To persuade or convince someone (based on arguments, and sometimes based on sheer will, or even power of your personality) is an important ability in a variety of corporate and sales jobs. Hiring managers try to understand whether you can be that ignition of a change, someone who can lead the team toward better tomorrows, or simply someone who can bring up some new ideas and persuade their colleagues to give them a shot. The most common question here is “Tell me about a time when you used persuasion to convince someone”. I will analyze it, give you some great sample answers, and also show you some mistakes you should avoid making while talking about persuasion in the interviews. Let’s start!
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The Basics
- Most common interview questions belonging to this area: Tell us about a time when you used persuasion to convince someone.
- Less common questions belonging to the area: What techniques do you use to convince a prospect to become a client? Tell us about a time when you managed to push through with your idea in spite of initial opposition from other team members. Tell me about a time when you had to convince your manager or team member to use an alternative approach to solve a problem.
- Out of 10 random jobs, in how many cases will this area be tested during the hiring process: 3/10. Very common in interviews for sales and managerial roles. Doesn’t matter whether you sell product to customers or ideas to colleagues, an ability to convince them is pivotal for your success. Hiring managers know it and they will often use one of the questions about persuasion to test your abilities. On the other hand, applying for basic roles and jobs in which you simply follow orders of someone else, you won’t face questions about persuasion.
- Difficulty: 5/5. A difficult question, for several reasons. First of all, there’s a thin line to walk on here, between trying to persuade someone because it is better for the company, and trying to convince them simply because of protecting your ego and position. Secondly, it is tricky because such efforts often lead to arguments and conflicts, and to unpleasant situations we do not like to talk about in general. But I hope that after reading this page carefully you’ll be ready for this challenge in your next interview.
- Main goals of the hiring managers with questions belonging to this area: Assessing whether you’re able to persuade someone (a client, a manager, your colleague, your subordinate). Understanding whether you can walk the thin line I talked about just a minute ago.
- Your main goals with answers to questions belonging to this area: Convincing the hiring managers that you are ready to ‘fight’ for a good idea in the workplace. Showcasing your skills of persuading someone to do something, for the good of the company. Demonstrating that when it comes to arguments, you stick to facts and goals you follow in your job, and aren’t blinded by your own ego.
7 sample answers
Sample answer no. 1: Warehouse supervisor talking about trying to persuade the managers:
In my previous role as a warehouse supervisor, I saw an opportunity to improve the warehouse’s organization and suggested a new system to the logistics manager. They were initially resistant, believing the current setup was already effective. Instead of giving up, I took a more analytical approach. I created a detailed visualization on my laptop, complete with calculations and projections, showing the potential benefits of the new model. By presenting clear data, I was able to convince the logistics manager to make the change, and we received approval for the new system. Since the manager was data-driven, seeing the numbers changed their perspective and they agreed with my suggestions.
- Quick thing to notice about this answer: A very good answer with clear outline of the situation, challenges they faced (“…they were initially resistant, believing the current setup was already effective”), as well as how they dealt with them (…more analytical approach… detailed visualization on my laptop…). It is an excellent answer because while answering question about persuasion, the applicant actually shows that they like to show initiative and work with their eyes open, trying to improve things at work.
Sample answer no. 2: Using emotions to persuade team members:
While managing a team in my last job, we had an unexpected audit scheduled for the next day, which meant we had to work late until the evening, unless we wanted to see a bad outcome of the audit. The team, however, wasn’t willing to stay past regular hours, as they had other commitments and weren’t particularly loyal to the company. And of course they all had their own life after work. After failing to persuade them with offers of extra bonuses, I resorted to an emotional appeal. I cried in front of them, and it was the only time in my career I let my emotions show. Something shifted after they saw me in such a vulnerable state. Whether it made them realize the seriousness of the situation or just humanized me, they agreed to stay late, and we managed to prepare for the audit. And we passed it with flying colors the very next day.
- Quick thing to notice about this answer: When arguments do not work, sometimes we have to opt for unusual means of convincing someone, such as this applicant describes. In my opinion though, it isn’t a great answer, because showing vulnerability as a manager isn’t something employers like to see, in general. Hence I would opt for a different answer, a different situation.
Sample answer no. 3: Persuading in personal life:
This is my first job application, so I lack a good example from work. However, I can share something from my personal life. My younger sister was determined not to go to college, wanting to pursue her ideals as an activist instead. Despite my parents’ arguments, I believed I could change her mind. Instead of trying to convince her that college would lead to a well-paying job, I explained it as a ‘tool’ for her activism. I emphasized how the connections and credibility she would gain at college could help her down the road in her activism. Eventually I managed to change her perspective and she enrolled in a study program at local college.
- Quick thing to notice here: Examples from your personal life work great with questions about persuasion. At the end of the day, persuading a stubborn sister is often more difficult than persuading a colleague at work.
Sample answer no. 4: Showing persistence while persuading a client in a sales role:
In my previous job in sales, I worked hard to sign up a major client who wasn’t responding to my calls or emails positively for a longer time. I didn’t give up though. I sent them offers that were directly relevant to their business and even included a personal touch, sending the manager a birthday card with a small gift. My persistence paid off when the company later needed an upgrade to their ERP system and reached out to me first, instead of some other sales rep. We eventually closed the deal and my company made hundreds of thousands in the process.
- Quick thing to notice here: Persistence and persuasion often go hand in hand. Show the hiring managers that you do not give up easily. Overall it is a great answer with a clear explanation of the situation, the action the applicant took, and the eventual result (in this case a successful one).
Sample answer no. 5: Teacher talking about persuading a student:
In my last teaching role, I had a student from a challenging background, surrounded by people who impacted him negatively. He often caused disruptions in the classroom, which was caused by the struggles he was facing back at home and unable to cope with. Rather than resorting to punishment, however, I focused on offering him attention and understanding that I knew he was craving deep inside. Through multiple one-on-one conversations, I used empathy and positive reinforcement instead of strict discipline and punishment. While the student’s behavior didn’t improve dramatically, he did begin to act better in my classes.
- Quick thing to notice about this one: While this feel-good story definitely shows that the applicant has great attitude towards teaching, and considers their job their calling, the answer isn’t really about persuasion. You should always try to answer the question the hiring managers are asking you, and not talk about something different. Having said that, the applicant will likely still get the job, considering the attitude they show with their answers.
Sample answer no. 6: Convincing and persuading yourself:
My biggest goal was to persuade myself to believe in my own skills. In the past, I struggled with lack of confidence and had negative self-beliefs, which made me shy and reserved in relationships. Realizing I needed to change, I eventually took action. I started reading motivational books, sought help from a psychologist, and joined a sports club to practice social interactions. That journey started three years ago, and now I barely recognize the person I was. Thanks to these efforts, I’ve grown in self-confidence, and I wouldn’t be sitting here today if I hadn’t convinced myself of my own worth.
- Quick thing to notice here: An interesting and almost philosophical answer. I like how the applicant opens up, and how they share something from their personal life. It can definitely help them build deeper connection with their interviewer. An answer about persuading someone else at work would be better, but if you do not have such, this alternative will work in most interviews.
Sample answer no. 7: Account executive talking about their daily efforts to persuade someone:
In my last role, persuasion was at the heart of my work. As an account executive at a brokerage firm, I didn’t just sell a product—I sold the promise of a better future through risky investments. My goal was to help prospects envision how their current decisions could positively impact their lives down the road. I often had to use visualization to understand what they truly wanted. I had success in this role, convincing many clients to invest. However, now I’m seeking a new opportunity in a different field, and that’s why I am in this interview with you.
- Quick thing to notice here: Sales is all about persuasion. If you had a job in sales before (be it at a brokerage firm, insurance provider, car dealer, or simple retail store), you can definitely talk about it while dealing with questions about persuasion.
Advanced information
Mistakes people make while answering questions about persuasion in the job interviews
- Focusing too much on the negativity and conflict. Any situation can easily heat up when convincing and persuasion takes place. People defend their positions, a conflict starts. This is all part of the process, but you should not focus on it in your answer. Focus more on the situation, the goal you had, the means you used to reach it, and the eventual outcome. Don’t dwell on the negative circumstances.
- Failing to walk the thin line between persuasion and ego boasting. A common mistake I see is people talking about a situation in which they tried to persuade someone simply because they were right. Or they thought they were right… That’s the thin line I was talking about at the beginning of this article. A good situation to talk about is one in which you used persuasion because you believed you were taking the best course of action for your team, company, business. Not the best course of action for your ego. The less personal situation you describe, the better. Answering this question in a way that reveals your strong ego and a desire to defend it at all costs is a big mistake.
- Talking about a situation when you used completely different means than persuasion. Sample answer no. 5 from this page is a great example. Before sharing your story in the interview, thing whether it really is about persuasion, or perhaps you convinced the other person with completely different means. Sure, it is still great having an ability to convince someone. But when the question is about persuasion, it is a mistake talking about means of convincing that had nothing to do with this technique.
Few points from the perspective of the hiring managers/interviewers
- Interview is a sales talk, and sales are often about persuading. When we interview you for any good job, and when you apply with many other candidates with similar resume, you often have to persuade us to shortlist you to the next round. For that reason I may personally not even include this question in a interview for a sales or managerial job. Yet you can be sure it is still tested in the hiring process.
7 keywords to remember when answering questions belonging to this area
- Let go of your ego when answering this one, you persuade others not to be right but to achieve the best results for your employer, examples from sales are always good, don’t get lose talking about conflicts and arguments, examples from personal life are just as good as examples from work, client is always right but you can persuade them to change their definition of what’s right, competitive interviews are often about persuasion.
So that’s it! You’ve just covered area no. 21 out of 25 areas that cover 99% of questions you may ever get in the interviews. Just 4 areas left! Check the next one: Challenges, or go back to homepage for the full list of 25 areas and pick one you want to learn about and practice right now.
