Give an example of a time you used your listening skills to solve a problem.
The interviewer wants to see that you have strong listening skills. They want to know that you don't interrupt before hearing your co-workers out. When receiving direction from your employer, asking for clarification can save you a lot of grief down the road! Show that you check for understanding when you are navigating new territory. Highlight to the interviewer that you attentively listen and troubleshoot problems in a collaborative style.
Someone with good listening skills will:
- Give the speaker their full attention
- Maintain proper eye contact
- Show invested interest by nodding or agreeing
- Avoid interrupting
- Ask for clarification if needed
- Make statements such as "If I understand you correctly..." or "Do you mean that you want..."
Give an example that demonstrates how you avoided miscommunication by using your stellar listening skills!
"My current principal is very brief in her communication and sometimes creates confusion within the faculty. Last month, she asked me to run a report on a student whose parents she was meeting with the next day. I wasn't entirely sure that I understood what she was asking. After she told me what she was looking for, I repeated it back to her. I often use qualifying questions such as, 'So what you're asking is...?' or 'Do you mean that you want me to do (X)?' That seems to avoid a lot of unnecessary problems down the road."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
I was in a marketing meeting with the owner of the supplement brand I have been distributing as an entrepreneurial venture of mine, and during that meeting, we discussed how I should market the products to students. Once he was done explaining his expectations, I followed up with a clarifying question which was basically me repeating what he had said to ensure that there were no misunderstandings so I said, "If I understand correctly, when marketing the product, you would like me to highlight this, this, and that." To which he responded with a yes.
Rachelle's Feedback
You display a terrific approach to clarifying communication. For this answer, I recommend being a bit clearer on the pain point since the question refers to problem-solving.
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