Construct Validity
Construct validity relates to whether a particular psychometric assessment...
section one
5 Effective Interview Questions to Measure Communication
Lead consultant at Test Partnership, Ben Schwencke, explains why Communication is worth measuring.
Effective communication is a vital component of any successful workplace. It is the foundation upon which strong relationships, collaboration, and productivity are built. Therefore, it is essential that employers are able to assess a candidate's communication skills during the hiring process. This is where communication-focused interview questions come into play. In the workplace, effective communication can lead to better relationships between colleagues, increased productivity, and better problem-solving.
Good communication skills go beyond the ability to simply speak or write effectively. It encompasses active listening, non-verbal communication, and the ability to convey complex ideas in a clear and concise manner.
Interviewers should prioritise assessing a candidate's communication skills during the interview process, as it is a crucial factor in determining their ability to succeed in the role. A candidate's communication skills can have a significant impact on their ability to collaborate effectively with others, manage conflicts, and provide exceptional customer service.
In order to assess a candidate's communication skills, it is important to ask specific and targeted interview questions that allow them to showcase their abilities. For example, questions about how they have handled difficult conversation, how they have communicated complex information to a team, or how they have adapted their communication style to work effectively with different personalities can all provide valuable insight into a candidate's communication skills.
Tell me about a time when you had to communicate complex information to a team or group of people who were unfamiliar with the subject matter.
Would demonstrate a candidate's ability to communicate complex information in a clear and concise manner. The candidate would describe a specific example of a situation where they had to communicate complex information to a group of people who were unfamiliar with the subject matter and would articulate their approach to the communication. A strong answer would also show the candidate's ability to reflect on the experience, describing what they learned and how they could apply it in future communication situations.
Would indicate a candidate's difficulty or inability to communicate complex information effectively. The candidate may struggle to provide a specific example or may describe a situation where the communication was not successful. They may also provide vague or generic answers, such as "I just tried to simplify the information." Overall, a weak answer would suggest that the candidate may struggle to communicate complex information effectively, which could limit their potential for success in the role.
- 1. What was the complex information, and who was the target audience?
- 2. How did you break down the information into understandable parts, and what communication strategies did you use to convey the information effectively?
- 3. What was the outcome of the communication, and what did you learn from the experience?
Describe a time when you had to communicate effectively with someone who had a different communication style than your own?
Would demonstrate a candidate's ability to adapt their communication style to effectively communicate with others, even when those individuals have a different communication style than their own. The candidate would describe a specific example of a situation where they had to communicate with someone with a different communication style and would articulate their approach to the communication. A strong answer would also show the candidate's ability to reflect on the experience, describing what they learned and how they could apply it in future communication situations.
Would indicate a candidate's difficulty or inability to adapt their communication style to effectively communicate with others. The candidate may struggle to provide a specific example or may describe a situation where the communication was not successful. They may also provide vague or generic answers, such as "I just tried to be clearer." Overall, a weak answer would suggest that the candidate may struggle to communicate effectively with individuals who have different communication styles, which could limit their potential for success.
- 1. What was the context of the communication, and who was the person with a different communication style?
- 2. How did you adjust your communication style to better communicate with the other person, and what challenges did you face?
- 3. What was the outcome of the communication, and what did you learn from the experience?
Can you describe a time when you had to communicate difficult or sensitive information to a colleague or team member?
Would demonstrate a candidate's ability to communicate difficult or sensitive information in a compassionate and effective manner. The candidate would describe a specific example of a situation where they had to communicate difficult or sensitive information to a colleague or team member and would articulate their approach to the communication. A strong answer would also show the candidate's ability to reflect on the experience, describing what they learned and how they could apply it in future communication situations.
Would indicate a candidate's difficulty or inability to communicate difficult or sensitive information effectively. The candidate may struggle to provide a specific example or may describe a situation where the communication was not successful. They may also provide vague or generic answers, such as "I just tried to be honest." Overall, a weak answer would suggest that the candidate may struggle to communicate difficult or sensitive information effectively, highlighting difficulties with high-stakes communication.
- 1. What was the difficult or sensitive information, and who was the recipient of the communication?
- 2. How did you prepare for the communication, and what strategies did you use to convey the information effectively?
- 3. What was the outcome of the communication, and how did you ensure that the recipient felt supported and understood?
Tell me about a time when you had to resolve a conflict with a colleague or team member through communication.
Would demonstrate a candidate's ability to resolve conflicts with colleagues or team members through effective communication. The candidate would describe a specific example of a situation where they had to resolve a conflict with a colleague or team member and would articulate their approach to the communication. A strong answer would also show the candidate's ability to reflect on the experience, describing what they learned and how they could apply it in future conflict resolution situations.
Would indicate a candidate's difficulty or inability to resolve conflicts through effective communication. The candidate may struggle to provide a specific example or may describe a situation where the conflict was not successfully resolved. They may also provide vague or generic answers, such as "We just talked it out.” Ultimately, a weak answer would suggest that the candidate may struggle to resolve conflicts through effective communication, exasperating conflicts when they do occur in the team.
- 1. What was the nature of the conflict, and who was involved?
- 2. How did you approach the communication to resolve the conflict, and what communication strategies did you use to effectively address the situation?
- 3. What was the outcome of the communication, and how did you ensure that both parties were satisfied with the resolution?
Describe a time when you had to provide constructive feedback to a colleague or team member?
Would demonstrate a candidate's ability to provide constructive feedback in a thoughtful and supportive manner. The candidate would describe a specific example of a situation where they had to provide constructive feedback to a colleague or team member and would articulate their approach to the conversation. A strong answer would also show the candidate's ability to reflect on the experience, describing what they learned and how they could apply it in future feedback situations.
Would indicate a candidate's difficulty or inability to provide constructive feedback effectively. The candidate may struggle to provide a specific example or may describe a situation where the feedback was not delivered constructively. They may also provide vague or generic answers, such as "I just told them what they needed to work on. A weak answer would, therefore, suggest that the candidate may struggle to provide constructive feedback, turning development opportunities into unnecessary conflicts, harming both personal development and team morale.
- 1. What was the nature of the feedback, and who was the recipient?
- 2. How did you prepare for the conversation, and what communication strategies did you use to provide the feedback in a constructive manner?
- 3. What was the outcome of the feedback, and how did you ensure that the recipient felt supported and motivated to make improvements?
section two
Limitations of interview questions for Communication
Compared to many soft skills and behavioural competencies, interviews are actually highly effective at measuring communication. Naturally, the objective of an interview is to evaluate the candidate's ability to communicate, and the best communicators will inevitably perform well in interviews. However, there are still some drawbacks of using interviews to assess communication. Firstly, interviews tend to advantage candidates who are charismatic and convincing, but not candidates who are tactful and empathetic. These aspects of communication are better measured using behavioural assessments, rather than interviews.
Test Partnership's suite of behavioural assessments provides a far more comprehensive measure of communication than interviews alone. Our assessments allow you to target the specific personality constructs that underpin communication in the workplace, helping to maximise the quality of hire. Additionally, these assessments can be used at volume, providing a cost-effective way to shortlist candidates without relying solely on interviews. For more information, please contact us directly or request a free trial.
