Thursday, May 17, 2018

Common Behavioral Interview Questions And How To Answer Them Effectively

By Stephanie Fisher


Nobody likes job interviews. They can be almost as stressful as tax audits. One of the primary keys to successful interviewing seems to be preparation. You need to know as much about the company and what they are looking for in an employee as possible. Behavioral interview questions have become commonplace. You can ace these interviews if you plan ahead.

Almost all interviewers today ask about how the applicant handles stressful situations. It is a waste of time to lie and say stress does not bother you. The interviewer knows that's a lie. A better idea is to relay an example of a workplace experience in which stress was a contributing factor. Instead of emphasizing the stress involved, what you learned from the experience, and how it helped you become a more effective employee, should be your focus.

Interviewers like to ask about the ways you address workplace challenges. The answer you give should incorporate aspects of the job you're applying for. For instance, if you're interviewing for a position where challenges need to be methodical and measured, you will answer one way. If the position is best filled by someone who plunges right in and takes a chance, you will answer another way.

One of the most common questions asked concerns workplace mistakes. You can't say you've never made a mistake, but you can put a positive spin on the answer you give. By asking this question the interviewer hopes to get a feel for your weaknesses and the ways you handle stress. Explaining what you learned from a workplace mistake, and the ways you became a better employee because of it is a good example of an effective answer.

Interviewers tend to ask entry level applicants about their goals and where they see themselves in the future. They want to know if you are ambitious and what your plans are for advancing your career. Whatever you tell them should be compatible with the position you are applying for. You need to convince the interviewer that you see this company as vital to your ambitions.

You will probably be asked some question that involves teamwork and how well you work with others. You should emphasize the skills sets you have in the areas of delegating, communicating, listening, and acknowledging the accomplishments of co-workers. You might describe a club, classroom, or volunteer project you were involved with instead of a work related experience.

When you're asked about workplace problems and the ways you solve them, the interviewer is not giving you an opening to gripe about your former boss. You need to describe an actual problem and what you did to resolve it. This is an appropriate place to offer your personal philosophy about handling difficult situations and challenging personalities.

Job interviews are always stressful. You will be nervous no matter how much you prepare. You don't want your answers to come out rehearsed or staged, but you do want them to be relevant and positive.




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