Have you ever wondered how a potential employer assesses your suitability for a role? There are many ways, but one of them is by asking behavioural interview questions. But what are behavioural interview questions?
Behavioural interview questions help an interviewer determine how you will respond to situations and challenges at work. They help understand a candidate’s personality and working style. The employer is trying to assess how you would deal with the challenges faced in that position. You can expect at least one behavioural interview question in every interview.
Indeed and Seek provide a guide to common behavioural interview questions and how to answer them.
Common behavioural interview questions
Behavioural interview questions often fall into several categories, including managing conflict, time management, handling failure and mistakes, taking initiative, leadership and problem-solving skills. Here are some examples of behavioural interview questions.
Describe a situation at work where you were required to step out of your comfort zone.
How do you prioritise tasks if you are asked to complete multiple tasks at once?
Describe a time you failed at a task. What did you learn from the experience?
Describe a time when you disagreed with a colleague. How did you resolve the situation?
Have you ever had a different opinion from your manager on how to solve a problem? How did you deal with this?
What is the biggest challenge in your career so far? How did you deal with it?
Do you work better individually or as part of a team?
What role do you assume when working in a team?
Describe a time when you led a team or project to success.
How to answer behavioural interview questions
To answer these questions successfully, you should use real-life examples to show how you deal with complex or high-pressure situations.
The best answers will provide examples of how situations have been handled or resolved. Remember, the focus is on behaviours, not skills. An ideal way to illustrate this is by using the STAR method.
Situation
Pick a challenge you have faced at work, ideally one relevant to the position you are applying for
Task
Now, you should articulate your role in addressing the challenge. What was the specific problem the company faced? What did your employer expect you to achieve?
Action
The next step is to detail the steps you took to resolve the issue.
Result
What was the final outcome? Detail the result that was delivered, highlighting your involvement. If you can, try to articulate what you learned from the experience.
Tips to prepare for behavioural interview questions
While you won’t be able to anticipate every behavioural interview question, it’s useful to have a series of anecdotes ready that can be adapted to suit the question.
Study the job description and see if you can identify the key requirements of the role.
Reflect on significant projects you have worked on. Consider what you did well and what you learnt from working on these projects. Make a list of your major accomplishments.
It’s a good idea to practice giving your answers with a friend or family member before the interview. Make sure your examples are clear, concise and relevant to the position you are applying for.
Try to keep your answers under two minutes.
Nailing interviews isn’t easy.
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