How to answer open-ended questions in interviews
Got a job interview coming up? Then it's a good idea to prepare to answer open-ended questions. These are the types of questions where you can't just answer with one word, like yes or no. They invite creative responses that provide more insight into someone's thought processes, and so are likely to come up in an interview
Of all the different types of questions, open-ended questions are the most important in an interview, because they tell a hiring manager more about you. In preparing to answer them, you can demonstrate your potential as a candidate.
This guide covers everything you need to know about answering open-ended questions in interviews.
- Why do interviewers ask open-ended questions?
- Examples of open-ended interview questions
- Answering open-ended questions in a job interview
- Open-ended questions in different contexts
- Common mistakes in answering open-ended questions
- FAQs
Benefits of open-ended questions
Open-ended questions naturally prompt longer, more explanatory answers than closed-ended questions, which generally only require a yes or no. With open-ended questions in an interview you’re being invited to provide an interviewer detail about yourself. This is beneficial for several reasons.
More detailed responses
Open-ended questions let you give detailed responses with more nuance than closed-ended questions allow for. For example, if you’re asked to explain how you used a particular skill in the workplace, you have the chance to add your proficiency level or tell a persuasive anecdote. Open-ended questions allow you to give more engaging and insightful answers.
New perspectives
As a job seeker, open-ended questions allow you to impress an interviewer with a fresh perspective on a role or task, which may make you more memorable or even land you the position. For interviewers, using open-ended questioning allows people’s personalities to shine through more, providing a different perspective of them.
Stronger rapport
Open-ended questions are also great for building rapport between the interviewer and interviewee. If you can establish some rapport with the hiring manager in an interview, you’ve got a good chance of progressing to the next stage of the recruitment process. Open-ended questions can also be good to build rapport in work social settings as they help to establish a positive relationship.
Well-rounded interviews
When interviewers use open-ended questions, they can gather deeper insights into a job seeker's personality traits, ideas, work competency and experience. This works on the other side of the equation, too. As an interviewee, you should have some open-ended questions ready to ask at the end of an interview. This shows interest and that you are seriously considering the position.
Types of open-ended questions
Different types of open-ended questions can be useful in various settings, in and out of the workplace.
Exploratory questions
Exploratory questions invite you to give your honest opinion about a topic. This is likely to happen in interviews and meetings, as well as in surveys.
Examples include:
What do you think about our hybrid working policy?
What do you enjoy most about working in childcare?
Feeling questions
This type of question is common in counselling settings, but it’s also useful to get an idea of someone’s personality and temperament. In a professional setting, it’s important not to express too much emotion and be more reflective in your answer, while being honest in your response.
Examples include:
How do you feel about taking on a more senior role ?
How did you feel about being made redundant in your last job?
Hypothetical questions
Hypothetical questions are useful in a range of settings, from icebreakers to job interviews. They ask about imagined scenarios to allow for lateral thinking and creative problem solving.
Examples include:
What would you do if our main supplier suddenly went out of business?
How would you react if multiple employees called in sick one day?
If you had an unlimited budget, what sort of campaign would you run?
Clarifying questions
These questions seek to prevent misunderstanding and provide better insight into your capabilities. An interviewer will probably ask you to clarify some of the information in your resumé and cover letter. When responding to a clarifying question, you should provide a detailed response.
Examples include:
Can you tell me more about your gap year in Spain?
Can you walk me through the steps you would take if a customer threatened to sue?
Could you provide more details about what you did in your previous role?
Probing questions
These questions dig a little deeper and are intended to shed more light on your abilities and experience. If you’re appying for a senior position or one with considerable responsibility, your interviewer may ask more probing questions about your background. You then have the opportunity to give more information about your competencies and processes.
Examples include:
Run me through a typical day in your previous role.
What would you say was the most fulfilling role you’ve ever had and why?
How do you determine how much budget to allocate to a particular project?
Why do interviewers ask open-ended questions?
Interviewers find open-ended questions an effective way to evaluate potential employees' competencies, ways of working, values and personalities.
Depending on how someone responds, interviewers can see how the person uses critical-thinking skills. They can use open-ended questions to gauge how well someone communicates their ideas.
Open-ended questions also allow job seekers to elaborate on their ideas and give more background about their experiences.
Examples of open-ended questions
Below are some examples of open-ended interview questions and how you could answer them.
Personal exploration questions
Tell me about yourself…
This open-ended question isn't an invitation to explain your life story – the interviewer just wants to know your professional highlights. Only include facts that paint you in the best light and present you as ideal for the job.
For example, sharing that you have pets is potentially useful if you're applying for a job in a zoo or animal sanctuary, but it's less relevant for a position in an accountancy firm. Similarly, your proficiency with accounting software may not be relevant if you'll spend all your day working with animals.
Professional background questions
What do you know about our company/industry?
Your answer to this question depends on your expertise. If you've worked in the industry before, you can give specific examples of knowledge you've gathered from your time with other employers. It is important to research the company you are interviewing with beforehand so you can answer with their own ethos in mind.
On the flip side, if you're making a career change, you can talk about a time you've used a similar skill set in your current role. You can impress them by ensuring your answer relates back to the values of the company with whom you are interviewing. Or, you could explore research you've done that likely differentiates from other candidates.
Behavioural assessment questions
Describe a time you solved a complex problem.
This is where the STAR framework applies. Describe the situation, setting the scene with specific details. Then identify the challenges and the actions you took to find a solution. Finish by discussing the positive results you achieved.
Leadership and interpersonal skills questions
What's your leadership style?
If you’re applying for a leadership position, research different leadership styles and interpersonal skills. This can be challenging if you're applying for your first senior position, in which case it’s OK to talk about what style of leadership you’re aiming to have.
For example, you could explain that you like to lead by example, or you like to take a democratic approach to leadership, and detail the interpersonal skills you have, like empathy, active listening and persuasion.
Answering open-ended questions in a job interview
Open-ended questions might seem daunting, but with some preparation, they allow you to present yourself professionally and articulately in an interview. One approach is the easy-to-remember STAR formula. This stands for:
Situation: Establish the situation/context of your answer.
Task: Discuss the challenge you faced.
Action: Describe what action you took to reach your goal.
Result: Explain the outcome.
Open-ended questions in different contexts
Open-ended questions are useful in all sorts of contexts and settings.Above covers how to use open-ended questions in the context of a job interview, but there are many other situations where you're likely to encounter them.
Sales and marketing
In a sales and marketing setting, it's important to get feedback on products and services to gain insights into your strategy and what to improve. Closed-ended questions can lack the nuance to fully understand peoples' opinions. Open-ended questions about products and marketing campaigns can give a much better insight.
Customer service and support
When customers reach out for help, they often have a particular problem they want to address. If they feel yes or no questions don’t properly address their problem, it can result in frustration and a negative outcome. Open-ended questions allow customers to properly express their concerns, allowing for better support and higher satisfaction.
Education and teaching
Teachers often use "Bloom's Taxonomy" when designing questions. These specifically constructed questions invite students to give a variety of responses. This encourages more nuanced, diverse thinking and enables students to develop different skills.
Coaching and mentoring
Mentoring and coaching use open-ended questions in both directions. Asking open-ended questions can help the mentee learn about their industry, while a mentor can learn more about what their protege needs.
Research and surveys
Open-ended questions allow survey participants to have their say and feel they've contributed in a meaningful way. The Australian Government recommends that the best practice for getting good responses is to provide a range of open-ended questions on a given survey.
Personal relationships and communication
When building a personal relationship, open-ended questions allow you to get to know the other person and learn more about their personality and perspective.
Common mistakes in answering open-ended questions
Here are the three of the most common mistakes with open-ended questions.
Going off-topic: The number one mistake people make when answering open-ended questions is not addressing the question directly. A reliable fix is to repeat the question's wording within your answer.
Speaking too much or too little: There's a balance to strike – if your answer is too long, you may become unfocused or lose theattention of your audience. If you're too short in your response, you might not give enough detail. Avoid rushing your answers, and think them through before you speak.
Being vague: Try to avoid vague language, as this can make your response unenlightening. Your interviewer is likely looking for a detailed response to their question. At the same time, avoid giving simple yes or no answers – explain your answer in enough detail to satisfy the interviewer’s question.
Being prepared to answer open-ended questions is essential to succeed in an interview. By anticipating questions and coming up with answers to open-ended questions relevant to the position, you can demonstrate how you're the best person for the job.
Find more advice from SEEK on how to answer open-ended questions in an interview, or browse our Career Advice page for extra insights.
FAQs
What are the most common open-ended questions asked in job interviews?
Among the most common types of open-ended questions you can expect an interviewer to ask are:
What do you think you can bring to this role?
Can you describe a time when you overcame a challenge?
What's your understanding of this role?
How can I prepare for open-ended interview questions?
You can prepare for open-ended interview questions by coming up with answers to common questions in advance. Think of relevant scenarios you've experienced in your professional life. Have an answer for what made you apply for the job and the unique skills and traits that make you a good fit.
For more tips, explore SEEK's range of articles giving job interview advice.
What's the difference between open-ended and behavioural questions?
Behavioural questions are a particular category of open-ended questions. Behavioural questions look for answers about how you might respond in a likely work scenario. Interviewers design them specifically to evaluate your judgement, competency and decision-making.