How to Answer Behavioral Interview Questions

Interviewing

by Alex Rudloff on May 17th, 2007

In the 1980's, industrial psychologist Dr. Tom Janz introduced a method of interviewing called the "Behavioral Interview." Research shows that this interviewing style is extremely effective, and as such, it has rapidly increased in popularity. The premise is that the best predictor of future behavior is your past behavior.

Behavioral Interview Tips and Tactics

When developing a behavioral interview, employers consider the types of soft skills that will be needed for the position. When preparing for this type of interview, a job seeker should consider all these skills as well. By keeping these important traits in mind, a candidate can successfully prepare for any amount of questioning. Preparing for behavior interviews will also help you answer more tradition interview questions.

To properly answer a behavioral interview question, there is a three step process referred to as "STAR".

1. The Situation or Task you were in
2. Action that you took
3. Result of that action

Behavioral Interview Example

Question: "Describe a situation where you have had to deal with a difficult person."

Answer: "I was transfered to a new project at my previous company to replace a beloved member of the team. My new team leader exhibited hostility towards me and I found myself left out of vital communications and meetings. After a few weeks, I was able to talk her into a one on one meeting. When laid out all of the key objectives for the team, the previous employees role in meeting those objectives, and then discussed goals that I could set to make sure I was able to serve as a quality replacement. In our discussion, we also identified a few underlying issues with management that she had been carrying around with her. In uncovering all of these sentiments, she was able to clearly define her situation and achieve an understanding with her supervisors. In the end, the entire team morale improved, I was able to exceed my goals and the company itself became more profitable from our teams increased performance."

Want more? Check out our Complete List of Behavioral Interview Questions.

Have any experiences you would like to share with others? Share your tips and suggestions in the comments below!

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45 Comments

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

vinay says: (2:54PM on Feb 4th 2010) Vote Up Vote DownReport2.5/3

thanks for the questions and the way to answer these type of question.
i think this will greatly help me for my coming interview.

regards
Vinay

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Dawn says: (8:10PM on Jul 27th 2010) Vote Up Vote DownReport3/3

I DON'T THINK THIS TYPE OF INTERVIEWING IS FAIR TO EVERYONE: I understand how this method of interviewing can achieve the objective it is looking for, HOWEVER, it does not take into account that these are LEFT BRAIN questions and RIGHT BRAIN thinkers will most likely fail at answering such questions successfully. I personally wish I had known that this was going to be the TYPE of interview I was walking into because I have a specific disability in answering ambiguous (vague) questions especially when it comes to comparing or combining past experiences with present ones; but I DIDN'T know and couldn't comprehend what they were asking me into plausible answers. Had I known I would have requested a translator, as the law states is mandatory to provide to accommodate such a disability, and I would have understood exactly what they wanted to know and answered beautifully and successfully. I had never heard of this style of interviewing so had no way of knowing I even NEEDED TO PREPARE. I'm exceptional at conventional interviewing.
If they are going to be allowed to change "conventional" interviewing into this method then THEY SHOULD BE OBLIGATED TO INFORM THE APPLICANT OF SUCH TO PREPARE.

BDR says: (10:16AM on Sep 6th 2010) Vote Up Vote DownReport2/5

I totally AGREE. I was so fortunate that a VERY big company attached examples of questions and explained the what the interview process was going to be.

I think I too would have trouble with these questions because though I am very RESULTS oriented, the line of questioning is too vague to be able to recall a situation to answer that question. I am very fortunate to have almost a week to prepare.

YOU can't memorize every question: CONCENTRATE on your SUCCESSes and be able to use one or TWO to answer their exact question.

Take a PRINTED 'porfolio (sp) of examples of your past successes (behavior). ALWAYS take in positive sense, not negative, choose words of positive, the glass is half full don't imply... half empty.. SOUNDS negative.
And you'll do better... REMEMBER though in 2010, this REMAINS the worst economic times since the 30's... 80 years since this bad. I think history will show TODAY this time period... is just like the GREAT DEPRESSION... and it should be called the TERRIBLE Depression... what was so Great about it.

Bevie says: (8:38PM on Nov 29th 2010) Vote Up Vote DownReport2/5

I agree!! I was passed over for a position with a fabulous company that I know was a perfect fit for me, due to blowing the behavioral part of the interview. I had no idea that I was going to be asked these kinds of questions. It IS totally unfair, and I appreciate your view point on this.

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