How to Answer Behavioral Interview Questions

Answering behavioral interview questions can be tough. This guide clearly indicates what is expected from you when answering these type of questions in a job interview.

Steps

1. Provide an example of when you previously demonstrated a certain competency or behavior, preferably in a work situation, for example, your problem-solving ability.
2. Describe the situation or task in which the behavior occurred, for example, a customer had not received his order on time.
3. Outline the actions and steps that you took in the situation. It is important to focus on what you as an individual did. If you refer to "we", it will not be clear what your specific contribution was.
4. Clearly detail the outcome or results of your actions, including what happened and what you learned from the situation.
5. Listen carefully to the question the interviewer asks to be sure that you are giving him or her the appropriate example. Clarify by rephrasing the question back to the interviewer to show your understanding of the question. The interviewer can then put you back on the right track if needed.
6. Be prepared for further probing or follow up questions that explore the situation in more detail, such as "Tell me why you did that".
7. Prepare complete and actual examples of behaviors that you know relate to the position. It is not possible to make up a behavioral answer and fabricate a situation because of the level of detail that will be requested through the follow up questions.
8. If you have little work experience refer to situations that occurred while you were at college or school, playing on a sports team, doing voluntary work or any extra-curricular activities you were involved in.

Tips

• There are no right or wrong answers, the answer should describe in detail what you did in a certain situation. You can prepare good examples by analysing the job to determine the required competencies or behaviors. It is often difficult to think of appropriate examples within the time limits and stressful environment of a job interview, so spending some time preparing before the interview will be of great value.