ANSWERING BEHAVIORAL QUESTIONS

by

Bob Raikes, NCCC

When you are being asked behavioral questions you need to keep in mind that the interviewer is attempting to build a picture of you. An attempt is being made to determine how you have behaved in pressure situations and how you most likely will respond in the future.

Your answers will illustrate your skills or competencies in handling pressure in your personal as well as work situations. The questions you can be asked may include personal and work related questions. Examples:

* Tell me about a time you put your foot in your mouth and how you handled it?

* What has been the most embarrassing moment in your life?

* What is the biggest mistake you have ever made and how did you overcome it?

* How do you handle difficult people?

* Tell me about yourself and your family.

* If you could go back in time, what things would you change?

* What is your biggest need for improvement?

* With hindsight, how could you have improved your progress in your current or your

last job?

* Of all of the employers you have worked for, which did you like the best and why?

the least, and why?

* What was the last work conflict you had and how did you solve it?

* When was the last time you had a conflict with a co-worker and how did you

resolve it?

These are all examples. You can create some of your own and come up with answers that would give insight to your behavior.

Go to the list of Answering the Twenty Toughest Interview Questions for some suggestions on answering and turning your answer into a positive.