Great Strategies for Addressing Behavioral Interview Questions |
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Posted By: Jessica Holbrook In: Job Seeker - Interview
Chances are that you’ve encountered the term “behavioral interviewing” at some point during your job search...
Chances are that you’ve encountered the term “behavioral interviewing” at some point during your job search. This is an increasingly popular interview format based on the belief that past behavior is the greatest predictor of future behavior. Typically interviewers ask questions like, “Tell me about a time when you had a conflict with a coworker, and how you chose to handle that situation.”
During a behavioral interview, the interviewer is expecting the candidate to provide very detailed and specific answers to his or her questions. A response such as, “Oh yeah, I’ve done that before.” is definitely inadequate. Although it’s best to draw from your professional experiences when answering behavioral interview questions, if necessary, you can discuss volunteer—or even personal—situations that you may have handled as they relate to the specific question. Although, we strongly advise discussing personal experience unless absolutely necessary and it should always be framed in a positive and professional manner.
One issue that sometimes confuses candidates and interviewers alike is when a candidate comes from a background where the interviewer’s scenario was impossible. For example, I know a publisher who worked for a company where anyone who missed a delivery deadline was automatically fired. Missing deadlines was simply not an option with the publishing company. This candidate then found herself in a behavioral interview with someone asking, “Tell me about a time you missed a deadline and how you managed that.”
Unfortunately, the publisher was stumped by this scenario and had no idea how to proceed with an answer. Her interviewer apparently did not have the flexibility to reword the question, as she simply repeated it several times. Lack of preparation for a question of this nature probably cost the publisher this job opportunity. What she should have done was answered the question as closely as possible to the way it was asked—i.e., provided an example of a time when she almost missed a deadline; or she could have discussed a previous experience outside a professional setting.
It is almost impossible to forecast exactly what an interviewer will ask you during any particular interview. However, understanding how important it is to answer behavioral interview questions as closely and specifically as you can will help you to manage future interviews as smoothly as possible.
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Comments
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Posted by: Thad Cummins
Great post. ?A quick read that covers a lot. ?Thanks
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Posted by: Mia
Thanks! I appreciate the extra tips...where are the great examples to some of these difficult/challenging questions - concerns?
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Posted by: Quiana
Great post!
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Posted by: Lily
Got it! Thanks a lot for helping me out!
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Posted by: Carlinda
Kudos to you! I hadn't thought of that!
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Posted by: Purnendu Prasad
Behavioral interview is to know how best and honestly the interviewee is tackling the questions regarding his/her past job experiences. Any gap in depiction/narrating as to what happened in the past and what you are telling to the interviwer will not match with your experience and your pitch will sound unathentic. Clearly and honestly describe about the problem, how you tackled it and what was the outcome. There is no need to feel proud or pity regardless of whether you were the winner or loser. Be honest and truthful. Don't cook stories.
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Posted by: Carolyn LePage
This is great. I was interviewed for a management position and asked how I would manage a conflict between two staff members I supervised. I had only supervised teachers in seperate areas before so wasn't able to answer. It probably cost me the job. I agree that I should have been ready for this sort of question and stated at least what I "would do" in this situation or what I've done in other situations where I've helped to resolve conflict between team members. This would have shown the way I think and strategize perhaps. Thanks everyone..
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Posted by: Robert French
I'd be interested in advice on how to 'spin' bad situations. Most of my career was spent in 2 jobs that were abusive environments. I had bad experiences with both abusive management and coworkers (mostly just because of the generally hostile environment). I've talked to coworkers about our difficulties and misunderstandings, but I've never experienced a positive change, afterward. I know I'm not perfect, but I think work environments have been the strongest factor in my workplace disputes. The first abusive environment, I left for another job. At the second, eventually everyone was laid off. I have been stumped by behavior interview questions, this year. I don't feel like the truth is helpful as leaving a job, lay-offs, or hostile management aren't what an interviewer wants to hear. Suggestions?
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Posted by: Iuliu Varva
In today's job market, preparations is the key. I read every article, write down every possible question, write the posible answer to that. Again today job market has fewer jobs, more people are looking for work, so, yes, preparing for two days before the interview is worth it.
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Posted by: Debra
I do believe it is a good idea to be prepared for a behavioral interview. I have had two interviews of this type before and both times the interviewer ask questions like the ones you mentioned but made sure to specify that my answers had to be taken from my last job and not be of a personal situation. I offered what I thought were legitimate positive answers but did not get either of the positions. You never know what they will ask but it is a good idea to try to have an idea of what you might say. Also, though I am an honest person also, I believe you need to be careful of offering your opinion of a situation in a negative manner since the interviewer might be looking at it from the side of the company owner versus your point of view.
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Posted by: Dawn
Struggling to answer the question "how do you handle work pressure and stress?" To answer some questions about past problems on the job I always go with "I don't think of failure as failing personally I always learn from my mistakes. I'm not perfect. It makes me try harder."
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Posted by: Irene Levy
Great article!
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Posted by: Karen Halliburton
I had the question regarding missing a deadline. I have never missed a deadline and I did not work in a situation in which I had a deadline to miss. I did not have an answer for her. I did not go forward on the interview, but was I supposed to make up something?
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Posted by: Susan
When confronted with a behavioral interview and you've never experienced the scenario they've asked you.... what I did was tell the interviewer that I had not experienced this however, if I had this is what I would do. I would at that time tell them how I would have handled that scenario.
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Posted by: Balazs Ordog
OK, so the message here is that you better take those questions seriously and give a precise and adequate answer.
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Posted by: Thomas Kilgore
First and foremost, there was only one example used. Secondly, behavioral interviews are not just limited to past experience in the workplace; behavioral interviews also explore how you behave during the interview, especially if it takes place over lunch, i.e. proper dining etiquette.
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Posted by: Michael Doolin
Another key to answering the behavioral question is to be concise. Anything more than 2-3 minutes and you lose them. Using the formula of Situation, Action and Result can help to keep you on track during your answer.
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Posted by: Lois Wilson
Great article. I am preparing for a interview this information was a help. Thanks.
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Posted by: Lois Wilson
Great article. I am preparing for a interview this information was a help.
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Posted by: Rosemary de Groot
This article does not give enough details. Behavioral questions go as far as asking what accomplishments we've had in life. What are our best character traits and what are our worst. When you are over 50 years of age, they can ask where do you see yourself in 5 years. I get tough-tide with these questions the hardest to answer.
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Posted by: harriet petti
My first interview in 20 years was based on behavioral method. I thought I was well prepared , thinking about what metrics they might be looking for, had a couple of missteps when the questions were in areas I had not prepared for. Good advice to answer as closely as possible. I tried to take the time to make sure the examples were valid, but tripped up on one.
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Posted by: Lyn the professional job seeker
Have stories ready for these types of questions. First identify the problem, then explain the solution, and finally quantify with a result. These are called PSRs. You should have 20 ready to recite that demonstrate just about any behavioral question that comes up.
Though this isn't related, do your due diligence and always be ready with a 15-second elevator pitch and especially know what you will say when asked to tell the interviewer something about yourself.
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Posted by: Lucretia Reigert
I am finding that in almost all interviews I have been on there is some kind of "canned" questionaire interviewers use. It's like they are all getting the same thing from the same place and if I ask them to further explain what they want or embellish, they just repeat the question verbatim. To me that is not going to tell them whether I am right for the position,and I never know how the answer will be perceived because the interviewer or interviers start feverishly writing while I am talking. It's like an oral test.
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Posted by: norma j.
I had a behavioral interview and it was not good. The interviewer asked the very questions which are above, and I am an honest person, so I had to tell her what happened. I did not get the job. I appreciate the insight into behavioral interviews, there needs to be more information about those types of interview.
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Posted by: Nadine
I'm most definitely happy that you have posted this article.i must have heard of this before but not as behavioral interview.thanks for the in site.
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Posted by: Martin the career aptitude guy
Good article. I think you are right that preparation is the secret to handling behavioral interview questions as they can be the most challenging.
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