What not to say in a behavioral interview?
But don't criticize or complain about a company, team, or a specific person such as a former manager or boss, even if you have great reasons for leaving that job. Speaking poorly of your former coworkers can come across as critical, disloyal, or you can even come across as a potential problem child.
But don't criticize or complain about a company, team, or a specific person such as a former manager or boss, even if you have great reasons for leaving that job. Speaking poorly of your former coworkers can come across as critical, disloyal, or you can even come across as a potential problem child.
- Situation: Describe a situation in your work experience pertinent to the question.
- Task: Explain what your task was in that situation.
- Action: Detail the action you took to address the situation.
Take a few seconds to think about the interview question before responding. Ensure you don't go off on tangents or end abruptly without rounding out your answer back to what was asked. Also, avoid mumbling or speaking too fast. And don't end up interrupting the interviewer.
- 1 – Be clear and concise with your communication, yet specific. A way to navigate this is through the STAR/CAR format. ...
- STAR:
- CAR:
- 2 – Do your research. ...
- 3 – Create a narrative of your past experiences. ...
- 4 – Demonstrate results. ...
- 5 – Ask questions.
Saying it out loud can actually help. Share with the employer that you are extremely interested in the position and the company. Apologize for being a little nervous but ensure them you are ready to answer any and all questions.
- What makes an ideal coworker in your eyes?
- How do you prioritize projects under pressure?
- How would handle your schedule when it's interrupted?
- Have you ever bent company policy to satisfy a client?
- How have you handled setbacks at work?
- Give me an example of a goal you've set and how you achieved it. ...
- Tell me about a time you failed. ...
- Can you describe a time people didn't see things your way? ...
- Tell me about a time when you worked well with a team.
Behavioral interview questions are questions based on how you acted in a specific situation. They're meant to gauge how you react to stress, what's your skill-level, and how you conduct yourself in a professional environment.
- Choose a specific failure. Pick a real failure that happened in the workplace, specifically a failure related to the work you're doing now. ...
- Share your story. Share with the interviewer the story you chose. ...
- Focus on what you learned.
Can one bad answer ruin an interview?
In a job interview, every word counts. Even one bad answer could kill your chances at getting hired, Eric Yaverbaum, CEO of Ericho Communications, tells CNBC Make It.
- You were in the interview for longer than expected. ...
- The interview felt conversational. ...
- You are told what you would be doing in this role. ...
- The interviewer seemed engaged. ...
- You feel sold on the company and the role. ...
- Your questions are answered in full.
- Do your homework. ...
- Make a good first impression. ...
- Listen and respond accordingly. ...
- Prepare smart, open ended questions to ask the interviewer. ...
- Sell your strengths and expertise. ...
- Don't speak poorly about your present or former employers. ...
- Don't falsify information. ...
- Don't speak over the interviewer.
- How much is your commission? ...
- I'm just casually looking. ...
- I'll take anything. ...
- My previous job was terrible. ...
- I work to live, not live to work. ...
- My old manager and I didn't get along. ...
- It's on my resume. ...
- Recruiters navigate the job search process for you.
Know when to say “I don't know.”
Never brush off the question or start rambling. It's much better to express you don't know then to go off on a tangent or make something up.
- Tell me about how you worked effectively under pressure. ...
- How do you handle a challenge? ...
- Have you ever made a mistake? ...
- Give an example of how you set goals. ...
- Give an example of a goal you reached and tell me how you achieved it.
If you're polite and kind, the employer can see that you get along with people and you have a respect for seniority, company managers, and supervisors. One of the first manners an employer will look for is punctuality, or being on time for the interview.
The STAR method is an interview technique that gives you a straightforward format you can use to tell a story by laying out the situation, task, action, and result. Situation: Set the scene and give the necessary details of your example.
Take your time: Don't feel like you have to answer something straight away – taking a natural pause, nodding thoughtfully, taking a breath – these are all things that don't feel out of place in conversation and can be great opportunities to collect your thoughts.
Spend time preparing for the interview
Preparation is a great way to overcome pre-interview nervousness as it allows you to feel more confident going into the interview. Set aside an hour or two the night before the interview to collect your thoughts, research the company and position and get into a positive mindset.
Can you mention anxiety as a weakness in an interview?
Pick a weakness that you actually have trouble with. The interviewer will often ask you further questions about this weakness, and they will be able to tell if you are lying or hiding something. One that is fixable. You don't want to tell the interviewer about the crippling anxiety you've had since you were seven.
The answer to an intro question like "Why do you want to work here?" should be 1 minute and possibly up to 1.5 minutes, because you need to add details that explain why. Answers to behavioral questions like “Give me an example of when you worked on a complicated project” should be between 3 to 4 minutes.
“I should be hired for this role because of my relevant skills, experience, and passion for the industry. I've researched the company and can add value to its growth. My positive attitude, work ethics, and long-term goals align with the job requirements, making me a committed and valuable asset to the company.”
- Structure your answer in a way that makes sense. Stick to the past-present-future format, and you're all good!
- Keep it relevant and brief (1-2 minutes max). No one wants to hear your whole life story.
- Mention any of your top achievements and relevant work experiences.
To introduce yourself professionally in an interview, start with a polite greeting, state your full name, mention your educational background and relevant work experience, highlight key skills and strengths, briefly share your career objective, and express gratitude for the opportunity.