Job Interviews can be tough. If you want to be in the driver’s seat and control the outcome of your next job interview you need to be prepared to answer behavioural interview questions.
Many job seekers may have heard about behavioural based interviewing, but may not have encountered it. Employers use this technique to uncover real examples of your work accomplishments, skills, habits, management style, initiative and more.
What is a Behavioural Job Interview?
The behavioural interview question requires you to give a real world example, with details, of how you accomplished a goal or managed a difficult situation. You are being asked to “Prove It!”. The theory behind the behavioural job interview is that past behaviour is a good predictor of future behaviour. Based on this theory, a hiring manager will ask you a question that usually begins with the phrase “Tell me about a time when….” .
The interviewer is looking for a specific example from your work experience. They want to know…
- What was the situation?
- What did you do?
- What was the result?
- Who did you report to?
This final probing question is designed to help the interviewer confirm the details with your manager. The interviewer may want to follow up with this person during a reference check.
These interviews can be a little unsettling if you are not prepared for this type of question.
What is the best method for tackling these questions?
Be prepared. Last week, the Fusion Career Planning Advice Blog was about the importance of using storytelling during an interview – Interview Tips – Tell Your Story. You need to know your story and practice it, in order to answer behavioural based questions. Review your resume in detail – the skills, abilities, experience, and accomplishments. Be prepared to give specific examples of how you managed many different situations. Revew the job advertisement / description and focus on the key requirements. Come up with your own set of behavioural interview questions and then craft answers to these questions. Make sure your answers are detailed.
What should you do during an interview if you can’t come up with a real example?
Many people start to answer these types of questions by saying “I would…”. This is not what the interviewer is looking for. They don’t want to know what you “would do” if faced with this situation, they want to know about a specific time when you were faced with this situation and what did you do. It is ok to use a small example. Not every answer needs to relate to a major accomplishment. If you can’t think of anything it is best to be honest. Don’t make something up.
Good luck navigating the Behavioural Job Interview!
