15 Persuasive Interview Questions and Answers

Whether you’re interviewing for a job in sales, marketing, or any other field, you’re likely to encounter persuasive interview questions. These are designed to test your ability to influence and persuade others, as well as your understanding of what motivates people.

If you want to ace your next interview, it’s important to be prepared to answer these types of questions. In this guide, we’ll give you some tips on how to do just that. We’ll also provide sample answers to some common persuasive interview questions, so you can see what a successful response looks like.

1. What are the advantages of being persuasive?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you understand the importance of persuasive skills. You can answer this question by listing several benefits and explaining how they apply to your own life.

Example: “Being persuasive allows me to get my ideas across in an effective manner, which helps me achieve my goals. It also makes it easier for me to work with others because I can convince them to see things from my perspective. In my previous job, I was tasked with convincing my team members to take on more responsibilities. I used my persuasive skills to explain why taking on these tasks would benefit them and our company.”

2. Can you explain what persuasion is?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of persuasion and how it works. It also allows you to show the interviewer that you understand what this skill entails. When answering, try to define what persuasion is and give an example of when you used it in your past job or experience.

Example: “Persuasion is the act of convincing someone to do something by using logic and reasoning. In my last position as a sales associate at a department store, I had to persuade customers to buy certain products. For instance, if a customer was looking for a new pair of jeans, I would ask them questions about their preferences and then offer suggestions based on those answers.”

3. Do you think that everyone can be persuaded to do something they would never normally consider doing? If yes, then how?

This question is a great way to assess your understanding of the concept of persuasion and how it can be used in different situations. Your answer should show that you understand the process of persuasion and its limitations, as well as when it’s appropriate to use this skill.

Example: “Yes, I do believe everyone can be persuaded to do something they would never normally consider doing. However, there are many factors that influence whether or not someone will change their mind about an idea or decision. For example, if someone has strong beliefs about a certain topic, then it may be more difficult for them to change their minds on the issue. In these cases, I find it best to first try to understand where they’re coming from before trying to persuade them.”

4. How important is it for a person to have some level of persuasiveness in their job or career?

This question is a great way for an interviewer to gauge your understanding of the importance of persuasive skills in your field. It’s also a good opportunity for you to show how important these skills are to you personally.

Example: “It’s essential that anyone working in sales or marketing has some level of persuasiveness. You need to be able to convince others to buy into your ideas and products, which can help increase revenue for your company. I think it’s also important for people to have persuasive skills outside of work as well. Persuasive skills can help you get what you want out of life, whether it’s convincing someone to give you a job or helping you achieve your personal goals.”

5. Do you think it’s possible to persuade people to make decisions if we don’t give them all the information about a given situation?

This question is a follow-up to the previous one and it’s designed to test your critical thinking skills. Your answer should show that you can think critically about persuasive techniques and how they work in real life situations.

Example: “I believe that persuasion requires honesty, transparency and trust. If we don’t give people all the information about a situation, then we’re not being honest with them. Transparency means that we share our thoughts and feelings openly with others so they know what we’re thinking and feeling. Trust is important because if we don’t have their trust, then they won’t listen to us or take our advice seriously.”

6. In your opinion, what does it take to persuade someone to change their mind and accept our point of view?

This question is a great way to assess your critical thinking skills and ability to persuade others. Your answer should include the steps you take when persuading someone, including how you gather information, analyze it and use it to support your argument.

Example: “I think that in order to persuade someone to change their mind, I need to first understand what they believe and why. Then, I can present my point of view and explain why I hold those beliefs. If I can show them that my ideas are logical and well thought out, then I have a better chance of convincing them to see things from my perspective.”

7. Is there an optimal number of arguments that should be presented when trying to convince someone to accept our viewpoint on a topic? If so, then what is it?

This question is designed to assess your knowledge of the persuasive process and how it can be applied in a professional setting. Your answer should demonstrate that you understand the importance of using multiple arguments when trying to convince someone of an idea or concept.

Example: “There are many factors that determine the optimal number of arguments to use when persuading someone, but I believe that three is the magic number. When presenting three strong arguments for my viewpoint, I am able to provide enough evidence to support my claims while also allowing the other person to consider each point carefully. This allows them to fully evaluate all of the information before making their decision.”

8. Have you ever found yourself agreeing with someone’s argument even though you knew they were wrong? If yes, then why did this happen?

This question is a great way to see how you handle situations where your opinions differ from others. It also helps the interviewer understand how you might react in similar situations at their company.

Example: “Yes, I have found myself agreeing with someone’s argument even though I knew they were wrong. In this situation, I was working on a project that required me to work with several different people. One of my colleagues had an idea for our project that I disagreed with because it would take more time and resources than we had available. However, I didn’t want to offend him or make him feel bad about his idea, so I told him why I thought it wouldn’t work and offered some alternatives.”

9. When using techniques like anchoring and framing to influence a person’s behavior, is there any ethical concern about the use of such tactics?

This question is a great way to assess your understanding of ethical practices in the workplace. When answering, it can be beneficial to mention that you understand the importance of following company policies and procedures when using persuasive techniques.

Example: “There are many ethical concerns about the use of anchoring and framing because they’re both considered manipulative tactics. However, I believe there’s nothing wrong with using these methods as long as you’re not doing so for unethical reasons or without permission from management. In my previous role, we were taught how to use these techniques ethically by only using them on customers who had given us consent to do so.”

10. Are there any situations where it might not be appropriate to try and persuade someone to agree with us?

This question can help the interviewer understand your ability to recognize when it’s best not to persuade someone and how you might handle those situations. Use examples from past experiences where you knew it wasn’t appropriate to try and persuade someone, such as in a situation that could be emotionally charged or if you’re trying to persuade someone who is already convinced of their position.

Example: “I’ve found that sometimes people are set on their opinions and no amount of persuasion will change them. In these cases, I focus my efforts on finding common ground with the person so we can work together effectively. For example, I had an employee who was resistant to new ideas for improving efficiency at his job. Rather than continuing to argue with him about why he should implement some of our suggestions, I asked him what he thought would improve productivity. He told me that he felt like management didn’t care about the employees’ well-being and wanted more flexibility in scheduling. After hearing his concerns, I offered to meet with him and discuss ways we could make improvements.”

11. Have you ever been persuaded by someone who was very different from you? If yes, then what was it about the other person that made them more believable than you?

This question is a great way to show your ability to work with people who have different opinions than you. It also shows that you can be open-minded and willing to change your mind when presented with new information.

Example: “Yes, I’ve been persuaded by someone who was very different from me before. In my last job, I worked as an assistant for a marketing team. The company had just started selling their product in the United Kingdom, so they wanted to create a campaign specifically for UK consumers. My boss wanted to use the same campaign we used in the US, but I knew it wouldn’t resonate with our UK customers. So, I talked to some of our UK employees about what would appeal to them. They gave me several ideas, which I shared with my boss. She agreed to try out the new campaign, and it ended up being much more successful.”

12. What is the difference between manipulation and persuasion?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the difference between these two skills. It also allows you to show that you understand how they can be used in different situations and when one would be more appropriate than the other.

Example: “Manipulation involves using pressure or force to get someone to do something, while persuasion uses logic and reasoning to convince someone to take action. Manipulation is often seen as unethical because it’s not based on facts but rather emotions. Persuasion, however, is ethical because it focuses on providing information and facts to support its argument.”

13. Do you think that it’s possible for someone to become too good at convincing others to accept their ideas? Why or why not?

This question is an opportunity to show your critical thinking skills and how you can apply them to a professional setting. Your answer should demonstrate that you understand the importance of persuasion in business, but also that you know when it’s appropriate to use this skill.

Example: “I think that there are times when someone could become too good at persuading others. For example, if I were to convince my manager to give me more projects than I could handle, then I would be overusing my persuasive skills. In this case, I would need to learn how to say no or ask for help from other coworkers.”

14. Is there anything that can be done to make sure that we’re not manipulated into making bad decisions?

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of persuasion and how it can be used for good or bad. You should answer this question by explaining the steps you take to ensure that you’re not being manipulated into making poor decisions.

Example: “I think one of the best ways to avoid manipulation is to make sure that you have an open mind when listening to others. If you go into a conversation with preconceived notions, then you may miss out on important information that could change your perspective. Another thing I do is try to remain skeptical until I’ve heard all sides of the story. This helps me from jumping to conclusions too quickly.”

15. Can you explain what cognitive dissonance is?

Cognitive dissonance is a psychological term that refers to the feelings of discomfort you experience when your thoughts and actions are not in alignment. This question can help an interviewer assess how well you understand persuasion techniques, as cognitive dissonance is often used in marketing strategies. In your answer, try to explain what cognitive dissonance is and give examples of how it’s used in real-world situations.

Example: “Cognitive dissonance is a state where people feel uncomfortable because their thoughts and actions don’t align. For example, if I were trying to convince someone to buy a product but they already owned one, they would likely feel some level of cognitive dissonance. To reduce this feeling, they might purchase another item from me.”