20 Soft Skills Interview Questions That You Should Know About

When an interviewer asks you this question, the goal here is to understand your leadership skills. Explain a situation where you had to take full ownership of a team and communicate why your judgment makes you a qualified candidate for the position.  

Example: "I worked for a Web Development company. One day, we got a project, and our team needed to complete the design for a client's website by the end of the month. The UX designer and the Senior Web Developer disagreed on the final changes to the landing page. Our team fell one week behind on the project. I scheduled a meeting the next day, and they both came to an agreement on the design, and we delivered it to the client on time. Addressing problems quickly is an important part of being a manager, and I think I can use my judgment from this situation to excel in this role."
 

Most Hiring Managers want to know how you prioritise tasks to get an overview of your organisation's skills. Mention the tools you've used to organise your projects and how those tools help you decide on which tasks to work on. 

Example: "I use my calendar and Project Management system to organise my tasks. When I worked as a Project Manager, I created sections within the Project Management system to organise which tasks each department worked on. I used my calendar to compartmentalise my time between client calls and work on administrative tasks, which I added to the Project Management system as well. I plan to use the same setup in my next job, so I know when multiple deadlines occur and know the measures to take to mitigate risk."  

Most Hiring Managers want to know how you prioritise tasks to get an overview of your organisation's skills. Mention the tools you've used to organise your projects and how those tools help you decide on which tasks to work on. 

Example: "I use my calendar and Project Management system to organise my tasks. When I worked as a Project Manager, I created sections within the Project Management system to organise which tasks each department worked on. I used my calendar to compartmentalise my time between client calls and work on administrative tasks, which I added to the Project Management system as well. I plan to use the same setup in my next job, so I know when multiple deadlines occur and know the measures to take to mitigate risk."  

Employers ask questions related to your communication skills to determine how well you interact with coworkers. Give a situation where you introduced a new subject and describe how you would use your communication skills going forward. 

Example: "When I worked for a software company, I had to explain the software's functionality and why customers needed to buy it to three new sales employees. Despite the technical jargon related to software products, I noted how each feature could affect their daily work lives if it didn't function properly. The employees asked many questions about the product's usability so they could communicate it to prospects. I plan on using my ability to empathise with people to help them understand complex concepts like the software in this role." 

The interviewer may ask many questions about your adaptability skills to figure out how much change affects your approach to work. Note a time when you adapted to change, and the effect it had on your previous employer. 

Example: "When I was working as a Marketing Coordinator, I spent several months collaborating with the marketing manager on the details for a charity basketball game. However, it snowed on the day of the game, and all roads were closed due to the bad weather. I moved the date of the event and collaborated with my manager and the host of the arena to make sure we could move plans to a newly scheduled date. Building relationships with key contacts would be important to succeed, and I believe my ability to work with people would bode me very well with this company."

Improve your time management skills through our Time Management Training!    

Hiring Managers asks this question to test your team managing skills. Tell the interviewer about a time when you disagreed with a colleague about a decision and how you settled the conflict. 

Example: "I believe in working with other employees who disagree with me to come up with a good solution. As an HR Manager, I worked with my department on employee goals for the upcoming year. I told my team to set production goals first before moving on to the training and development goals.  

An employee disagreed with my decision and cited performance statistics from the previous year. I spoke with the employees in my office and came to an agreement that they work on brainstorming training and development goals while also working on production goals. I communicated this information to the team to ensure full transparency and that we remained proactive in setting the company's goals."  

Although the query is fairly simple, it can be challenging to provide the proper response. Most interviewers use this question to decide whether they can afford to hire you. Moreover, it reveals to them how highly you believe in your work and yourself. 

Tip: The initial stage is deciding how the position compares to your standards for an ideal work that matches your professional goals. 

Estimate the typical salary range for the job role for you are applying. It is preferable to have a salary range than a particular amount while attending a job interview. 

Example: My pay requirements are negotiable. I have a lot of market experience, and I strongly believe that this strengthens my candidacy. I would like to learn more about the duties that this position and firm entail. From there, we can calculate reasonable pay. 

Given below is the average salary structure of Soft Skills trainers in a few countries.
 

                                                                                                                                           Source: Glassdoor  

Asking about making good decisions without supervision is to test your growth and overall ability. Provide details about the results of your decision and how it impacted the company.  

Example: "One day, my manager left me in charge of the marketing department. At that time, a client called me with an urgent request to speak with my manager. I told them that I can take the call on my manager's behalf. When I spoke with the client, I took notes on an issue with the design of print deliverables sent by the marketing department earlier in the week. 

Luckily, they understood that I didn't interface with them regularly, and I told them I'd give this information to my manager. I left a note on my manager's desk and forwarded their comments to my manager in a department meeting on Monday morning. My manager thanked me for taking the call and resolved the issue that day."  

Working on tasks outside of the duties listed in the job description illustrates your creative skills and diligence. Check if you included the experience outside of your employer's main duties on your resume. You might incorporate it into your response if it relates to your prospective employer.  

Example: "I served food and drinks at a concert hosted by my previous employer. The proceeds went to a food bank in the Atlanta area. I've had minimal experience working at events and being in the sales department, but volunteering for this event allowed me to cultivate relationships with members of different departments. I think this event strengthened the company's culture, and I'd be happy to work these events again if hired for this position."  

The following are the qualities an interviewer looks for when they question you about your strengths. First of all, they want to know if you are aware of your strengths. They are curious about how real you are, and they want to know if your skills are ideal for the position. 

Tip: Giving a clear example is 10–20 times more convincing than just describing your expertise. So, explain how you applied your strength to arrive at a particular result. 

I am always keen for detail and have always taken pride for delivering attention to detail in my work. I applied for this role because, according to your job description, this job role requires a lot of attention to detail. 

In my job, I was mostly responsible for leading 8–10 client projects at a time, which had an average of 75 active tasks each. All assignments I handled were delivered to the clients on time without any errors due to my strength in paying attention to detail. In fact, I had finished most of the projects ahead of time. 

Explaining a large failure and key learnings display your resiliency in the workplace. Use an example that underscores your ability to learn on the job and excel after a setback.  

Example: "I failed to hit my sales targets for two months in a row. My manager informed me following the second month, and I began a development plan to improve my performance. I worked with my manager on a strategy to make a set number of cold calls before I finished each day and had two calls with prospective clients per week.  

For each week, I had calls with prospective clients. Each client signed with the company, and the total sales increased the company's revenue by 12%. I learned that my commitment to developing my skills can help me overcome setbacks despite the current situation."  

"What would you say some of your biggest weaknesses are?" then they are essentially testing three things: honesty, self-awareness, the ability to assess their weaknesses, and readiness to learn. 

Tip: Pick a weakness that would not keep you from performing well in the job role. Provide an example of how you have tried to strengthen your weak area or learn a new skill to overcome the problem.  

Time Management is one of my very big weaknesses. I have always been quite meticulous, so sometimes I spend more time than I had planned to complete a project. I started using time-tracking software because of this at my last job. It helped me take stock of how much time a particular task takes me and made sure that I do not miss a deadline again.  

Interviewers want to know why you would like to take up their job and work for their business. 

Tip: Make sure to conduct a thorough research before the interview. Please include details in your response that would show you know their organisation, products, and services, and are up to date with what their business entails. You may be able to provide specific evidence from their social media pages, news articles, or company websites.  

The goods and services that your business has been able to push through in such a cut-throat market are impressive. Additionally, I have enjoyed the first-rate customer care offered to make your products available for whoever would wish to use them. I understand your organisation has high expectations for its staff; therefore, I will be very much looking forward to the opportunity of being part of a team that does not hesitate to take calculated risks in its endeavour to break into new markets.  

I have enough experience working under high-pressure environments with a pretty high speed of work movement. My time management power and teamwork skills may help in making me a useful addition to your team.  

Another thing is that I only heard from the grapevine that you are planning to expand to another target market, including serving financial institutions. Is it true? Can you clearly explain that matter to me? 

One of the reasons interviewers ask about your career goals is to find out if you plan to stay with the company for a while and whether you have a plan for professional growth. Discussing your ambitions can be enlightening for both you and the interviewer. 

Tip: Your response should clarify your career objectives and assure the interviewer that your expectations for the job align with what the company can offer. 

I am eager to join your company as a marketing representative soon. I am excited about the opportunity to work for a company renowned for its innovative marketing techniques. Starting as a Marketing Representative, I aim to grow personally and deepen my understanding of the company's services, support, and solutions. My main goal is to progress from a marketing representative to a Team Leader. I believe the job, along with the learning and development program, offers the best opportunity for me to prepare for future advancement within your organisation. 

Improve your listening skills with our Active Listening Training - join today!   

It is a very straightforward question that might scare some candidates. If hired, the interviewer wants to know how well you think you would perform in the job. 

Tip: Ensure your skills align with the organisation's needs. It's also important to demonstrate your skills, not just mention them. Use this as an opportunity to showcase your unique qualities and mention any extra skills that could benefit the organisation. 

When I went through the job description, I immediately saw it as the perfect match. My business understanding and management experience match perfectly with what you are looking for. I am confident that my skills and expertise will enable me to successfully handle the Project Management responsibilities. 

I have been effectively leading teams for over five years. My ability to manage these teams has been complemented by the strong connections I have built with clients, vendors, and developers through effective networking. 

My professional background, strong communication skills, solid work ethic, and pleasant demeanour make me an ideal candidate for this position. I am confident that I can make a valuable contribution to your team from the start. I am very excited to begin working with your company. 

The interviewer would like to know more about your professional objectives. If this organisation hires you, they plan to align your career path with your motivations. 

Tip: Clearly articulate your objectives, as they form the foundation of all learning and development initiatives. 

I have set some straightforward short-term goals for myself. This role is a great opportunity for me to further develop my Project Management and communication skills. I am focusing on gaining as much experience over the coming years so that eventually I can be in a position that allows me to apply these skills while managing my own team. 

I hope to achieve these goals by working on various projects and teams. Effective communication and management are crucial for team leadership. Therefore, starting in smaller leadership roles and progressing to larger ones is essential. I should seize this opportunity, as it is the next step in my career and will undoubtedly aid my professional development. Additionally, the chance to work with employees from various departments is a significant motivator for me. I am truly excited about this opportunity. 

Listing what is most important to you in a job underscores your core values. Identify the three things that are most important to you and explain how they match the company's core values.  

Example: "A great manager, company culture and the ability to give feedback are three things I look for in a job. I put a lot of value on teamwork and collaboration because these qualities show that companies care about employees' performance and development. Caring for employees' performance and development motivates me to shine and exceed the expectations given by my manager. This company's emphasis on a strong company culture inspires me to excel in this role if given the opportunity."  

Hiring Managers will ask you specific questions like this to test your adaptation skills. The aim here is to understand how you handle unforeseen work events and how you adapt to changing work conditions. 

Tip: Show flexibility in how you work. Adjust your communication and strategy to meet varying situations, tasks, colleagues, teams, and job requirements as necessary. Demonstrate that you can shift your priorities to meet new deadlines and modify your behaviour and attitude to function efficiently in changing work environments. 

In my last job, I encountered a situation requiring swift adaptation to organisational changes. Following the sale of our company to a major market player, many of our management teams and procedures were altered. We needed to transition smoothly from our existing company processes to the new systems, making necessary adjustments quickly. 

I proactively familiarised myself with the new hardware and software to remain productive and manage my daily tasks. I found that as I became more accustomed to the new systems, they significantly enhanced my productivity. The acquiring company provided area-specific software, making the transition quite seamless. I am thrilled that we could use these new systems to increase our output. 

Interviewers ask about your potential unique selling point because they are interested in you. 

Tip: You must sound very positive in your answer to this interview question about yourself and your job. It is essential that you provide specific examples of your accomplishments. 

The biggest success I achieved in my previous position as Sales Manager involved addressing a significant issue. In our old system, I often noticed team members struggling to find crucial customer details. This resulted in decreased productivity and difficulties in meeting monthly sales targets. To address this, I took the initiative and introduced a new CRM system that's more modern and user-friendly. 

After its implementation, I was responsible for training and guiding my team on using the application, showing them how easy it was to locate and store customer information. Two months after adopting this new approach, we analysed the results, and our time logs displayed that we had spent very less time gathering customer information. Consequently, we were able to raise our sales targets, which we achieved in just the third month following the new system's implementation. 

Employers are not looking for someone who succumbs to the inevitable pressures of work. The question is straightforward, aiming to find applicants who can quickly and effectively adapt to changes. 

Tip: Use any opportunity to share how you effectively managed unforeseen changes and emerged stronger from those situations. 

I had spent months meticulously planning my organisation's largest annual event, our leadership program. Naturally, I was close to panicking when, just a few days before the event, the venue cancelled our reservation. 

Fortunately, I pride myself on my quick thinking. We worked tirelessly with the event organisers, day and night, to relocate the event to a new indoor facility. This turned out to be one of the best-executed leadership programs in our company's history, greatly enjoyed and valued by all attendees.