C.

Types of Interview Questions

Answer Skill Builder #2 at the end of Chapter 6.

For each of the following situations, describe whether an open or

closed question would be more appropriate?
1. You want to find out whether your boss would support your
request to attend a convention in a distant city.
a. I would use an open question in this situation. You
want to probe to find out what he persons opinion
on the subject would be. (Adler, Elmhorst, and
Lucas, p. 146) A closed question would be restrictive
and leave no room for negotiation.
2. A manager wants to know whether a project will exceed its
projected budget.
a. In this instance I believe a closed question would
work best. A closed question is instrumental when
specific information is required. (Adler, Elmhorst,
and Lucas, p. 146)
3. An insurance sales representative wants to determine whether a
customer has adequate coverage.
a. A closed question would be advantageous in this
situation. It keeps the conversation on point.
4. An employer wants to know why and applicant has held four jobs
in five years.
a. An open question would more than likely be
effective in this case. It might help relax the
interviewee and leaves the conversation open. An
open line of communication would be good in case
the answer is subjective or more complicated than
expected.
For each of the following situations, write one factual and one opinion
question. Which is more appropriate? Then write two secondary
questions as a follow-up for the primary question you have chosen.
Note: The question I chose is in bold along with the secondary
questions.
1. You want to know if whether you are justified in asking your boss
for a raise, and you decide to question a coworker.
a. Factual: Do you think our boss would consider giving me a
raise, if I asked for one?
b. Opinion: If you were in my position, would you ask
our boss for a raise?

i. Secondary: If no Why wouldnt you?

ii. Secondary: If yes How would you bring it up?
2. A supervisor wants to discover whether and employees request
for a one-month personal leave of absence to visit a sick parent
is essential.
a. Factual: Are you the only person in a position to be
able to be with them?
i. Secondary: If no Could this be a responsibility
you and this other person could share?
ii. Secondary: If yes is there any chance you
could be back to work any earlier?
b. Opinion: Do you feel like this is something you really need
to do?
3. You are planning on buying a laptop or a desktop PC. You want to
decide whether the laptop computer is worth the extra $250 it
will cost.
a. Factual: It there any difference between the two, other than
portability?
b. Opinion: What would you buy if you were in my
position?
i. Secondary: Why do you think you would make
that choice?
ii. Secondary: Why would that be a good tradeoff?
For each of the following direct questions, create an indirect question
that would elicit the same information.
1. How hard a worker are you?
a. Can you give me an example showing me how hard of a
worker you are?
2. Do you agree with my evaluation?
a. Do you think that my evaluation would be well received by
the rest of the office?
3. Does the product have any drawbacks?
a. If there were one downside to this product, what would it
be, and why?
4. Are you telling me the real reason youre leaving?
a. If the reason you gave me for leaving were to be resolved,
would you stay with the company?
5. Do you really believe this idea has merit, or are you just going
along?
a. Why do you think its a good idea? Give me a reason I
havent heard yet.

I interview and hire new employees for my department at work. Since

Ive read this chapter, I have re-evaluated the questions we ask to
prospective employees. I found some of the questions to be closed
ended when they should elicit more of a response. Some of the
questions were also worded such that they didnt provide me with the
feedback I was looking for. This has really helped me gain efficiency as
well as make the interviewee more comfortable.