8 Questions for Closed-Ended Interviews (With Sample Answers)
In order to determine whether you’re the best candidate for the position, hiring managers or members of the human resources team will probing questions about you and your background. Contrary to open-ended interview questions, where the employer wants you to provide a detailed response and perhaps even an example, a closed-ended question just calls for a brief, straightforward response that provides the interviewer with the absolute minimum of information. You could take advantage of the chance to clarify your response to the recruiting manager so they can have a better understanding of you as a potential new hire. Questions for Closed-Ended Interviews
The samples of closed-ended interview questions and sample answers provided in this page can be used as a guide.
closed-ended interview questions
Consult the list of closed-ended interview questions below to familiarize yourself with them before meeting with a hiring manager.
1. Since when have you been in operation?
Your amount of industry experience is typically a topic of conversation with hiring managers. If you are more entry level or have the appropriate experience to meet the qualifications for a more advanced position, they can know from your response. In case you are hired for the position, the interviewer also wants to know that you are capable of handling it.
Example: “My pertinent five years of experience are pertinent. Over the course of those five years, I’ve held a variety of positions that have given me a thorough grasp of how company operations in this industry function. I’m keen to learn more now that I’m in a new role.”
2. How long did you work for your previous employer?
In order for the hiring manager to gauge how dependable you were to your previous employer and how much you may have learned while working there, they may ask you this question during the interview. You can either respond briefly or take the opportunity to discuss your responsibilities if you haven’t already done so during the interview. You can consider explaining why you were only employed by your previous employer for a brief period of time.
Example: “For my previous position, I put in eight months of work. Even though the company downsized and eliminated my department, I wish I could have stayed for longer.”
3. Have you previously done any remote work?
As long as technology advances and businesses continue to explore for ways to reduce overhead costs, you might be able to work remotely. Depending on your industry, it may be common to locate a number of companies that currently provide flexible work schedules. In this circumstance, hiring managers want to be certain that you have experience working remotely and that you can be relied upon to complete your projects on time and collaborate well with your team.
Example: “I have experience doing remote work. My old job as a graphic designer required me to collaborate with my colleagues utilizing internet tools and portals because my company was fully online. I’ve had experience working remotely with my team, attending trainings, making presentations, and pitching potential customers.”
4. Do you like working alone more than with others?
It’s typical to discover employment where you must work both alone and as a team, depending on your project and your responsibilities. Usually, a recruiting manager wants to know that you are comfortable doing both. They might also test your adaptability to a job that requires greater autonomy or vice versa by asking you this question.
For instance, a software engineer may work alongside others, but they normally complete most of the work on their own. If you often prefer to work in teams, a hiring manager would want to learn more about you to decide whether you’d be happy in the position.
Example: “I enjoy team projects. When coworkers work together, everyone benefits, and I like pursuing shared goals with them. But there are some projects and tasks that I prefer working alone on. On numerous occasions, I like the quiet times I get to work without interruption.”
5. What was your favorite college course?
Particularly if you’re a recent graduate, a hiring manager may ask you about your courses to find out more about your skills and interests. The interviewer may presume that your favorite class relates in some way to the position you are applying for, but if it doesn’t, the hiring manager may be curious to learn more. As with most closed-ended questions, you can either respond briefly or elaborate on your response.
Example: “My favorite course in college was English I. Despite the fact that I didn’t chose a profession where having a grasp of English literature would be helpful, I really enjoyed the reading we were required to do and learned a lot in the course.”
6. Do you take pleasure in speaking?
Some people are at ease giving presentations, but not everyone is. The hiring manager might ask you how you feel about giving presentations if the job you’re applying for requires a lot of them. They’ll want to discover if you can effectively create presentations and deliver them to different audiences. If making presentations is something you find enjoyable, explain why; if not, just mention that you love the challenge and the chance to get more comfortable with this element of your job.
Example: “I’ve given presentations before to staff members, new hires, and members of the management team, and I’m comfortable doing it. At first, I might feel a little anxious, but once I get going, I’m confident. I believe it’s because I spend enough time and thought into my presentation.”
7. Do you get inspiration from within?
You may be questioned about this during an interview if the hiring manager has confidence in your group to work effectively without constant oversight. In order to complete your task without needing someone to remind you or check on you, you must be self-motivated. When bosses and coworkers can rely on your work ethic, everyone tends to cooperate more.
Example: “I believe myself to be self-motivated. If a boss assigns me a task or a set of tasks, I believe they shouldn’t be required to closely watch me. I think I do a great job of showing my colleagues that I have a strong work ethic and that they can depend on me.”
8. Do you ever take work home with you?
Many firms place a high value on their workers’ ability to balance work and personal obligations. While a manager might occasionally urge an employee to work overtime or longer hours to complete a task, they might be more concerned with easing stress and heavy workloads. Give your opinion about working past your regular hours instead of simply answering yes or no.
Example: “I try not to bring work home with me, but there have been occasions where finishing assignments after regular business hours would be highly beneficial to my team. On occasion, when a boss asks me to, I’ll bring work home, but I make an effort to maintain a healthy work-life balance since I think it’s essential for success. When I have a good work-life balance, I’m more content, more creative, and a better communicator.”
