Behavioral interview questions are common techniques used by organizations and employers to evaluate an applicant's competence beyond their qualifications and job experience. These questions provide the interviewer with insights into how the applicant will respond to particular scenarios in the work environment. The use of behavior questions is not new; they have been utilized for decades in work settings.
Today, they have become more popular than ever, so if you are preparing for a job interview, keep in mind that most of the questions you will be asked during one-on-one interviews will be behavioral.
Below, we review common behavioral questions asked by recruiters during interviews and how to answer them. We also review preparatory steps to ace them with flying colors.
How to Prepare for Behavioral Interview Questions?
The first thing you need to know about how to answer behavioral interviews is to understand that the exercise is as mental as it is physical. It is imperative that you mentally prepare for the interview days in advance. Knowing the right answers to the question is not the only thing they will be looking out for, they also want to see your level of confidence.
Some of these interviews have no clear-cut answers because they are largely subjective. The interviewer wants you to answer based on your personal experience so you need to do so as confidently as possible.
Common Behavioral Interview Questions and How to Answer Them
Here are common interview questions you are likely going to encounter and how to answer them. Bear in mind that the questions will not be asked the same way but the elements will be similar.
1. Have you ever worked under pressure and how did you deal with it?
What are they asking: This is a common question asked of applicants who are applying for high stress, high pressure roles. They want to know if you are capable of making the right judgment calls when you don't have all the facts or time in the world. They want to know whether you will break under the weight of pressure or hold up. You answer by giving examples of a real life experience when you had to work long hours, fill in for a colleague, or make successive decisions on the go.
2. How do you stay organized?
What are they asking: This question is time management. They want to know how you prioritize your responsibilities and whether you are a good manager of time. Your answer should show them how you are able to meet competing demands within short notice.
3. How do you manage multiple tasks?
What are they asking: Some files require you to work on different projects at the same time and they may be mutually inclusive or exclusive. This is common for management roles. They want to know whether you can work with or without supervision. You can share examples of periods when you have handled different tasks. Cite tools or applications that you used to manage your time and the projects effectively.
4. Have you dealt with errors caused by poor communication? What happened and how did you resolve it?
What are they asking: Communication is very important for achieving organizational goals but sometimes the communication pipeline can be compromised, leading to miscommunication. They want to know how you will respond to such an eventuality. Respond by citing occasions when you had to modify your plans, change course or completely alter course after receiving erroneous information from your boss, work colleagues, or partners.
5. How do you respond to constructive feedback?
What are they asking: They want to know your level of maturity and how you respond to others and your team members. This is a question that has to do with communication more than anything else. This is an opportunity to show off your skill by recounting past experiences. Show the interviewer that you are always looking for opportunities to learn and improve on the job.
6. Have you ever had to make an important decision at short notice? What happened?
What are they asking: They want to know how you respond to disruptions and the pressure that comes with that especially when you will be responsible for actions because of the disruptions. The most important thing here is to show leadership and flexibility. Draw from previous experiences to prove your mettle.
7. What steps do you take to make sure that your actions are effective?
What are they asking: They want to know whether you are proactive as much as you are reactive. Proving that you often mind-play likely outcomes from the actions you take is a good pointer. Shine more light on this.
8. What was the most difficult decision you had to make and why?
What are they asking: This is all about critical thinking. They want to know whether you are good at problem-solving. Are you the type to shy away from a problem because it is tough or do you tackle it head-on? Recount a difficult decision that you made, the stress it caused you, and why you had to make such a decision.
9. How did you meet and exceed the expectations of your previous role?
What are they asking: They want to know if you're the type to take the initiative or one who does the bare minimum just to get a paycheck. The best employees are those who can think on their feet rather than just wait all the time for the boss's orders. Recount the records you broke in your previous role and how you went about it.
10. Were you ever able to complete a task using a different means?
What are they asking: This is a test of not only initiative but also intelligence. Any organization that aims to succeed must always evolve. Looking for new ways to solve problems is the hallmark of professional brilliance. You want to highlight a time when you completed a task or achieved goals using a different approach unlike what your employer preferred without causing any losses or disruptions.
11. Have you been under immense work pressure? What happened and how did you cope?
What are they asking: They want to know how you handle pressing work demands. Cite real life examples and connect them to the impact they had on you and how you addressed them.
12. Have you experienced significant shifts in a previous role and how did you handle it?
What are they asking: Changes occur in the workplace, both planned and unplanned and they affect employees differently. They want to know if you are flexible and can adapt fast.
13. Have you ever disregarded a manager’s decision and how did you communicate with your superior?
What are they asking: This is all about initiative and emotional intelligence. They want to know whether you are likely to follow a bad instruction so you don’t ruffle some feathers or whether you use common sense in real life scenarios. Furthermore, they want to know if you are respectful when communicating your objections and giving feedback for your reasons. Cite examples that relate to such a scenario however minimal it may be.
14. How do you handle scheduling when working remotely?
What are they asking: This is especially for remote roles. They want to know whether you can get work done within deadlines since there will be almost no supervision by a superior. If you have experience working remotely, cite examples. If not, recall occasions when you had to schedule tasks. You can also cite when you collaborated with team members in different time zones.
15. Has there been a time when you didn’t know how to do something? How did you seek proper information?
What are they asking: This is about trusting you to work without supervision. Draw from experience working remotely or when you had to go to a different city or country to handle a project for your employer.
16. How do you delegate responsibilities to your team?
What are they asking: They want to know more about your leadership quality and how good you are leading a group. You want to point to past experiences. Let them know that you delegate responsibilities based on the skills, competence, and experience of each team member.
17. What kind of leadership do you prefer?
What are they asking: They want to know what kind of leader you could be if you are handed leadership of a team with full control. Cite your ability to innovate and be flexible so you can make decisions swiftly.
18. Have you had conflicts with a team member and how did you resolve them?
What are they asking: They want to know how to evaluate your conflict resolution skills. Furthermore, want to know how you relate to colleagues and how you will respond to a colleague you have disagreements with. Draw from past experiences by discussing a specific event. Let them know how you were able to resolve the issue.
A Shortlist of Additional Behavioral Interview Questions
- Tell us about a mistake you once made at work and how you were able to correct it.
- Do you prefer to work on one project at a time or do you prefer to work on multiple tasks so you can finish on time?
- Have you ever run a business of your own before? Why did you quit?
- What are your career aspirations for the next five years and how have you prepared for them?
- Describe an occasion when you had to manage your time to complete a task.
- Have you ever failed at a task? What happened and how did you respond to the experience?
- When did you take the initiative in your career and what was the motivating factor?
- Tell us about when you used your leadership skills to inspire your colleagues.
- Have you ever been assigned a task you were not trained for? How did you manage?
- Give us an example of a career goal you once had and how you achieved it.
- Will you prefer the path of least resistance to achieve something or take a tough road if you learn something new along the way?
- What is your problem solving process? How do you address work issues?
Final Thoughts
The process of answering behavioral interview questions requires tact and confidence. Always draw from personal experience and connect them with the question you are asked. Lastly, prepare mentally for such interviews by imagining likely scenarios and questions. The key is to practice regularly until you are self-assured.
