AA Communicating and Influencing Interview Questions

AA behaviour interviews

AA Communicating and Influencing Interview Questions

Prepare evidence-led answers that match the AA behaviour criteria.

Common Communicating and Influencing interview questions and how to answer them at Administrative Assistant level.

Communicating and Influencing questions test how clearly you share information, how well you listen and whether you adapt your approach to the person in front of you.

This page focuses on the questions a panel may ask for this behaviour and the evidence that works at AA level.

For guidance on behaviour scoring, answer structure and interview preparation, read our AA Behaviour Interview Questions guide.

1. What are the AA Communicating and Influencing criteria?

At AA and AO level, Communicating and Influencing means showing that you can:

• put forward your views in a clear, constructive and considerate manner
• use an appropriate method of communication for each person – for example an email, phone call, face-to-face – taking into consideration their individual needs
• use plain and simple language, being careful to check written work for errors
• consider the impact of language used on different groups of stakeholders
• remain honest and truthful when explaining opinions
• listen and ask questions to ensure your understanding

At AA level, this behaviour is about clear everyday communication. A strong example shows that you listened properly, chose a suitable way to communicate and made the information easy to understand. Your actions should also show care with tone, accuracy and the needs of the person receiving the message.

2. What are good examples to use for Communicating and Influencing?

Explaining a process to a customer

Use a situation where someone was confused or worried and you broke the information into clear steps. This works well when you checked their understanding and gave them a useful next action.

Adapting your communication

Choose an example where two people needed different levels of detail or different communication methods. Explain what you changed and why that approach suited each person.

Handling a difficult conversation

A calm conversation with an upset customer or colleague can provide strong evidence. Focus on how you listened, kept your language respectful and moved the discussion towards a practical outcome.

Putting forward a useful suggestion

A small workplace suggestion can work when you explained the problem clearly, responded to concerns and gained agreement through evidence or a short trial.

Avoid examples where you only sent an email or passed on a message. The panel needs to hear how you shaped the communication, checked understanding and helped the other person act on the information.

3. AA Communicating and Influencing interview questions

Question 1: Tell us about a time you explained information to someone who found it difficult to understand.

How to answer

• Choose one specific person and one clear piece of information. Explain why the original message was difficult for them to follow.
• Show how you listened first, removed jargon and broke the information into manageable steps.
• Include the questions you asked or the check you used to confirm that the person understood.
• Finish with an outcome showing that they completed the next step, felt reassured or avoided further confusion.

Question 2: Describe a time you changed how you communicated to meet someone’s needs.

How to answer

• Use an example where the original method or level of detail would have been unsuitable for the person or audience.
• Explain what you noticed about their needs and why you selected a different channel, tone or format.
• Show that the information stayed accurate while becoming easier to understand or use.
• The result should prove that the person received the message and knew what to do next.

4. AA Communicating and Influencing interview questions with full answers

Question 3: Describe a time you had to explain information clearly to someone who did not understand it at first.

Full answer

Members can unlock the complete AA Communicating and Influencing question bank below, with full answers showing clear explanations, adapted communication, difficult conversations and constructive persuasion. Use the examples to test your evidence against the full criteria and prepare for the different angles a panel can take.