Have you ever been curious about behavioral interview questions (BIQs) and how to respond to them? We’ve put up the best guide to help you reply to BIQs in your next interview with ease.
What do you mean by behavioral questions?
The idea behind behavioral interview questions is that previous behavior is the best predictor of future behavior. The employer can determine how you would behave in comparable scenarios in the position you are applying for by asking comprehensive questions about particular tasks you completed or experiences you had in a real-life environment in previous roles.
When a behavioural interview question is posed, how do you know it’s a behavioural interview question?
It’s quite probable that the hiring manager is asking you a behavioural interview question when you hear the phrase “Tell me about a time when…” Other possibilities include:
“Have you ever…?”
“Describe a time when…”
“Give me an example of…”
How do you respond to behavioral questions?
The STAR method
The STAR technique, which stands for Situation or Task (explain the exact event or task you were given), Action (describe the actions you performed), and Result (describe the professional outcomes you delivered to the business).
The CAR method
The CAR concept allows you to reply to the interviewer in a systematic manner by providing Context (explain the backdrop and circumstance), Action (describe the action or actions you took), and Result (describe the professional outcomes you obtained).
Example of a Q&A
“Tell me about a moment when you were confronted with a challenging circumstance and how you dealt with it.”
Context a.k.a. Situation/Task. I was in charge of a unique project group. The deadline was pushed up by two weeks by our customer. Our suppliers had a substantial effect as a result of this. Some people were able to meet the revised deadline, while others were unable to.
Action. I took the time to understand what was pushing my customer to change the deadline, leveraging the excellent relationship I had already established with him. After I figured out why it needed to be moved, I realized I could give the project to the customer in stages, meeting his demands while keeping the suppliers satisfied. I offered to the customer a phased delivery strategy that I had prepared.
Result. The customer agreed to the phased plan, and the project was completed on time. As a consequence of the client’s satisfaction, we were awarded a new project worth $1 million to the company.
Three pointers for effectively addressing behavioral interview questions
Research. Learn what abilities and behaviors the company is looking for, then go through your CV for instances that you believe would indicate a strong fit for the position.
Prepare ahead of time by practicing the CAR or STAR technique aloud. You’ll remain on track if you remind yourself of the acronym while presenting your narrative.
Don’t constantly bring up the same situation. Arrive prepared for your interview with a few distinct examples that you can adjust to the various queries answered.
More behavioral interview questions
Do you want to get some more practice? Here’s a rundown of some of the most often requested behavioral interview questions:
Leadership
- Tell me about a moment when you were in charge of a project and your other team members weren’t contributing as much as you had hoped. What steps did you take to deal with the situation?
- Describe a situation in which a member of your team underperformed. What exactly did you do?
Communication
- Have you ever had to persuade a skeptical audience to support a project or an idea? Tell me how you went about doing that.
- Tell me about a moment when you had to deliver constructive feedback to a team member. What method did you use to deliver it?
Detail-oriented/organizational skills
- Tell me about a moment when you uncovered a mistake that you or a coworker had made. What exactly did you do? What strategy did you use to deal with the situation?
- Have you ever had to design or deploy a new system in order to boost productivity? What exactly did you do?
Integrity
- Give me an example of when your integrity was put to the test. What exactly did you do?
- Describe a period when the best policy was not to be honest.
Teamwork
- Describe a time when you had to make a controversial decision. How did you go about telling your employees about it?
- Give me an example of a time when you had to collaborate with someone with whom you didn’t get along. What was your strategy for dealing with the problem and resolving it?
Analysis
- Tell me about a situation in which you had to analyze data in order to address an issue. What steps did you take to accomplish this, and what was the outcome?
- Describe a time when you were working on a project and had to take action to solve an issue. What was the issue, and what logic did you use to address it?
Innovation and creativity
- Describe your most innovative thoughts.
- Have you ever addressed an issue in an unexpected manner? Tell me everything about it.
Achievements
- Tell me about your most significant professional success to date. Can you explain the steps that lead to the result?
- Describe a project on which you collaborated and which resulted in your career advancement.
Tenacity
- Tell me about a time when you didn’t accomplish what you wanted. How did you handle it?
- Have you ever been turned down for a project or an idea? What occurred, and how did you respond?
Ready now?
We certainly hope that would be helpful to you in your future interviews. We want to know your thoughts about the article you just read. Feel free to share your interview experience and how you were able to get through it. Send us a message via the comment section below or email us at hr@evaoutsourcing.com