6 Common Text Interview Questions (With Example Answers)

Text interviews are becoming a part of the hiring process for some companies, and they can streamline the process when used well. A text interview is where the recruiter and the candidate exchange questions and answers through text messages. If you are going to attend a text-based interview, you can benefit from knowing more about this interview format. In this article, we share some example answers to commonly asked text-based interview questions, along with some interview tips, to help you prepare well for your next interview.

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Commonly Asked Text Interview Questions With Sample Answers

Here are some of the most common text interview questions along with example answers to help you prepare for your next interview:

1. Tell me about yourself

The interviewer is asking for a brief summary of who you are and what you do. This question provides an opportunity for you to introduce yourself and briefly mention any relevant experience or qualifications you have. It is also your chance to make a good first impression and to start building rapport with the interviewer. Keep your answer concise and focus on giving the interviewer a quick overview of your background, work experience and skills.

Example answer: 'I am a recent graduate of State University with a degree in English literature. I have always been passionate about writing and reading, so working in publishing has been a dream of mine for many years. I am extremely detail-oriented and organised, which makes me excel at proofreading and editing. In my previous job as an intern at Graphica Pvt. Ltd, I was responsible for fact-checking articles before they went to print. I also have experience handling customer service enquiries and managing social media accounts. I am confident that I would be a valuable asset to your team.'

Related: Interview Question: "Tell Me About Yourself"

2. Why are you interested in this position?

The interviewer is looking for two things when they ask this question. First, they want to know if you have taken the time to research the company and position and if you are a good fit for the role. Second, they want to see if you have a genuine interest in the work itself. Your answer to this question shows that you are thoughtful about your career goals and have done your research on the company. Start by giving a brief overview of your professional background and then describe what drew you to this specific position.

Example answer: 'I have worked in customer service for the past five years, and I am interested in this position because it emphasises excellent customer service. In my previous positions, I have successfully resolved customer complaints and built strong relationships with customers. I am confident that I could excel in this role and provide excellent service to your customers.'

Related: Interview Question: “Why Should We Hire You?”

3. What are your greatest strengths?

A recruiter asks this question to know what the interviewee feels are their best assets, and how they can use those strengths to benefit the company. This question also allows the interviewer to gauge whether or not the interviewee has a strong sense of self-awareness and confidence.

Example answer: 'I would say that my greatest strength is my work ethic. When I am given a task, no matter how difficult, I put in the time and effort to ensure that I complete it to the best of my abilities. Plus, I have strong analytical and problem-solving skills which I have strengthened through my educational background and previous work experiences.'

4. What are your greatest weaknesses?

This question aims to see how well you can assess and improve upon your own weaknesses. By identifying a few of your own personal weaknesses, you show that you are self-aware and constantly working to improve yourself. Besides, by sharing your weaknesses with the interviewer, you are giving them insight into how you might work best and what areas they should focus on when training or managing you. Here is how you can do just that.

Example answer: 'I am very self-critical and tend to focus on my shortcomings rather than my strengths. This can lead to me feeling discouraged and stressed, especially when things are not going well. I am working on learning to be more mindful of my thought patterns and practicing self-compassion.'

Related: Interview Question: “What Are Your Strengths And Weaknesses?"

5. What are you passionate about?

An interviewer might ask this question for a few reasons. They could be trying to get to know you as a person, or they might be looking for clues about your work ethic. Either way, it is important to have a good answer ready. One way to approach this question is to think about what you are most enthusiastic about in your work. What are the projects or tasks that you enjoy the most? Why do you like them? Take the example below as a reference:

Example answer: 'I am passionate about a lot of things, but one thing that really gets me excited is finding new and innovative ways to solve problems. I love the challenge of taking on something that might seem impossible at first, and then working hard to figure out a way to make it happen. It is always satisfying to see a project through from start to finish, especially when it is something that you have put your heart into.

Another thing I am passionate about is helping others. I get a lot of satisfaction from knowing that I have been able to help somebody else, whether it is with their work or just in their everyday life. It is always nice to be able to brighten somebody's day, even if it is in a small way.'

6. Give me an example of a time when you had to deal with a difficult customer or co-worker?

In many workplaces, being able to effectively handle conflict is key to maintaining positive relationships with others and keeping things running smoothly. As such, this question can give the interviewer some insight into how the candidate would react under pressure and whether they have the skills necessary to de-escalate tense situations. Also, maybe the recruiter wants to get a sense of the candidate's communication style.

Example answer: 'I had a customer who was extremely unhappy with the product they had purchased. They were demanding a refund. I stayed calm and listened to their concerns. I explained the policy to them and offered to exchange the product for something else. The customer calmed down and ended up exchanging the product.'

Tips For Text Interviews

Here are some important tips that you can follow to prepare efficiently for a text-based interview:

Filter job interviews

A text interview can sound highly convenient, especially if you prefer text messages, but scammers can also use this method to trick people looking for jobs. Be aware of interviews where the recruiter asks questions like your personal identification number or bank account details. Such offers lure candidates into sharing their personal details with scammers. Legitimate companies holding text-based interviews never ask for such details from candidates. If you experience something like this, avoid it and report it to the relevant authorities immediately.

Related: 23 Interview Tips: How To Get The Job

Explain your thought process

Like most interviews, a text-based interview is more about how you approach a problem than about the final answer. Be sure to convey your thought process and style of thinking to the recruiter in your text responses. For example, use text messages to make the recruiter understand how you critically think. If you need more context and data to approach a problem, asking for it in text messages can be helpful. This shows the recruiter that you follow due process to work through a problem.

Related: 38 Thought-Provoking Interview Questions And Sample Answers

Avoid threads

If possible, try to avoid texting messages in threads. If you do use any threads in a text-based interview, try to keep their contents short. Instead of interrupting each message from the interviewer, wait for them to finish typing, and then type in your responses. This can make the conversation more manageable and easier to follow.

Related: Written Communication Skills: Definitions And Examples

Use a formal and professional tone

Once you communicate with a recruiter via text for an interview or pre-interview talks, ensure that you use a professional tone in your texts. Avoid using non-standard dialects, jargon or short forms. Make sure your text messages have no acronyms that make them difficult to read. Treat these text messages as formal business communication to ensure that your tone agrees with professional norms.

Please note that none of the companies mentioned in this article are affiliated with Indeed.