example of when you did so in the past.

Example: “I would first try to understand why they disagree with me. I find that many times people have different perspectives than mine because they’ve had different life experiences or haven’t been exposed to all the information I have. After understanding their perspective, I would then explain my reasoning for believing what I do. If they still don’t agree with me after hearing my explanation, I would ask if there is anything else I could provide to help them see things from my perspective.”