Typical Behavioral Interview Questions And Some Suggestions For Answering Them

By Stephanie Fisher


Nobody likes job interviews. They can be almost as stressful as tax audits. One of the primary keys to successful interviewing seems to be preparation. You need to know as much about the company and what they are looking for in an employee as possible. Behavioral interview questions have become commonplace. You can ace these interviews if you plan ahead.

There are certain subjects you expect every interviewer to quiz you about. One of them involves stress. Saying that you're immune to stress is a lie, and the interviewer will know it. It is much better to admit that you get stressed just like everybody else, and then relate an experience that illustrates how well you handle it. Explaining that you try to learn something from every experience and how it can make you a more productive employee will be effective.

The way you handle workplace challenges is another area interviewers like to delve into. You should consider tailoring your answer to fit the job you are applying for. A conservative company may not appreciate an employee who dives in without much thought and takes risks to meet challenges. A forward thinking, innovative company may find someone who is deliberate and methodical in her approach to challenges too measured for their taste.

One of the most common questions asked concerns workplace mistakes. You can't say you've never made a mistake, but you can put a positive spin on the answer you give. By asking this question the interviewer hopes to get a feel for your weaknesses and the ways you handle stress. Explaining what you learned from a workplace mistake, and the ways you became a better employee because of it is a good example of an effective answer.

Asking entry level applicants to discuss their goals and their plans to achieve them is a favorite tactic of interviewers. They want to know what your ambitions are and what you are willing to do to reach them. You need to emphasize how the job you are applying for exactly fits into the goals you have set for yourself.

You may be asked a question about working with others. In this case, the interviewer wants to get a sense of whether or not you are a team player and can get along with supervisors and co-workers. You need to emphasize the skill sets you have, like communicating, delegating, listening, and acknowledging the accomplishments of others. You don't have to restrict yourself to a work related experience. Club, classroom, or volunteer projects will work just as well.

When you're asked about workplace problems and the ways you solve them, the interviewer is not giving you an opening to gripe about your former boss. You need to describe an actual problem and what you did to resolve it. This is an appropriate place to offer your personal philosophy about handling difficult situations and challenging personalities.

Job interviews are always stressful. You will be nervous no matter how much you prepare. You don't want your answers to come out rehearsed or staged, but you do want them to be relevant and positive.




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