Be Prepared for Behavioural Interview Questions

Unlike classic job interviews, behaviour-based questions and answers relate to your motivation to excel and the ways you have acted or would act in the workplace when faced with hypothetical but real-world issues.

As more employers move to a "performance-based hiring" philosophy, behavioural interviews are increasing. Employers are more concerned with how you did or will perform in their companies than with previous duties and dates of employment. Performance-based hiring requires you to provide thoughtful answers to open-ended questions (those that cannot be answered with a 'yes' or 'no'). Your answers should display a glimpse of your skills, abilities and professional demeanour.

These interviews are more difficult for the employer to prepare for and more challenging for you to handle. But this type of job interview gives you a wonderful opportunity to separate yourself from the other candidates.

Typical Types of Behavioural Interview Questions
You should become familiar with motivation-related questions at behavioural job interviews. They tend to follow an identifiable pattern which helps you prepare to shine during your next job interview. Here are some examples of typical "intros" to this type of question.

• "Tell us about a situation that you . . ."
• "Describe an incident when you . . ."
• "Give me an example of how you would handle the following situation . . ."
• "What kinds of challenges did you face in your last position?"
• "What actions would you take if you were faced with . . ."

As you can see, these types of questions require that you give thoughtful, considered answers to the interviewer. You will be evaluated on two levels: the interviewer will consider the effectiveness of your answers and the way you express yourself. Your answers should be direct, clear and as professionally delivered as possible. Make your point and try to sell yourself as the best candidate for the position.

Tips on How to Prepare for Behavioural Interview Questions
Preparation is the most important consideration for motivational job interviews. Here are some tips to improve your performance, and therefore your chances of being offered the position.

• Understand that employers often already know the type of candidate they want. Behavioural interviews are typically focused on questions and answers that help identify the candidate that fits a profile the employer has already decided upon. It's important you answer honestly and professionally.
  
  
• Research every company with which you interview. Use the Internet to learn about your prospective employer before your interview. Behavioural interviews give you a fabulous opportunity to relate your prior experience in different situations to those issues that may face your new company. Your preparation should be obvious to your interviewer and will raise your image as a good fit.
  
  
• Use the Internet to learn about the most common motivational questions. There are some valuable Web sites devoted to helping job candidates prepare for open-ended motivational questions at behaviour-based interviews. Do a search on the Internet and you will find hundreds of potential questions and appropriate answers. By doing your homework, you'll be much more comfortable at the interview. Many questions will sound familiar, and if you've prepared a focus for your answers, you won't hesitate, stumble or offer 'dead air' to your interviewer. They will be impressed.
  
  
• Understand what these questions are designed to uncover. Unlike discussing your former jobs and companies, motivation directed interviews are designed to have you reveal how you did or would react in different situations - operational, personnel-related, financial, motivational or leadership situations. Try to frame your answers in a manner that answers the 'focus' of the question as well as the specific action you did or would take.

Learning as much as possible about your prospective employer and the type of person they might want can really improve your performance during the interview. Your comfort level and thoughtful answers may separate you from your competition.

SIGN UP TODAY to receive a monthly career tips newsletter!