As we are in a current recession, thousands of people who have been laid off are brushing up their interviewing skills. If you are one of those folks, you may wonder as to how to succeed in a behavioral-based job interview.
First of all, let's clarify what a behavioral interview is. Basically, this type of technique occurs when an interviewer asks questions that try to get a sense of how you behave in various situations. For example, instead of asking you how you manage stress, an interviewer may ask you to name a particularly stressful project, what caused you stress, and what you did to manage it.
In a behavioral interview, you will be given a lot of hypothetical questions, or asked to recall specific situations. Below are some tips as to how to perform well in a behavioral interview.
1) Be careful not to get too detailed.
When someone asks you to tell a story, you may make a common mistake: providing a bit too much detail in an effort to give the context. When in an interview, it is easy to make the same mistake.
Let's say that the interviewer asks you to recall a really complex work project. Be careful not to get carried away validating the complexity of the project.
You can lose the listener this way, and come across as long-winded and disorganized. Try to keep your verbal answers to no longer than three minutes. And, set up the situation in just a few sentences.
2) Focus on your positive actions and the results they created.
Always keep in mind that an interviewer is trying to assess you and how you perform and react on the job. No matter what the question, make sure you put the emphasis on positive things you did and on things you did to impact and contribute to business.
Be sure to be very clear about highlighting what you contributed, not just the enormity of the project. In an interview, it's okay to talk about yourself a bit more than usual. After all, you are marketing yourself, not necessarily the great company you used to work for or the huge things it achieved.
3) Feel free to modify your answer.
If you are asked to provide an answer to a situation you have not been in, then modify your answer. You can say something like, "While I have not been in that exact situation, I have been through something similar. I would like to share a bit about that."
4) Do not exaggerate.
Be realistic and grounded when answering your questions. You do not have to come across as Superman to show how you behaved in various situations.
People who exaggerate, especially in an interview, are usually easily recognized. Keep it real, while focusing on the positive. Your answers will be better received that way.
5) Do not forget to ask questions or seek clarification.
As in any type of interview, do not forget to engage your interviewer through asking questions and seeking clarification. That can also buy you a bit of time to think a bit more about how you want to answer any given question.
6) Prepare and practice.
Finally, go into the interview prepared. One thing you can do to prepare for a behavioral interview is to think about the job requirements for the position to which you are applying.
If, for example, the position requires that you have experience doing audits, then list some real-life examples of audits you have performed. Have those at top of mind, and be prepared to focus on how you may discuss these experiences.
Practice talking about some of your achievements. Make sure you have quantifiable results at top of mind, too. By doing some homework and listing out some of this information before an interview, you will be more prepared to handle the questions that come your way.
These are but a few tips as to how to succeed in a behavioral-based job interview. Always go into an interview as prepared and confident as you can, and remember to be yourself - your professional self, that is.