How to Answer: What would you do if you encountered a communication issue while working remotely?
9. What would you do if you encountered a communication issue while working remotely?
How to Answer
The interviewer is looking for traits and patterns of independent thinking. When you are confident in your abilities, you will not shy away from situations that require an extra communication push.
Rather than just telling the interviewer that you are an excellent communicator in the face of a challenge, try to show them as well. You can take a story-example from your past and give a brief overview.
Avoid sounding casual about communication issues. Give a specific example of your strong communication skills in action. Now is not the time to be vague about your approach to communication!
Answer Example
"If I had a communication issue arise, the first thing I would do is pick up the phone and work the situation out. Whether the issue is with a supplier, a team member, or a client, I believe there is no replacement for a real-time voice conversation. One example of my communication skills in action is when I had a supplier cancel our order due to an inventory issue, just days before we were expecting it to arrive. The supplier sent a brief email that I felt was unapologetic and brief. Rather than sending a sharp email back, I picked up the phone and called the supplier. We did some collective troubleshooting, and I was able to make a small change to the order, which allowed us to receive a portion of the inventory right away, and the remainder two weeks later. Had I reacted out of impulse and gave the supplier an email in return, there would have been no opportunity to iron out the situation. I am a strong communicator and am willing to have a productive conversation at any time, rather than relying solely on email."