During a job interview, it is likely that you will be asked
Be Ready to Share a Story
You may be asked variations of the questions listed above, but if you prepare some stories to share with the interviewer you’ll be able to respond readily respond.
Match Your Qualifications to the Job
To help you prepare for a behavioral interview, review the job requirements, and make a list of the behavioral skills that you have that closely match them. Heres how to match your qualifications to the job.
Give an example of how you set goals.
What They Want to Know: With this question, the interviewer wants to know how well you plan and set goals for what you want to accomplish. The easiest way to respond is to share examples of successful goal setting.
Example Answer
Within a few weeks of beginning my first job as a sales associate in a department store, I knew that I wanted to be in the fashion industry. I decided that I would work my way up to department manager, and at that point I would have enough money saved to be able to attend design school full-time. I did just that, and I even landed my first job through an internship I completed the summer before graduation.
Describe a decision you made that wasn’t popular, and explain how you handled implementing it.
What They Want to Know: Sometimes, management has to make difficult decisions, and not all employees are happy when a new policy is put in place. If you’re interviewing for a decision-making role, the interviewer will want to know your process for implementing change.
Example Answer
Once, I inherited a group of employees when their supervisor relocated to another city. They had been allowed to cover each other’s shifts without management approval. I didn’t like the inconsistencies, where certain people were being given more opportunities than others. I introduced a policy where I had my assistant approve all staffing changes, to make sure that everyone who wanted extra hours and was available at certain times could be utilized.
More Answers: What are the most difficult decisions to make?
Tell me about how you worked effectively under pressure.
What They Want to Know: If you’re being considered for a high-stress job, the interviewer will want to know how well you can work under pressure. Give a real example of how you’ve dealt with pressure when you respond.
Example Answer
I had been working on a key project that was scheduled for delivery to the client in 60 days. My supervisor came to me and said that we needed to speed it up and be ready in 45 days, while keeping our other projects on time. I made it into a challenge for my staff, and we effectively added just a few hours to each of our schedules and got the job done in 42 days by sharing the workload. Of course, I had a great group of people to work with, but I think that my effective allocation of tasks was a major component that contributed to the success of the project.
More Answers: How do you handle stress?
Have you ever made a mistake? How did you handle it?
What They Want to Know: Nobody is perfect, and we all make mistakes. The interviewer is more interested in how you handled it when you made an error, rather than in the fact that it happened.
Example Answer
I once misquoted the fees for a particular type of membership to the club where I worked. I explained my mistake to my supervisor, who appreciated my coming to him, and my honesty. He told me to offer to waive the application fee for the new member. The member joined the club despite my mistake, my supervisor was understanding, and although I felt bad that I had made a mistake, I learned to pay close attention to the details so as to be sure to give accurate information in the future.
Tips for Responding: How to answer interview questions about mistakes.
What do you do if you disagree with someone at work?
What They Want to Know: With this question, the interviewer is seeking insight into how you handle issues at work. Focus on how you’ve solved a problem or compromised when there was a workplace disagreement.
Example Answer
A few years ago, I had a supervisor who wanted me to find ways to outsource most of the work we were doing in my department. I felt that my department was one where having the staff on the premises had a huge impact on our effectiveness and ability to relate to our clients. I presented a strong case to her, and she came up with a compromise plan.
Tips for Responding: How to answer interview questions about problems at work.
How do you handle a challenge? Give an example.
What They Want to Know: Regardless of your job, things may go wrong and it won’t always be business as usual. With this type of question, the hiring manager wants to know how you will react in a difficult situation. Focus on how you resolved a challenging situation when you respond. Consider sharing a step-by-step outline of what you did and why it worked.
Example Answer
One time, my supervisor needed to leave town unexpectedly, and we were in the middle of complicated negotiations with a new sponsor. I was tasked with putting together a PowerPoint presentation just from the notes he had left, and some briefing from his manager. My presentation was successful. We got the sponsorship, and the management team even recommended me for an award.
More Answers: Tell me about how you handled a challenging situation.
10 Behavioral Interview Questions and Sample Answers
Here are some common behavioral interview questions you may be asked during a job interview. Review the responses and consider how you would answer the questions, so youll be prepared to give a strong answer.
As you can see from the sample responses, its important to be ready with specific examples and anecdotes.
While you dont need to memorize answers, have a sense of what experiences you would share and how to describe them to the interviewer. Youll want your examples to be both clear and succinct.
What Are Behavioral Interview Questions?
Behavioral job interview techniques are used by all types of companies. Unlike traditional job interview questions that ask you to describe what you did in a role or to share qualifications, these questions seek concrete examples of skills and experiences that relate directly to the position.
More Behavioral Interview Questions
Why Employers Ask Behavioral Questions
Behavioral questions are designed to learn how you would respond to a specific workplace situation, and how you solve problems to achieve a successful outcome.
Behavioral interview questions are generally formatted by presenting a situation, inquiring about what action you have taken to respond to something similar in the past, and what the result was.
The interviewer will ask how you handled a situation, and you will need to respond with an explanation of what you did. The logic is that your success in the past is a positive indicator of your success in the future.
Essential Tips for Answering Top Behavioral Questions
How to Prepare for a Behavioral Interview
The more you know about the job and the company, the easier it will be to respond to interview questions. Take the time to research the company prior to your interview, and review the job posting, so you’re as familiar as possible with the role.
Have you handled a difficult situation? How?
What They Want to Know: Can you handle difficult situations at work, or do you not deal with them well? The employer will want to know what you do when there’s a problem.
Example Answer
When I worked at ABC Global, it came to my attention that one of my employees had become addicted to painkillers prescribed after she had surgery. Her performance was being negatively impacted, and she needed to get some help. I spoke with her privately, and I helped her to arrange a weekend treatment program that was covered by her insurance. Fortunately, she was able to get her life back on track, and she received a promotion about six months later.
Make a List of Examples
Interviewers develop questions to determine how successful a candidate will be, given the specific tasks of the job. Obviously, you want to present your experiences as clearly as you can, using real examples, and highlighting situations where you were successful.
Learn how to use the STAR interview technique to give well thought out and complete answers.
Give an example of how you worked on a team.
What They Want to Know: Many jobs require working as part of a team. In interviews for those roles, the hiring manager will want to know how well you work with others and cooperate with other team members.
Example Answer
During my last semester in college, I worked as part of a research team in the History department. The professor leading the project was writing a book on the development of language in Europe in the Middle Ages. We were each assigned different sectors to focus on, and I suggested that we meet independently before our weekly meeting with the professor to discuss our progress, and help each other out if we were having any difficulties. The professor really appreciated the way we worked together, and it helped to streamline his research as well. He was ready to start on his final copy months ahead of schedule because of the work we helped him with.
Tips for Responding: How to answer interview questions about teamwork.
Share an example of how you were able to motivate employees or co-workers.
What They Want to Know: Do you have strong motivational skills? What strategies do you use to motivate your team? The hiring manager is looking for a concrete example of your ability to motivate others.
Example Answer
I was in a situation once where the management of our department was taken over by employees with experience in a totally different industry, in an effort to maximize profits over service. Many of my co-workers were resistant to the sweeping changes that were being made, but I immediately recognized some of the benefits, and was able to motivate my colleagues to give the new process a chance to succeed.
More Answers: What strategies would you use to motivate your team?
Give an example of a goal you reached and tell me how you achieved it.
What They Want to Know: The hiring manager is interested in learning what you do to achieve your goals, and the steps you take to accomplish them.
Example Answer
When I started working for XYZ Company, I wanted to achieve the Employee of the Month title. It was a motivational challenge, and not all the employees took it that seriously, but I really wanted that parking spot, and my picture on the wall. I went out of my way to be helpful to my colleagues, supervisors, and customers – which I would have done anyway. I liked the job and the people I worked with. The third month I was there, I got the honor. It was good to achieve my goal, and I actually ended up moving into a managerial position there pretty quickly, I think because of my positive attitude and perseverance.
More Answers: Interview questions about achieving your goals.
Personal / Professional Interview Questions
This may seem like an “easy” question, but don’t let that fool you! Schools want to know you’re dedicated and reliable to building relationships and enriching a student’s life. Answer honestly!
New Teachers: Why did you decide to become a teacher? When did you get that “call” to education? For me, I had those moments in elementary school when I used to dress up as a teacher for “Career Day”. You may also bring in some of your work during your undergrad and/or student teaching that solidified those feelings and desires of wanting to be a teacher.
Veteran Teachers: Just because you may have already been teaching for one year, five years, twenty even… you can’t escape this question! You may still be asked why you decided to become a teacher in the first place. Make sure to highlight that resume and/or Curriculum Vitae (CV). Similar to a new teacher, it is still appropriate to bring in some of your dreams in your earlier years. Trust me, the interview panel will see that spark come alive when you are talking about your passion. Add some experiences in your first few years of teaching. Don’t be afraid to brag about some of those “lightbulb” moments and events in your early years that solidified your career choice.
Question 3 ~ Describe your classroom management procedures.
This is another question that I can almost guarantee you will experience somewhere in your interview. Whether new or veteran, be prepared to discuss how you handle or are planning to handle your classroom. Bonus Points: Tie in the district’s philosophies on classroom management and discipline! This will show that you did your homework and came prepared knowing the district you are applying to.
New Teachers: You’ll want to map out a plan of how you would like to run your first classroom. Try not to get caught up on the details. Districts/schools are not looking for a full detailed plan from start to finish. Come prepared to talk about two or three main ideas. For example, perhaps focus on 1) Building Positive and Appropriate Relationships, 2) Creating Rules and Expectations, 3) Positively Reinforcing Appropriate Behaviors.
Veteran Teachers: If you’re a veteran teacher, discuss how you handled your classroom in the past. Give specific examples of things that worked the best and why. Perhaps your school implemented specific programs like PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports). Don’t be shy to discuss some of your favorite components of the program and how you would continue to implement those features within your new setting.
FAQ
What are the top 10 behavioral questions in an interview?
- How do you handle a challenge? …
- Can you work effectively under pressure? …
- How do you set goals?
- Can you handle criticism?
- How do you handle a mistake pointed out to you? …
- What’s your ideal approach if you disagree with someone at work?
How do you pass a behavior based interview?
- Study the job description.
- Review major projects you’ve worked on.
- Revisit previous job performance reviews.
- Make a list of your professional accomplishments.
- Use the STAR method to structure your response.
- Be open and honest in your answer.
- Practice your interview responses aloud.
What are the 5 Star interview questions?
- Tell me about yourself. …
- What are your strengths? …
- What are your weaknesses? …
- What do you like to do for fun or in your free time? …
- What extracurricular activities interest you? …
- What is your favorite subject? …
- What subject do you find the most difficult?
