One-On-One Executive Coaching: Nailing The Behavioural Interview
Behavioural Interviews: History Always Repeats
Behavioural interviewing, or targeted selection interviewing, is increasingly used to identify suitable candidates for upcoming positions.
Based on the principle that past behaviour is the best indicator of future behaviour, a behavioural interview will encourage you to delve into how you handled past work situations. Your response to behavioural interview questions should reveal your skills, abilities, personality, and in turn, your suitability for the interviewing company.
Behavioural interview questions can be challenging to answer, particularly if you are not familiar with them. There is no right or wrong answer- these are not yes or no questions- and they involve a certain amount of personal reflection, which can be challenging in a high-pressure interview environment.
That is why it is essential to prepare for behavioural interviews- in these interviews, forewarned is most definitely forearmed! So, let’s look at how to spot a behavioural interview question and a technique which are sure to make your skills and psyche shine.
Behavioural Interview Questions
Interviews can be stressful, and in the heat of an interview, it can be difficult to identify when you are being asked a behavioural question.
If you are you asked a question that begins with:
“Describe a time when…”
“Give me an example of…”
“Have you ever…?”
and it is clear the question does not allow for a right or wrong answer, you are probably in a behavioural interview.
So now you can identify a behavioural interviewing technique, how do you best go about answering such a question?
The Star Technique
The Star Technique, or formula, is a great way to prepare a structured response to a behavioural interview question.
It helps you to accurately describe your experiences and highlight the results of the action you took:
Situation – Detail the challenge or problem
Task – What needed to be done
Action – Specifically what you did
Result – Explain the outcome: impact, savings, benefits.
Preparing yourself for a behavioural interview through coaching and practice can put you ahead of the competition in today’s highly competitive job market.
If you struggle to find the right answers in interviews, contact Glenda today to book in for one-on-one career coaching. Glenda’s expertise will give you the arsenal needed to put you ahead of the pack.
