Wednesday, April 24, 2024

How To Answer Behavioral Based Interview Questions

Don't Miss

How To Make The Best Impression

How to Answer “Behavior Based Interview Questions” – Interview Tip

Before you head out to your interview, review these tips and strategies for behavioral interview success. Be sure youve got the appropriate interview attire ready to wear, have questions of your own ready to ask the interviewer, and are prepared to follow up after the interview with a thank-you note.

What Do You Find Most Difficult About Being A Nurse How Do You Overcome This Difficulty

How to answer:

Be honest and talk about the most difficult component of nursing. Maybe its working with a specific patient population. Or, acting in a leadership role. Whatever it is to you, always make sure to talk about the steps and actions youve taken to cope with the difficulty.

The most difficult aspect of being a nurse is watching a patient die, especially one that I have cared for when they were healthy. Watching the family lose a loved one is heartbreaking. Sometimes I sit in the bathroom and take a moment for myself to cry, to reflect, and to pause to remember the patient. Death is part of our everyday world and sometimes that is hard to remember.

Facebook Behavioral Questions: Role

Our last category focuses on the questions that are specific to certain roles, such as what made you get into design? for product designers. While you should expect a combination of each of the previous four categories in any interview, the following questions apply most to data scientists, product managers, product designers, and software engineers.

Right, now lets get into some questions.

Example behavioral questions asked at Facebook: Role-specific

  • Tell me about a recent / favorite project and some of the difficulties you had
  • Tell me about a product you lead from idea to launch
  • Tell me about a time you struggled on one of your software projects
  • Tell me about a data and analytics project you’ve worked on
  • Tell me about what made you get into design
  • How do you influence product?
  • Which part of the design process interests you most?
  • Why do you want to be a product designer rather than a UX researcher?

Also Check: What Are Some Good Interview Questions To Ask

Why Are Behavioral Questions Used

Used correctly, youll find that it can be used to look for consistency in answers and how to identify how an employee will prove out with specific questions. Are we going to assess soft skills like problem-solving or critical thinking or their speaking skills?

The other thing that you can assess when you decide to use these kinds of interview questions isis the candidate prepared? Is the interviewer able to compare and contrast specifics? So are they using the interview guide? So there are certain things that my interviewer is prepared to use behavioral questions because they have documented questions, its structured, they are looking at the answers, they can compare and contrast one interviewee to the other, and then also we look for consistencies in behaviors as interviews are answering the questions.

Learning The Star Answer Method

Answers to behavioral based interview questions

When asked a behavioral interview question, it’s important to remember that the interviewer is looking for a specific story-based example that highlights your behavior in challenging situations.

Using the STAR answer method, you can quickly form a story-based response that the interviewer can follow. STAR is an acronym for Situation, Task, Action, Result.

Situation: Set the stage with the background information the interviewer needs to make sense of your story.

Task: Continuing to set the stage, give the interviewer an idea of your role and responsibilities in this story.

Action: Next, offer a detailed description of the steps you took to resolve the situation you described.

Result: Last, talk about the specific outcomes that resulted from your actions.

Also Check: How To Have A Great Job Interview

Where Can I Find Free Samples Of Management Behavioral Interview Questions And Answers

If you are you looking for free sample behavioral interview questions and answers for management positions, below are a handful of sources to consider.

Be Prepared For These Common Questions

  • Describe a project or idea that was implemented primarily because of your efforts.
  • Do you feel you work well under pressure? If so, describe a time when you have done so
  • Tell me about a time you needed to motivate a co-worker.
  • Tell me about a time you had to raise an uncomfortable issue with your boss.
  • Tell me about a goal you achieved.
  • Talk about a time when you had to work closely with someone whose personality was very different from yours.
  • Give me an example of a time you faced a conflict while working on a team. How did you handle that?
  • Give me an example of a time when you motivated others.
  • Tell me about a time where you had to delegate tasks during a project.
  • Give me an example of when you showed initiative and took the lead.
  • Describe a situation where you disagreed with a supervisor.
  • Tell me about a time you had a conflict at work.
  • Tell me about a situation where you had to solve a difficult problem.
  • Tell me about a time when you missed an obvious solution to a problem.
  • Tell me about your proudest professional accomplishment.
  • Tell me about the toughest decision youve had to make in the past six months.
  • Tell me about a significant mistake you made and what you did to correct it.
  • Tell me about the last time a customer or co-worker got upset with you.
  • Free: Behavioral Interview Questions Pdf Checklist

    Ok the next thing you should do is download our handy “Behavioral Interview Questions ChecklistPDF“.

    In it you’ll get 25 common behavioral questions along with tips on how to answer them and the traps you need to avoid….

    All in a beautifully designed pdf Jeff spent hours working on. —- He made me put that in

    Read Also: How To Have A Good Phone Interview

    Tell Me About A Time You Had To Build Rapport With A Coworker Or Client Whose Personality Was Different Than Yours

    This behavioral interview question evaluates your interpersonal skills. The interviewer wants to understand what steps you take to bridge differing opinions or work styles.

    Answer: While working on a website redesign project, I had to collaborate with team members from across the country and even in different countries. When we launched the project, the first few minutes of each meeting, I did a mini team building exercise where wed work on solving a light hearted problem together. Once that was completed, each member would deliver their 2 minute update.

    What I found was that the exercises helped establish trust among the team and a shared sense of accountability. This made it easier to deliver tough messages or to ask people to work more quickly.

    Tell Me About A Time You Stepped Up To Fill A Position Of Leadership

    How To Answer Behavioral Based Interview Questions – BEST Sample Answer

    This is another very common question during an interview, particularly with large companies and organizations. This one’s fairly straight forward in its intent because it all really comes back to teamwork. Most recruiters, when asking this question, are hiring for positions that involve some sort of team management and they need someone that can effectively direct them to meet goals.

    Choose an example where you were entrusted with a responsibility or put in a situation and you took it upon yourself to find a solution. These examples can can include situations involving layoffs, company morale, performance, or taking on extra work when things get too busy or when short-handed. This question can easily be tied back to the “going above and beyond” question.

    Read Also: How To Interview Financial Advisor

    Talk About A Time When You Made A Mistake That Affected A Colleague How Did You Handle It And What Was The Outcome

    The employer wants to see that you own your mistakes rather than mounting a defense or deflecting blame. Admit something you did, and explain how you corrected the mistake.

    I contacted a lead that my colleague was already working with and ended up taking his sale. When I caught the error, I realized that Id forgotten to check the client database before reaching out to the lead. I apologized to my colleague and split the commission with him. Then I put some measures in place so that Id always remember to check the database before getting too enthusiastic about client outreach.

    How To Answer Behavioral Interview Questions

    Most hiring managers include at least a few behavioral questions in each job interview they conduct. Your responses help interviewers get a sense of your on-the-job behavior.

    To that end, in a behavioral job interview, the interviewer will ask questions about your past work experiences. For instance, you might get a question like, Tell me about a time that you had to multitask at work.”

    Employers who use this approach are seeking concrete evidence that proves the candidate has the skills and abilities needed for the job.

    The idea behind a behavioral interview question is that past behavior is an indicator of future behavior. Therefore, examples from your past give the employer an idea of how you would handle a similar situation if you were to be hired.

    Don’t Miss: What To Wear To A Victoria’s Secret Pink Interview

    Describe A Time You Provided Effective Patient Or Family Education

    How to answer:

    Tell a story about a time when you knew your patient or family retained your teachings. How did you know that you effectively communicated the piece of education?

    After teaching families I ask them to repeat the information in their own words. Using a teach-back method allows nurses to know if families truly understood the information that was given to them. It is also important to provide the family with written educational material and use other forms of education such as videos or hands-on when possible. I taught a family post-operative spine care after a posterior spinal fusion. The parents were able to properly demonstrate how to transfer their child from the bed to the chair. In doing so, I was able to determine that they had retained the information.

    Common Behavioral Interview Questions

    Behavioral Based Job Interview Questions
    • Describe a situation where you disagreed with a supervisor.
    • Tell me about a time you had a conflict at work.
    • Tell me about a situation where you had to solve a difficult problem.
    • Describe a project or idea that was implemented primarily because of your efforts.
    • Do you feel you work well under pressure? If so, describe a time when you have done so
    • Give me an example of a time when you motivated others.
    • Tell me about a time where you had to delegate tasks during a project
    • Give me an example of when you showed initiative and took the lead.
    • Tell me about a time when you missed an obvious solution to a problem.
    • Tell me about your proudest professional accomplishment.

    Can you see how these questions are all trying to find out how you behaved in the past in order to predict how you will behave in the future?

    So now that you know that you have to use success stories and you have an idea of what a behavioral question looks like, how the heck to you actually answer them??

    NOTE: This article focuses on Behavioral Interview Questions. For more information on how to answer traditional interview questions, please check out our other in-depth article Job Interview Questions and Answers 101.” For information on how to answer situational interview questions, you can check out our article “Situational Interview Questions and Answers”

    Also Check: How To Develop Interview Skills

    A Guide To Behavioral Interviewing

    If you have ever been in a job interview, youve probably been exposed to behavioral interviewing a method of interview questioning that solicits specific examples about your past behavior on the job. The technique has become prevalent among employers because of its proven success.

    Becoming comfortable with behavioral interviewing is a vital part of the job-hunting process. Luckily, there are ways you can prepare for this style of questioning so you can excel in your next interview.

    Behavior interviewing is designed to gather insight into how you handled a specific situation in the workplace. The interviewer will want examples of what happened, what you did and how you achieved a positive outcome. The approach is fact-finding and focuses on your actual past actions and experiences versus what you should or would have done in various situations. It fosters a more interactive interview and provides an interviewer the opportunity to probe further or refocus a question.

    From a candidate perspective, although this interviewing approach encourages an unbiased or more neutral style of questioning, it can be result in some of the most challenging questions to answer on the spot. Here are some common behavioral interviewing questions and how best to respond to this type of interviewing.

    Ten Common Behavioral Interviewing Questions:

  • Give an example of a goal you reached and tell me how you achieved it.
  • Give an example of a goal you didn’t meet and how you handled it.
  • Give An Example Of An Important Goal You Set For Yourself Did You Accomplish That Goal How Did You Ensure That You Accomplished It

    How to answer:

    Make sure the goal you share is related to your career. Explain the steps you took to accomplish your goal. What challenges did you face? How did you feel once you accomplished your goal?

    I set the goal to earn my pediatric certification. I made a list of things that must be done to achieve that. I signed up for the exam and paid the fee so that way I had to take the exam. There was no backing out.

    You May Like: How To Send A Follow Up Email After An Interview

    Behavioural Interview Questions To Select The Best Candidate

    Its a well known fact that looking at a candidates past behaviour is the best way to predict their future performance.

    So dont waste any more precious interview time asking hypothetical questions. Behavioural interview questions will let you understand in detail how a candidate has acted in specific situations.

    First, identify the core behaviours youd like your candidates to demonstrate. Then you can then select your specific questions from the list below.

    Remember to assess all candidates against the same behavioural criteria!

    Free PDF Checklist:

    Stop wasting precious interview time asking hypothetical questions. Download the Behavioural Interview Questions Checklist and get your interviews on track.

    Behavioral Interview Questions On Time Management

    How to Answer: Behavioral Interview Questions

    Being able to manage your time and prioritize projects is an important skill to master. Knowing youre able to make the best use of your time — and the companys time — is a valuable trait. Here are some examples of behavior based interview questions related to time management and how to answer them.

    3. How do you handle a lot of responsibility?

    Describe your previous positions. For instance, maybe you worked at a local hospital and were responsible for overseeing the data center. When data requests came through, speed and reliable connectivity was sometimes a matter of life and death. Mention that although this position was stressful at times, you learned a number of coping strategies to help manage free time more effectively.

    4. Do you have an example of how you strategically work to get done everything on your to-do list?

    Discuss any major projects youve worked on in the past and how you broke each one down, piece by piece to complete it successfully. For instance, perhaps you were responsible for building a portion of your companys website. Discuss the various components you needed to execute, such as web design, images, and text. Discuss how you prioritized the components, understanding what aspects of the project needed to be completed first before other areas could be developed. Also discuss how you may have set daily and weekly deadlines for each section, how you tracked progress, and whether you completed the project on-time or ahead of schedule.

    Recommended Reading: How To Start An Interview As The Interviewer Example

    What Approach Do You Take In Communicating With People Who Do Not Know Medical Jargon Give An Example Of A Time You Explained Medical Terminology To Someone Who Is Not Medically Trained

    How to answer:

    Explain step-by-step how youve performed in a similar situation. What specific words and terminology did you use? How did you know that the individual understood your explanation?

    It is imperative that we use simple words to our patients and families who are not medically trained and utilize a teach-back method to ensure they understand the information that is communicated to them. I once had to explain post-operative care to a family whose child had tonsil surgery. I had to use words such as poop instead of bowel movement. I used Tylenol instead of acetaminophen.

    Tell Me About A Difficult Obstacle You Have Had To Overcome

    The interviewer wants to know how you handle pressure, challenges, adversity and tenacity. Focus you answer on the steps you took to overcome the obstacle.

    Answer: While working on a time-sensitive client project, I found the printer was jammed. I first reloaded the paper bins and followed the printers error instructions and within minutes the printer was back online.

    Not only was my report in the queue but so were several other jobs. The final client report was proofed and delivered ahead of schedule. I also delivered the other print jobs to their owners to keep their workflow on track.

    Don’t Miss: Where Can I Watch The Harry And Meghan Interview

    Behavioral Interview Questions 6

    If the role youre interviewing for works with clients, definitely be ready for one of these. Find an example of a time where you successfully represented your company or team and delivered exceptional customer service.

  • Describe a time when it was especially important to make a good impression on a client. How did you go about doing so?
  • Give me an example of a time when you did not meet a clients expectation. What happened, and how did you attempt to rectify the situation?
  • Tell me about a time when you made sure a customer was pleased with your service.
  • Describe a time when you had to interact with a difficult client. What was the situation, and how did you handle it?
  • When youre working with a large number of customers, its tricky to deliver excellent service to them all. How do you go about prioritizing your customers needs?
  • More articles

    Popular Articles