Communication skills are a critical component of any job, and yet they can often be difficult to assess during the interview process. Assessing a candidate’s communication skills can be difficult, whether it’s during a phone call, video interview, or an in-person meeting.
In this blog, we will discuss the value of evaluating communication skills, and how it can affect a candidate’s success in the position and the success of the company as a whole. Assessing the communication skills of candidates helps make informed decisions, whether you’re a hiring manager, an HR professional, or a member of the recruitment team.
Assessing Communication Skills in Interviews
We all have come across questions like this during our interviews –
“How do you handle disagreements or conflicts in the workplace?”
“Can you give an example of a time when you had to effectively communicate with a difficult team member or client?”
“Can you give an example of a time when you had to share important information with a team or client?”, or
“Describe a situation where you had to present information to a group of people. How did you prepare and deliver the presentation?”
Interview questions like this generally tend to gauge candidates’ ability to handle conflicts and communicate effectively in a general setting or in challenging situations. Let’s take a quick look at different ways managers and hiring professionals use to assess the communication skills of candidates during interviews –
1. Asking open-ended questions
Open-ended questions are often used to assess candidates’ ability to communicate effectively and convey their ideas clearly.
For example, “Can you tell me about a time when you had to explain a complex concept to a non-expert?”
2. Observing Nonverbal Communication
Nonverbal modes of communication, like body language and eye contact help gauge the level of confidence and engagement in the conversation. According to research, a person’s nonverbal cues can reveal important details about their level of assurance, sincerity, and interest in the conversation.
3. Providing candidates with hypothetical scenarios
Candidates are frequently presented with a hypothetical situation and asked to present a solution or explain their thought process to assess their problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities. Studies on behavioural assessment in selection state that this kind of evaluation can give important details about a person’s communication abilities as well as their capacity for original and critical thought.
4. Listening
The act of listening actively and attentively, and asking follow-up questions can help evaluate the depth of the candidate’s understanding and ability to elaborate on their responses. Research has shown that active listening skills are an important component of effective communication (Barker, L. L., 2009)
By assessing different types of communication styles of candidates, organizations can –
- Identify candidates with strong verbal and nonverbal communication skills, who can effectively convey ideas and collaborate with team members,
- Improve their ability to quickly and effectively address and resolve issues that arise in the workplace,
- Hire individuals who are good listeners, which can improve the overall effectiveness of team dynamics and decision-making processes,
- Improve the organization’s ability to work with diverse groups of people and expand its business reach.
Evaluating Written Communication Skills
While verbal and nonverbal interactions are typically good ways to gauge communication skills, you can also assess candidates’ writing skills and abilities.
Written communication skills are essential for effective communication in both personal and professional settings. The ability to write effectively and clearly can have a significant impact on how others perceive us and how successful we are in our careers, whether it be through email, text messages, or social media.
Assessments for written communication generally include tasks such as writing essays, reports, or emails. These assessments are then evaluated based on factors such as grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and overall coherence and organization. It is important to consider the effectiveness, coherence, and persuasiveness of the text when assessing written communication skills.
Our Approach To Assessing Communication Skills
AI video proctoring is a technology that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor and assess verbal communication skills during interviews.
At PerspectAI, we use AI-powered algorithms to analyze the audio and video feed of the candidate during the test and assess various aspects of verbal communication such as fluency, pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary. Our algorithms are designed to check for factors like grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and coherence to ensure that the text is clear and easy to understand. The AI also flags errors and recognizes inconsistencies in the dialogue flow.
This seems like something that would greatly simplify interviews, don’t you think?
If you’re ready to take your communication assessments to the next level, make the shift to an AI-based approach and book a consultation with our team today!
Book a 20-minute demo with our team. We will help you understand how our product can ease your hiring process and save you a ton of time.
