What is an Open-Ended Question designed to do in an interview?

• A. A question that encourages a lengthy answer
• B. A question with a yes/no answer
• C. A question about the weather
• D. A question requiring a short factual response

Answer: (A)

Open-ended questions are designed to invite a detailed, descriptive response that reveals how a candidate thinks, behaves, and communicates. Rather than forcing a yes or no, they prompt you to describe experiences, decisions, actions taken, and the outcomes, giving insight into skills like problem-solving, teamwork, and leadership. This is why the best choice is that an open-ended question encourages a lengthy answer.

A yes/no question yields a single, limited reply; a weather question is unlikely to relate to job performance and also tends to be brief; a request for a short factual response doesn’t provide evidence of how the candidate approaches tasks or handles challenges.