How do I answer, "Describe your style of communicating and interacting with others” in a job interview?

You're in a job interview and you were just asked: “Describe your style of communicating and interacting with others.”

If your mind went blank as soon as you heard the question, that's okay! Today you'll learn how to answer this question confidently.

Interviewers want to know how you interact with coworkers, clients, and customers.

Photo by Jason Goodman on Unsplash

1. Think about positive interactions you've had in the workplace or group projects.

2. Identify what about those interactions made them positive experiences.

3. Communicate the positive characteristics you showed during those interactions.

For example, you may have been:

• Open and appreciative of other people's ideas or perspectives

• Friendly, attentive, and helpful to customers

• Honest but empathetic when sharing constructive feedback

Good communicators apply their communication skills directly to their work. Incorporating those skills into your answer is sure to impress.

Reflect on your communication wins at work. Perhaps you:

• Present information clearly and concisely during meetings

• Ask clarifying questions to make sure everyone understands the project

• Respond to client emails promptly and give them progress updates

Below are two responses to the question, "Describe your style of communicating and interacting with others."

Choose the best response.

Candidate 1

I am quiet and prefer working alone, but I can also enjoy working in teams. I steer clear of office friendships to avoid gossip and negative conversations.

I always communicate with my teammates if needed. I am a hard worker, so when I work on team projects, I get most of the work done by myself and keep the rest of my team updated on my progress.

Candidate 2

I enjoy working with others and assisting customers. I am friendly and appreciative of other people's questions, feedback, and perspectives.

I am a team player who shares my ideas, presents information clearly, provides progress updates, accommodates others, and is honest and empathetic, as I would want others to be with me.

Remember to focus on how you use your communication skills to make workplace interactions positive.