IBM Mock Interview

Master 35 IBM interview questions covering technical depth, business transformation, and cultural fit.

WRITTEN BY KEVIN DOWNEY
QUESTION 4 OF 35

How would you describe your communication skills?

Kevin Downey
Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

The interviewer wants to affirm whether your communication style and skills will meet their expectations and the requirements for this role. How you answer could inform them whether you'll fit in well with their culture. So spend time researching their site for any insights into their preferred approach to communicating successfully. Spend time reading their blog and exploring any other insights they share there.

Kimberly Hallman
Kimberly is a freelance writer and editor with a decade of experience in the education field, including her time as a pre-kindergarten teacher.
General

"I have been a client of IBM in the past and can truly say that positive communication with your clients makes you the most popular choice in the area. I am confident that my communication skills will work well here because I focus on simple solutions, easy-to-understand language, and a friendly tone."

Kevin Downey
Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
Entry Level

"I feel confident in my communication skills. I am skilled at nondefensive communication. I am a great active listener and reflective listener. I am empathetic, and when the person I communicate with isn't as skilled, I am always more than happy to meet them more than halfway."

Kevin Downey
Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
What You Need to Know

Here are some excerpts from one blog on their site: "We succeed when we listen well, offer valuable insights, and make space for all voices to be heard. Be authentic. Build conditions of trust. The conditions of trust are grounded in communication. Be respectful, selfless, empathetic, and clear. Provide a sense of purpose, fight for your people, and do all of this with high ethical standards. Listen more than you talk. Listening is a valuable skill. Reflective listening refers to the ability to listen to someone and then reflect back that person's point of view. It helps confirm what has been said and correct any miscommunications. This kind of purposeful listening can facilitate mutual understanding and better outcomes. When it's your turn to speak, offer thoughtful, prepared, well-organized, concise verbal communications. Everyone can contribute to more thoughtful exchanges by thinking ahead and speaking only when we have something of value to add. Make room for diverse voices. Effective communication in a business requires making space for all voices to be heard, not just those with the most power."

35 IBM Interview Questions & Answers

Jump to any question in the set.

01 What would you do if the detailed procedures in place for client technical support did not appear to be working? PROBLEM SOLVING 02 How do you stay up to date on industry changes and current events? EDUCATION 03 How would you describe customer service standard? CUSTOMER SERVICE 04 How would you describe your communication skills? COMMUNICATION 05 Why do you specifically want to work for IBM? CAREER GOALS 06 Walk me through your education. EDUCATION 07 Are you willing to complete a full background check? DIRECT 08 If you could take a course or workshop on any topic, what would you choose? EDUCATION 09 What are your thoughts on AI-driven chatbots? DISCOVERY 10 What questions do you have for me? ASK THE INTERVIEWER 11 Tell me about your IT field service experience. EXPERIENCE 12 Would you be willing to work over 40 hours a week? ADAPTABILITY 13 What part of this career brings you the most stress? STRESS 14 Give me an example of a time when you had to be extra diligent in order to meet a deadline. DILIGENCE 15 What are your salary expectations? SALARY 16 How do you make tough decisions knowing they may affect your entire team? PROBLEM SOLVING 17 Tell me something about yourself that I wouldn't know from reading your resume. BEHAVIORAL 18 What characteristics or events have contributed towards your success as a leader? LEADERSHIP 19 How do you evaluate success among your team members? EXPERIENCE 20 Describe your ideal employer. JOB SATISFACTION 21 Have you ever broken a confidentiality agreement? DIRECT 22 We are asking for eight years of industry experience and you have just five. Why do you think you are qualified for this position? COMPETENCY 23 Do you always double-check or proofread your work? DILIGENCE 24 When have you had to change a major component of your project due to new information being presented? PROBLEM SOLVING 25 How do setbacks emotionally affect you and your work? EQ 26 How would your most recent manager describe you? DISCOVERY 27 When have you worked amongst a diverse group of people? DIVERSITY 28 Would you say you are a better verbal or written communicator? COMMUNICATION 29 What type of manager brings out the best in you? BEHAVIORAL 30 Has your career progressed as you have expected? CAREER GOALS 31 Why is this job with IBM right for you at this time in your career? CAREER GOALS 32 What decisions did you routinely make in your last position? EXPERIENCE 33 If you were hired today, what would you accomplish first? BEHAVIORAL 34 What are your strengths and weaknesses? EQ 35 Tell me about yourself. ACCOMPLISHMENT

More IBM interviews

IBM hires for several roles, and each one gets its own set of questions.

RELATED SETS
Kevin Downey
35 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS · IBM
See membership