Have you ever been asked in a job interview, “Give me an example of…” or “Tell me about a time when….”? These are examples of typical questions in a behavioral interview. In a behavioral interview, you can demonstrate your knowledge and abilities by giving specific examples of your past experiences. The interviewer is seeking to determine if you can do the job based on what you have done in previous jobs. Behavioral interviews assume that your past performance is a good indicator of your future performance.
Here Are Five Keys to Ace Behavioral Interviews:
1. Anticipate the questions.
Use the job description to identify desired transferable, personal, and content skills. Also, research the company to find out what is valued. (For example, see if the company values qualities such as innovation, customer service, or community service.) List the transferable, personal, and content skills the employer would want in the person they hire.
2. Brainstorm what you have done that fits their needs.
By each item on your list, jot down any examples (from paid or volunteer positions) demonstrating how your past experiences fit their current requirements.
- Use the STAR Method. When responding to behavioral interview questions, it’s helpful to use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and provide a clear and comprehensive response.
- Write and practice explaining your best examples.
- Don’t depend on your ability to make examples up “on the fly.” Do your homework; invest time crafting statements that showcase your skills and experience before the interview.
For each example:
- Give enough detail about the situation so the interviewer can understand the context.
- Describe what you did.
- Describe the results.
Help the interviewer see how your previous work will help you perform well in this new position.
Once you have written out your examples, practice answering questions until they sound natural, not memorized. Enlist a friend to be the interviewer who asks you to “give an example of ______________” or “tell about a time when you ____________.”
Here’s an example:
Interviewer: “Describe a situation where you had a conflict with a colleague. How did you resolve it?”
Job applicant: “In my last position, I initially had problems with the president’s executive assistant. As the unique event planner, I coordinated many event details with her. In planning the first two events at the company that involved her office, she seemed very critical of what I was doing and how I was going about it. I would also have to ask her repeatedly for the information I needed to prepare for the event. Her behavior was frustrating because I couldn’t understand why she acted this way.
In dealing with her, I tried to be objective about her criticism, looking to see if there was anything to learn from what she said and trying to overlook how she had said it. Regarding the information flow, I tried to be cordial but firm, letting her know that if I didn’t promptly get the information I needed, the event’s success would be affected, negatively affecting her office.”
She began to act better toward me, and eventually, we had a good working relationship. After I’d been at the company a while, I learned that I had replaced one of her best friends who had been fired, and she resented me. This experience taught me the value of treating others courteously regardless of how they initially treated me. If I had reciprocated her bad behavior, I don’t believe we would have been able to work effectively together.”
3. Sample behavioral interview questions.
Here are some examples:
Tell me about a time when you had to meet a tight deadline. How did you handle it?
This question assesses your ability to manage time effectively and work under pressure.
Share an example of a challenging project you worked on. How did you overcome obstacles?
This question assesses problem-solving skills, resilience, and determination.
Can you describe an example of when you had to adapt to a significant change at work?
This question evaluates your flexibility, adaptability, and how you handle change.
Tell me about a situation where you had to lead a project. How did you motivate your team?
This question assesses leadership skills, initiative, and the ability to inspire and guide others.
Describe a time when you had to deal with a dissatisfied customer. How did you handle the situation?
This question evaluates customer service skills, empathy, and your ability to handle difficult situations professionally.
Share an example of a successful collaboration with a team. What was your role, and how did you contribute?
This question assesses teamwork, collaboration, and communication skills.
Discuss a situation where you had to prioritize tasks with competing deadlines. How did you decide what to prioritize?
This question evaluates organizational and time-management skills.
Tell me about an example of when you had to learn a new skill or technology quickly. How did you go about it?
This question assesses your ability to learn and adapt to new challenges.
Describe a situation where you had to deliver constructive feedback to a colleague. How did you approach it?
This question evaluates your communication skills, interpersonal sensitivity, and ability to provide feedback constructively.
4. Use Google and ChatGPT for job-specific questions.
Google and ChatGPT can help you discover the questions you may be asked during the interview. For example, below are three behavioral questions that ChatGPT generated for a nursing job interview.
ChatGPT prompt: Provide behavioral questions for a nurse interview.
Three results:
Describe a challenging patient care situation you’ve encountered. What was the issue, and how did you handle it?
Share an example of when you had to collaborate with a multidisciplinary healthcare team to provide comprehensive patient care. How did you contribute to the team’s success?
Tell me about a situation where you had to respond to a medical emergency. What actions did you take, and how did your quick thinking contribute to the patient’s outcome?
You can ask ChatGPT to provide sample answers. For example, here is an answer to the first behavioral interview question for a nurse:
“In my previous role as an ER nurse, I encountered a patient with severe chest pain who was very anxious and resistant to treatment. The challenge was to calm him while quickly assessing his condition.”
Issue: “His anxiety was making his symptoms worse, and he resisted procedures like IV insertion and an ECG.”
Handling It: “I introduced myself, used a calm tone, and explained each step to him clearly. I listened to his concerns and involved him in the process, which helped build trust. I collaborated with my team to maintain a calm environment and ensured family members were present to support him.”
Outcome: “Gradually, he became more cooperative, allowing us to perform the necessary interventions. This led to his stabilization and admission to the cardiac care unit. This experience underscored the importance of compassionate communication and patient-centered care in critical situations.”
Summary
Behavioral interview strategies will help you showcase past experiences and prove to an employer that you can meet their needs. By employing the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result), you can structure your responses to the behavioral questions and effectively demonstrate your skills, problem-solving abilities, and interpersonal competence to prospective employers.