Responding to Interview Questions Related to Your Skills

Employers want to know how you well you exercise sound reasoning analyze situations, make decisions and overcome challenges. They want to see how you effectively evaluate and interpret information. Do you demonstrate originality and inventiveness? 

• Explain your decision-making process.
• What is the most difficult work-related decision you've ever had to make? 
• Share a time you had to use critical thinking to solve a problem.
• What would you do if you noticed your supervisor made a mistake?
• How do you proceed when you need to solve a problem? Can you give an example?
• How would you present a new idea or technique to your team?

Communication skills are essential in any industry. Examples of communication skills include verbal, written, nonverbal and visual. Employers want to know how well you can perform inside and outside of the organization. Are you able to articulate thoughts and ideas clearly and concisely in both orally and written. Are you comfortable speaking in public? Can you write and edit letters, memos, reports, etc.? What are your nonverbal communication skills like? How do you use your body or face to respond to questions and situations. For some positions, you may be asked to demonstrate examples the employers can see such as charts, graphs, photos, etc.

• Why are you a good fit for this position?
• Describe a time when you faced conflict and how you addressed it.
• Telling about something you accomplished.
• How do you prefer someone to communicate with you?
• Can you tell me about a time you responded to a customer or client complaint?
• Can you tell me about a time you were asked to give a presentation?

Employers are interested to know what is your work style and how will it benefit their team. What are ways you have demonstrated a collaborative relationship with colleagues or clients represent diverse cultures, ages, races, genders, religions, viewpoints, and lifestyles. Can you communicate well and complete tasks successfully while working as a team? Do you enjoy working with a team or would you rather work alone? 

• Provide a time you showed strong teamwork skills.
• Share an example of a team project that failed.
• What strategies would you use to motivate your team?
• Have you ever found it difficult to work with a boss or colleague?
• Describe an instance when you and another employee worked really well together. What do you think helped make that experience a positive one?
• Can you tell me about a time when a lack of teamwork hindered a project?

Interviewers are often asked questions related to their leadership skills. How do you leverage the strengths of others to achieve common goals? Employers want to see how you asses and manager your emotions as well as those of others to guide and motivate, organize and delegate work.

• Describe your leadership style.
• How do you make sure projects and tasks stay on schedule?
• How do goals help you become a better leader?
• How do you handle team member disagreements?
• What was a difficult decision you had to make as a leader, and what was the outcome?
• Can you tell me of a time where you demonstrated leadership capabilities on the job?

When you are interviewing, you might be asked questions related to your personal accountability and work habits. Can an employer depend on you to complete a task. Are you responsible and honest? Do you exhibit a professional attitude?

• How would you describe your work ethic?
• Can you tell me about a time when you went above and beyond your job?
• Can you tell me about a stressful situation you experienced and how you handled it?
• What drives you in your professional life?
• Describe a time when you dealt with change
• How would you describe the company culture at your current or past job?

Cultural competency is increasingly important in the working environment and can affect a company's performance and productivity. Employers want to know whether you can respect, communicate and collaborate with an increasingly diverse world. Do you demonstrate openness, inclusiveness, and sensitivity? Can you interact with others who differ from your values and beliefs in a respectful manner? 

• How well do yo work with individuals from diverse backgrounds?
• What kinds of experiences have you had in relating with people whose backgrounds are different from your own?
• Describe a situation in which you worked with a diverse group of people or person over a period of time. What did you learn?
• How would you contribute to our company's effort to enhance diversity in a meaningful way?
• What does it mean for you to have a commitment to diversity?
• Tell us how you work with people to create or foster diversity in the workplace.