Interview Questions: Interpersonal Skills
Definition: Interpersonal skills encompass the ability to communicate effectively, actively listen, and foster meaningful relationships built on trust, respect, and empathy. Strong interpersonal skills allow individuals to mediate conflicts, provide constructive feedback, and adapt leadership styles to meet diverse team needs while appreciating the efforts of colleagues. By demonstrating honesty, responsiveness, and inclusivity, individuals become role models who contribute to a collaborative, ethical, and high-performing workplace culture.
The statements below may be used in your job interview as measures of your "Interpersonal Skills". There are steps you can take to measure or improve your Interpersonal Skills.
Communication
- Are you a good listener who is attentive to others?
- Have you communicated initiatives in a clear and actionable manner to employees? Explain.
- Give examples of how you demonstrated good communication with colleagues and customers.
- How do you apply the appropriate communication techniques to different situations?
- Do you attend to both the content and the context of what was being said? Can you give an example?
- Give an example of how you understood the core issues of a conversation?
- Would others say that you communicate well at all levels of the organization?
- Would others say that you are easily approachable?
- How do you maintain open and regular communication with others?
Empathy
- When do you consider the other individual's point of view?
- How do you demonstrate a compassion and understanding of others?
- Would others describe you as someone who uses tact, compassion, and sensitivity in interactions with them?
- Describe a situation in which you demonstrated an awareness of how specific actions, or inaction, could affect others.
- Give an example of when you demonstrated an understanding of other points of view.
- Do you always pay close attention to what is being communicated verbally and nonverbally?
- Do you anticipate the concerns of other employees? Example?
- Do you listen to and interact with customers and team members in an effective, tactful, and pleasant way? Explain.
- Do you have empathy for coworkers? Can you give an example?
Honest
- Would others describe you as honest and trustworthy? Can you describe interactions that support this view?
- Do you maintain a high degree of honesty and integrity?
- Are you honest about owning up to mistakes made? Can you give an example?
- When completing assessments of others, do you give honest feedback and suggestions for improvement?
- Are you transparent and honest in communications, intentions, and actions?
- Are honesty and integrity your core tenets of interpersonal relationships? Explain.
- Do your colleagues view you as credible, knowledgeable and sincere? Give examples of interactions which support this.
- Do you always give honest opinions when asked?
- Are you honest about making mistakes and willing to fix them?
Relationships
- Do you feel you are more willing to communicate in person instead of through a mobile device?
- Do you consider yourself able to work closely others who are difficult to work with? Explain.
- Describe how you build strong relationships with team members.
- Have you worked cooperatively with others in the department?
- Are you able to work with individuals at all levels of the Company?
- How do you demonstrate a willingness to work with others?
- A you helpful, considerate, and cooperative towards others? Give examples.
- How do you establish a good rapport with employees and customers?
- Do you build a strong rapport with co-workers? Elaborate.
Coaching
- Have you provided resources to enable individuals to develop themselves?
- Do you provide learning activities to help team members better relate to one another and create a collaborative environment?
- Do you coach others on how to communicate with influence and persuasion?
- Describe how you coach others whenever possible.
- Have you coached employees on how their style influences the outcomes of situations?
- Do you encourage team and team members to seek and respond to constructive criticism?
- Explain how you would coach a team on how to offer alternative solutions in order to help customers achieve desired results.
Leadership
- Explain how you would use persuasive techniques when talking with people of varying backgrounds and resistance levels.
- Are you recognized for your influencing skills?
- How do you secure commitment from subordinates, supervisors, and members of other departments when working to gain support for ideas or decisions?
- Give examples of how you recognized and rewarded behavior that produced excellent performance.
- Do you inspire a sense of area pride and culture? Are co-workers aware of what makes their area unique?
- Describe how you would secure cooperation from and/or persuade others to support your solutions and decisions.
- Do you adapt your management style to meet the needs of the individual or situation? Explain.
- Give examples of when you influenced others on your team to reach goals, improve performance, and try new things.
- Describe how you would hold team members accountable to commitments made.
- Have you ever had to use knowledge and charisma rather than position, power, or coercion to influence others?
- Do you positively impact your team's morale, sense of belonging, and participation?
- Give examples of how you expressed ideas in an appropriate manner to overcome resistance, complaints, and frustration from others.
Openness
- Do you actively listens to others?
- Are you open and approachable?
- Do you value the opinions of others?
- How do you maintain an open and accepting manner?
- Have you created an atmosphere that supported the open expression of ideas? When and how?
- Do you encourage others to share ideas to develop team cohesion?
- Give examples of how you listed to suggestions and advice from others.
- Are you open to input on alternative ways to accomplish objectives?
- Do you regularly listen to others, withholding judgment, so that you come across as open to all viewpoints?
- Describe how you would seek input from key people who should be involved in, or will be affected by, decisions.
- Are you open to input on alternative ways to accomplish objectives?
- Would others describe you as open to innovative ideas and suggestions?
Recognition
- Give an example of when you encouraged others to recognize the work of outstanding employees.
- Describe how you would recognize when others do a good job?
- How do you appreciate the extra efforts made by coworkers?
- Do you take the time to recognize the efforts of others?
- How do you express appreciation of other's work?
- How do you recognize the contributions of others?
- Do you give credit where credit is due?
- When have you shown appreciation for other's work?
- Describe how you regularly appreciate the work of direct reports and subordinates.
- Give an example of how you offered praise to colleagues who have successfully completed major projects.
Mediates
- How do you resolve conflicts and disagreements constructively?
- How do you resolve conflicts in a positive way?
- Describe how you would successfully mediate conflicts and disagreements?
- Explain how you would strive for win/win solutions?
- Are you able to work through disagreements with co-workers?
- Give an example of when you remained poised and rational in a debate, seeking an understanding of all sides?
- How do you effectively manage conflicts? By dealing with them directly and immediately? Give an example.
- Have you ever successfully resolved conflicts and grievances to a win-win solution? Explain.
- How do you facilitate the resolution of conflicts and grievances?
- Do you often seek common ground and collaborative solutions in negotiations with others?
- How do you defuse hostile/angry individuals in group settings to prevent disruption of work?
Feedback
- Have you provided constructive feedback in a way that fostered acceptance and development?
- Are you thoughtful and honest about the feedback you give others? Explain.
- Have you receives feedback (both positive and negative) in a constructive manner?
- Do you give constructive feedback on performance reviews?
- Do you offer constructive criticism to have a positive impact on performance?
- Describe examples of when you gave good advice and suggestions to coworkers.
Diversity and Inclusion
- Describe how you embrace the differences in individuals that comprise the team.
- Explain how you see value in the diversity of individuals on the team.
- How do you foster a diverse workforce free from discrimination and harassment?
- Are you willing to overlook personal differences and focus on completing the task at hand?
- How do you create diverse teams of individuals with different backgrounds, skills, and abilities?
- What would you do to promote acceptance of diverse viewpoints from team members?
- Are you accepting of individuals with different cultural backgrounds?
Respect
- Give examples of how you respected other members of the team/department?
- Are you well respected in the department?
- Are you viewed as a highly respected individual in the company? Can you elaborate?
- Describe how you treat others with respect?
- Are you respectful of the opinions and ideas of others?
- Do you value the input from coworkers?
Trustworthy
- Are you a reliable and dependable worker? Will you do what you say you are going to do?
- Are you trusted by peers and co-workers? Are others willing to confide in you? Give examples.
- Are you a committed and reliable partner?
- Do you keep commitments made with coworkers? Give examples.
- Do you keep and maintain confidentiality and trust?
- Would others say that you are someone who can be trusted?
Responsive
- Do you follow up on inquiries in a timely manner? Describe when this happened.
- Do you regularly respond quickly to inquiries from potential customers?
- Explain how you would work diligently to assist customers in finding the right products.
- Are you willing to lend a hand to those in the department who need help? Elaborate.
- How would you assist those in the department who may need help in meeting performance metrics? Any examples?
- Give examples of when you assisted employees that needed your help.
- Do you address critical customer issues in a timely manner?
Role Model
- Explain how you demonstrate a high degree of ethics and integrity in the workplace?
- Do you demonstrate positive behaviors for others to follow?
- How do you display positive interactions?
- Are you a role model for others demonstrating the importance of interpersonal skills?
- How do you lead by example to demonstrate the value of interpersonal relationships?