| Behavioral interviewing |
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Most interviews include behaviorial
questions. Be prepared. |
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On this page: What is it? | Examples
| Responding |
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| What is it? |
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Behavioral interviewing is a technique
used by employers in which the questions asked assist the employer
in making predictions about a potential employee's future success
based on actual past behaviors, instead of based on responses to
hypothetical questions. |
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In behavior-based interviews, you are
asked to give specific examples of when you demonstrated particular
behaviors or skills. |
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General answers about behavior are
not what the employer is looking for. You must describe in detail
a particular event, project, or experience and you dealt with the
situation, and what the outcome was. |
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| Examples
of behavioral interview questions: |
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Describe a time when you were faced
with problems or stresses at work that tested your coping skills.
What did you do? |
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Give an example of a time when you
had to be relatively quick in coming to a decision. |
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Give me an example of an important
goal you had to set and tell me about your progress in reaching
that goal. |
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Describe the most creative work-related
project you have completed. |
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Give me an example of a problem you
faced on the job, and tell me how you solved it. |
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Tell me about a situation in the past
year in which you had to deal with a very upset customer or co-worker. |
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Give me an example of when you had
to show good leadership. |
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| Responding
well to these types of questions: |
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The "S.T.A.R." technique is a good approach:
Describe the Situation you were in or the Task you needed to accomplish;
describe the Action you took, and the Results. |
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Be specific, not general or vague. |
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Don't describe how you would behave.
Describe how you did actually behave. If you later decided you should
have behaved differently, explain this. The employer will see that
you learned something from experience. |
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| Also
see: |
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Typical interview format |
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Interview attire |
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Sample questions |
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Sample questions for teaching
candidates |
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Interview DOs & DON'Ts |
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Researching employers
— why and how |
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Questions to ask the employer |
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Responding to salary questions |
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On-site interviews |
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Dining
Etiquette |
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Interview expenses |
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After
your interviews / follow up / thank-you letters |
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The
Mock Interview Program |
