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Phew! You just responded to a bunch of questions about how your skills match the requirements of the job.

Then the interviewer asks, “Empathy. How do you understand this word?”

Smiling and nodding, you wonder if the universe might show you some empathy — maybe by getting you out of this job search hot seat asap!

But you’ve done your homework. You know this is a chance to showcase your soft skills.

Two people sit across from each other having a conversation at a table in front of a windowPhoto by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash

Why Are They Asking This Question?

One reason: to learn whether you understand what empathy is. It’s not sympathy, which is pitying someone in pain and keeping their experience at a distance. Empathy is seeing the situation through their eyes and touching into what they’re feeling.

A description of empathy and sympathy are side by side, highlighting empathy means understanding, not just pitying someone.

After briefly naming the key features of empathy, don’t stop there. Why?

  • The hiring manager doesn’t want to just hear a dictionary definition of the word.

  • Through your answer, they want to learn more about what it’s like to work with you.

A powerful way to convey your interpersonal know-how is to tell a story.

Did you know?

Empathetic leaders have teams that are more likely to be innovative and engaged (Tara Van Bommel, "The Power of Empathy in Times of Crisis and Beyond," 2021).

Show Empathy in Action

Using the STAR method, recount a time at work when you empathized with someone.

1: Choose a situation that you’d be likely to face in your new job.

2: Name the task you had to complete.

3: Tell about the action you took.

4: Share the result.

A cartoon star with the face of a person is in a blue sky with clouds quickly floating by

Describe the Situation and Task

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1: Briefly provide some context:

“Last year, I was working as a customer service rep at a health insurance company.”

2: What was your assignment?

“I took a call from someone who was livid that their recent claim was denied.”

Tell About the Action and Result

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3: What did you do to address the challenge?

“I used a nonjudgmental tone and said, 'Tell me more about what happened and why you called.' I patiently listened, validating their anger by replying with, 'This is a frustrating situation,' and then I helped them file an appeal."

4: What was the outcome?

“The customer not only reported high satisfaction with the call but also got a refund after the claims team discovered an internal error. Empathy was crucial here. I'd been through something similar and used that experience to show I understood and cared.”

Offer a Takeaway

Conclude by sharing an insight about empathy based on your experiences. Since this is a job interview, focus on empathy in the workplace.

A thinking emoji is centered against a background that changes colors

To arrive at this bit of wisdom, think about the following:

  • What does empathy help you do?

  • When a colleague empathizes with you, how does it affect your relationship?

  • Who benefits from empathy?

  • Why does empathy matter?

Building on the STAR story above, you might say, “To me, empathy means I always have a way to connect with people, even when uncomfortable feelings initially seem to put up barriers.”

What Do You Think?

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Amara is getting ready to interview for an associate position in an HR department. After brainstorming answers to “What does empathy mean to you?” she has the perfect story to tell about helping two employees resolve a conflict.

But she’s stuck. How to conclude? “To me, empathy means…”

A. "...figuring out how to ensure people are happy with a compromise or other solution."

B. "...using what I know about resolving workplace conflicts to be an effective mediator."

C. "...being curious about what issues look and feel like from different points of view."

Quiz

What would be the best takeaway for Amara to use at the end of her story?

Take Action

Two firefighters walk through a garage together reflecting on how they feel their colleagues' pain when working closely.

Ensure you're ready to answer this question by working on the following items:

License:

This Byte has been authored by

KH

Katie Hynes

Learning Designer

English

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