Behavioral Questions
Before you begin reviewing the questions, take a moment to sit down and think about how well you know yourself. How well do you know who you are, what you believe, what your strengths and weaknesses are, what your abilities are, and what drives you. If you are unclear in any area of your life, you will probably find unhappiness there. An easy example would be the area of relationships. Most of us have never sat down and written out what our ideal mates should be like, or what we have to offer them. By not being clear in our needs and wants, we often settle for less. The same holds true for all aspects of our lives, especially our jobs.
Take a moment to sit down and be honest with yourself. Being honest with yourself means identifying your weaknesses and realizing that you are a human being. The nature of a human being is not to be perfect. Think about your strengths and weaknesses. Think about what skills you have to offer to an employer. Think about your style of using the skills that you possess. Think about your values. Think about how you can apply each of these traits to get the job that you want.
Now, see if you can answer these questions, but before you begin, follow these simple rules:
- Pick out the most likely questions that you will be asked during your interview
- Write out a brief answer on a 3 X 5 card (Make each answer stand out!)
- Have someone ask you the questions
- Repeat until master
| Sample questions | The interviewer is trying to determine | Tips on answering |
|---|---|---|
| What extracurricular activities were you involved in, and what was your role? | Emphasize: How the activity helped you develop certain skills (team work, etc.) | |
| How would you compare your verbal skills to your writing skills? | Five answers emphasizing speaking and writing development. ("It's a continual learning process.") | |
| How do you keep track of the status of a project in relation to its deadline? | Emphasize that even the best-laid plans need a contingency plan when working with a deadline. Cite an example where you met a tough deadline by making everyone accountable. Avoid blaming others or circumstances for a missed deadline | |
| Has a team member openly criticized you for a mistake? Have you ever openly criticized someone in a similar situation? | Explain how you define problem situations and redirect the focus back to the task or goal. Avoid examples of non-communication with peers | |
| Give me an example of a specific event in your past that has shaped your approach to dealing with people. How do you deal with difficult people? | Cite teamwork. The good of the team comes first. You look for the best in people. Perhaps give an example of kindness given to you by a stranger. | |
| How has your education prepared you for your career? | Emphasize that an education teaches transferable skills as well as builds a foundation for learning new skills. Cite an example of a learned skill. Avoid answers that are non-specific or vague | |
| Do you work well under pressure? Could you give me a specific example? | Give them an example of a deadline that you had to meet. Cite an example of how you prioritize tasks to avoid getting overwhelmed. Show how you delegate responsibilities to others to achieve a goal. | |
| Why did you decide to major in...? | Focus on the courses that are job-related, and why your education can help the employer with their challenges. Avoid rambling and non-direct answers and complaining about heavy course work. | |
| Could you give me five key reasons why you're better than the other candidates? | Prepare at least FIVE key points that will distinguish you. NEVER leave an interview until you have stated these five ("I am confident that I am the person for this job because I am...") | |
| If you had to do it over again, would you attend the same university? Would you change your major? | Emphasize that it was the right choice. An education is what you make of it. An education is a broad foundation for handling future challenges. Avoid negative comments about the institution, faculty, or saying that you made a wrong decision | |
| Tell me about a time when you had to make a decision that would normally have to be cleared with your supervisor, but your supervisor was unavailable. What did you do? | Cite that you are willing to take charge on minor decisions but respect authority for critical decisions by asking management for clearance first. Don't be apologetic if your decision was a mistake. | |
| Would you rather work with others or alone? Why? | Be careful. This could be a loaded question. If you say that you would rather work alone and the company has a team environment, you're out. Focus on your adaptability and flexibility. | |
| What is one of the toughest decisions that you had to make? | Delay answering to show thoughtfulness. Cite an example that distinguishes you as a systematic, fair, and decisive individual. | |
| What would you do if some members of your team weren't doing their share of the work? | Show "backbone." Cite an example of a team endeavor where the members of the team collectively disciplined the poor performer | |
| What are your long-term career objectives? | Show them that you have considered other alternatives before making this decision. Point out how this job satisfies your career objectives. | |
| Why should I hire you? | Tie in your skills to the position. Let them know that you understand their challenges, that you offer a solution and that you really want the job. | |
| What is your biggest weakness? | Identify a weak area. Tell the interviewer that you view a weakness as a challenge. Challenges are what allow a person to grow. Be positive. | |
| Could you give me an idea of your management philosophy? | Review the culture of the organization and find out what style of management they are using. Cite an example to show how your style is similar. | |
| How do you manage your time? How organized are you? | Give them an example of an average day in your life. Highlight the fact that you set daily goals, but are still flexible. Carry a daily organizer with you. | |
| Which person had the most influence on your life? | Emphasize how that individual impacted your life and what they taught you. (Genuine concern and belief in others, dedication to excellence, etc...) and why you want to be like them. | |
| How did you prepare for this interview? | Say, "I researched the company, went to the library, and read the annual report." Be careful what you say; the interviewer will probably ask you to elaborate on your statement. | |
| How would you handle an angry customer or an angry supervisor? | Strive for an answer that is a win-win situation. It is easier to keep a customer, than to replace one. Avoid defensive examples | |
| What five questions would you like for me to answer? | Emphasize questions like: Could you give me the profile of someone who does really well here? Avoid questions about benefits and salary, questions about the prior employee, or questions answered in the annual report. | |
| What one story could you tell me that would make me remember you over the rest of the candidates? | Look at interviews from their perspective. Candidates seem to say the same boring things. Give them something to remember you by. DISTINGUISH YOURSELF. (Ex: I windsurfed across the English Channel, ran in a marathon.) Show how you bring these traits to their company. | |
| How do you deal with surprises on the job? Let's say a supervisor gives you a new project, and you are trying to complete another project by the deadline. | Show how you prioritize tasks to reach a deadline, and that you are willing to put in extra time to complete a project | |
| Describe how you go about making a decision. | Cite an example where you use a system for making decisions. Cite direction and flexibility. Show "backbone." ("Learn the company's decision-making culture-instinct or facts and figures.") | |
| How will our company benefit if I hire you? | Pull out your list of five things that the interviewer absolutely must know about you. Be direct and concise in your answer. Summarize. | |
| Tell me a little about yourself. | Answer by saying, "Where would you like for me to begin?" Or, "What area would you like for me to talk about?" (Former job, education, etc...) |
