How to Answer Open-Ended Questions in Interviews

…and Impress the Hiring Manager.

You’ve polished your resume, researched the company, and picked out your best outfit. But then comes the curveball – “Tell me about yourself” or “Walk me through a challenge you’ve faced.”

Open-ended questions are often the ones candidates fear the most – not because they’re trick questions, but because there’s so much room to get them wrong. They’re broad, unstructured, and leave many wondering: What exactly do they want to hear?

The good news? With a bit of structure and a few strategies, you can answer these questions with clarity, confidence, and impact.

Why Employers Ask Open-Ended Questions

Hiring managers aren’t trying to trip you up. These questions are designed to uncover:

• How you think
• How you communicate
• How well you understand your own strengths and experience
• Whether you can stay focused under pressure

They’re also a window into your personality, your decision-making style, and your ability to reflect – all of which are crucial in purpose-driven sectors like associations, peak bodies and membership organisations.

Common Open-Ended Questions

You’ll often hear questions like:

• “Tell me about yourself.”
• “What’s been your biggest achievement?”
• “What do you know about our organisation?”
• “How do you handle challenges or setbacks?”
• “Where do you see yourself in five years?”
• “Why are you leaving your current role?”

They’re open-ended because there’s no one “right” answer – but there is a smart way to approach them.

A Few Strategies to Keep in Your Back Pocket

1. Use a Simple Structure

One of the easiest ways to stay on track is to use frameworks. For example:

• STAR for behavioural questions:
  Situation, Task, Action, Result
  Use this for “Tell me about a time…” or “How did you handle…” style questions. 
• Past-Present-Future for “Tell me about yourself”:
  Start with your background, explain what you’re doing now, and wrap up with what you’re looking for next (and how this role fits in).

These simple structures help you stay focused, avoid rambling, and make sure you actually answer the question.

2. Speak to the Role, Not Just Your Resume

Open-ended questions are your chance to connect the dots between what you’ve done and what this employer needs. Don’t just list your achievements – tailor them.

For example:
If you’re applying for a membership role in an association, talk about the strategies you’ve used to improve engagement, grow communities, or retain members.

Always ask yourself: What’s most relevant to this role?

3. Don’t Be Afraid to Pause

You don’t need to answer immediately. Take a breath, gather your thoughts, and then respond. A few seconds of silence is perfectly normal – and shows you’re thinking.

4. Show Self-Awareness

Employers are looking for people who are reflective and coachable. That means you don’t have to pretend to be perfect. If you’re asked about a challenge or failure, be honest – but show what you learned and how you’ve grown.

Example Q&A

Q: “Tell me about a time you had to manage competing priorities.”

A: “Last year, I was managing communications for a national event while also overseeing a membership renewal campaign. I used a combination of project management tools and stakeholder meetings to plan deliverables and delegate tasks across the team. While there were a few stressful moments, I learned how to better negotiate deadlines and communicate capacity issues early – skills I now use daily.”

Clear. Concise. Focused on the result.

Open-ended questions aren’t traps – they’re opportunities. They let you take the lead and shape the conversation. The key is to be prepared, know your examples, and remember that an interview is simply your chance to tell your story in a way that makes sense for the role you’re going for.

And if you’re still unsure? We’re always happy to help candidates prep. Just get in touch here.