Sample Behavioral Interview Questions

It is best to prepare with some sample behavioral interview questions before an interview. Though behavioral interviewing is a relatively new mode of interviewing is increasingly gaining ground. It works on the premise that past performance in similar situations predicts future performance most accurately. Consequently behavioral interviews are conducted in much greater detail and require considerable clarity as well as complete honesty because the interviewer actually tries to read your attributes and see if they fit what he is looking for.

Typically the characteristics that the interviewer would be looking for could be your Thinking Process, Learning ability, Willingness to travel, Self-confidence, Teamwork, Professionalism and Willingness to take responsibility. Based on the desired attributes, sample behavioral interview questions are framed to elicit responses in detail. You are required to give detailed responses that describe the situation with specific action and the result of the action. The sample behavioral interview questions could be from your school projects, activities, sports, team participation, community service and work experience. The key to handling behavioral interviews is to highlight your achievements and tell your story well. Use the PAR formula – Problem, Action and Result formula to tell your story in three parts.

Here's a good way to prepare for behavior-based interviews:

Prepare a list of characteristics that the job may require (decision making, leadership, motivation, communication, interpersonal skills, planning, critical thinking skills, team building, ability to influence others etc).
Prepare examples from past experience where you demonstrated behaviors that employers seek.
Vary your examples; don't take them all from just one area of your life.
Use recent examples.
Try to describe examples in story form. Remember to use the Problem/Action/Result format (the PAR form).

Some sample Behavioral Interview Questions are,

·        Give an example when you were called to make a quick decision.
Describe a time that you were challenged aggressively or put under pressure.
·        Describe a situation when you were able to have a positive influence on your team.
·        Describe a situation when you convinced your team about an idea that you felt strongly about? How did you do it and what was the outcome?
When was the last time you took it upon yourself to accomplish a task on the job, without being asked?
·        What have you done in the past to contribute toward building team spirit?
·        Describe a recent unpopular decision you made and the result.
What has been your most satisfying accomplishment on the job so far?
·        Describe a major obstacle that you overcame?
·        What do you do when your schedule is interrupted?
·        Tell us about an important goal you had set in the past and what happened to it.
·        Describe the last time when you thought quickly and got out of a difficult situation.
·        How would you handle a colleague who was not pulling his weight for the team?
·        Give an example when you used good judgment and logic in solving a problem.
·        Could you tell us about any important written document that you compiled?
·        How do you deal with conflict? Give an example.
·        How do you prioritize your time?
·        How do you deal with people in your team that you do not like personally?
·        Describe any difficult decision you've made in the last year.
·        When was the last time when you set a goal and failed to accomplish it?
·        Give an example of your go-getter nature. How did you show initiative and take the lead?
·        How do you normally motivate others? Give an example.
·        How do you delegate? Tell me about a time when you delegated a project effectively.
·        When you are the leader in a tough situation and you are running out of options do you consult your colleagues or do you make the key decisions on your own?
·        Describe a time when you anticipated potential problems and developed preventive measures. How did you anticipate the problem?

As you can see the range is endless. Your answers to these sample behavioral interview questions must be brief (two to three minutes or less), specific, work related and to the point. Importantly, remember your answers, because interviewers may ask you to expand on your initial answers in future rounds. Good luck!

Sample Behavioral Interview Questions