How to Answer 3 Job Interview Questions About Communication Style

How to Answer 3 Job Interview Questions About Communication Style How to Answer 3 Job Interview Questions About Communication Style Hiring managers use the job interview to get to know you  and figure out whether youd be a good fit.  One of the many things they attempt to assess is your communication style and skills- and this is especially important to employers hiring remote workers. Below  are three common interview questions employers ask  to determine how you communicate- and tips on how to respond. Of course, honesty is always the best policy, but the following advice can  help guide  job seekers through their responses. Heres how to answer some of the most common interview questions about your communication style: 1. How do you prefer to communicate? (In person? Phone? Over email?) Your ability to communicate effectively, in any situation, is essential- especially as a remote employee. So, the hiring manager  likely wants to know that youre comfortable with, and/or open to all types of communication. If you truly do have a preference- maybe you are much more comfortable with email, or prefer face-to-face conversations- you can and should be upfront about that. But, so long as its true, you should  quickly follow up by  explaining that youre flexible and adaptable. One way to do that is by explaining how you realize certain ways of communicating are better in certain situations. For instance, explain how for quick, yes-or-no questions, email or IM is your normal go-to for X reason, but for longer, more in-depth conversations, you understand  phone or in-person meetings are typically more appropriate. Ask which platforms their employees, or your would-be boss, typically use throughout the day, and then share any experiences youve had with each type. You can also use this question as an opportunity to highlight some of your other best communication-related skills. For instance, mention something along the lines of, I pride myself on being a really attentive listener- and thats true no matter  which platform someone is using to talk to me. 2. How would you describe your communication style? This question might be less about your communication style, are more about how self aware you are. Sure, the hiring manager probably does want to know the answer, because it will help them determine whether youd be a good fit within a particular team, but ultimately, they may be  most focused on how you talk about yourself. So, if you think youre a fairly open, straight-forward communicator, say so with confidence. If youre a great listener, but more reserved when it comes to verbalizing your thoughts or feelings- and its something youre working on- be honest about it. The hiring manager will likely appreciate your ability to recognize this  weakness and your willingness to make improvements. What’s important with this question is that you recognize what yours is, be able to provide examples, and perhaps even the pros and cons of your style, says  Robert Glazer,  CEO of Acceleration Partners, a performance marketing agency. This demonstrates that you are self-aware and take time to assess how you not only communicate with others but how you prefer to be communicated with. 3. Tell me about a time you were involved in a work conflict, and how you handled it. Though its less obvious, this interview question is very much about your communication style. The hiring manager wants to know  whether you communicated with the person directly; what, if anything, you said to resolve the conflict; how you said it; why you said it; and so on. Pick a situation in  which you were especially proud of how you handled it, and the outcome. Then, walk the interviewer through your thought and action process. (Theyll appreciate this!)  Use this opportunity to highlight your strongest communication, people, and problem-solving skills. If you recall making  any small mistakes along the way, be honest and share what you learned from them. Communication is important to the  success of an individual or team. Whether one is seeking an on-site or remote job, these communication tips can help answer the three most common interview questions about communication. Start by being honest. Finish by using these tips to find interview success.