What is a closed question and when is it appropriate in an interview?

• A. It yields a short answer and is useful for confirming details after open-ended responses.
• B. It invites lengthy narrative responses.
• C. It is never used in interviews.
• D. It should be used to trap a suspect.

Answer: (A)

Closed questions prompt brief, direct answers—typically yes/no or a single fact. They’re best used after you’ve opened with broader questions, because you first allow the interviewee to share their story, then you verify specific details or clarify ambiguities. This helps ensure accuracy, locks down dates, names, numbers, and other particulars, and keeps the conversation efficient and on track. The idea that a closed question invites lengthy narratives isn’t accurate—the longer responses come from open-ended questions. It’s also not true that they’re never used, or that they should be used to trap someone; in professional interviewing, closed questions are a tool for confirmation and precision, not manipulation.