When it comes to interviews, there are many different types of interview questions hiring managers may ask. One of the most common types is behavioral interview questions.
Naturally, you won’t know all of the questions a recruiter or hiring manager will ask you, but there are steps you can take to be prepared! Let’s walk through how to answer behavioral interview questions and go more in-depth into what they are.
RELATED: 14 Strategic Interview Questions to Ask Candidates
What Are Behavioral Interview Questions?
Behavioral interview questions are geared toward understanding your actions and reactions in a specific work situation. These questions typically begin with phrases such as:
- “Tell me about a time when…”
- “Give me an example of…”
- “Describe a situation where…”
Behavioral interview questions are based on the principle that your past behavior can inform your future behavior.
Compared to traditional interview methods, behavioral interview questions are considered to have a 55% predictive accuracy rate for on-the-job success, which makes them significantly better predictors of future performance.
The answers you provide to the interviewer give them a glimpse of what soft and hard skills you possess and provide insight into your personality, which is why it’s essential for you to prepare how to answer behavioral interview questions.
Why Do Employers Ask Them?
Behavioral interview questions are designed to uncover how candidates approach challenges and collaborate with others. They’re an essential litmus test that allows interviewers to assess how you have performed in past work experiences, and how you might perform in the future at their company.
Managers are looking for a specific kind of worker with a specific set of skills. Behavioral interview questions help reveal what kind of worker you may be.
Behavioral interview questions help employers determine your skills and traits, such as problem-solving, customer service, critical thinking, and communication. Employers want to see if your behavior can have a meaningful and positive impact on the workplace.
These questions could also help reduce an employer’s unconscious bias during the hiring process by focusing on your past behaviors instead of relying solely on impressions made through your resume or work history.
Employers can also use these questions to determine whether your personality will mesh well with the company culture. A good culture fit is important because it increases retention and reduces turnover while promoting increased productivity for the team.
READ NEXT: 10+ Creative Interview Questions (& Why Employers Ask Them)
How to Answer Behavioral Interview Questions
When thinking about how to answer behavioral interview questions, remember that these questions often relate to key skills required for the job. Though you may have many examples from your past jobs, make sure the answer you choose shows how your prior experiences can help you with this role.
You can structure your answers to these questions using the STAR technique, which consists of the following aspects:
- Situation: Describe a situation in your work experience that relates to the question.
- Task: Explain what your task was in that situation.
- Action: Detail the action you took to address the situation.
- Result: Summarize the outcome of your response.
Before your interview, it may be worthwhile to prepare a handful of stories or situations to tell that can be applied multiple ways depending on the question asked. This will help you avoid being caught off guard—preparation is key!
Think about your past work experience and highlight anything where you stood out, solved conflict, thought outside the box, helped a coworker, or things of that nature. This is your chance to convince the hiring manager why you’re right for the role.
As you formulate your answers, follow these steps to help increase your chances of impressing the interviewer.
1. Ensure your answers are targeted for the job description
When you’re answering behavioral interview questions, make sure you relate your experience to the job description since that shows what the hiring manager is looking for in an applicant.
For example, if a role’s job description says that candidates should have a certain amount of experience and knowledge of specific programs, show how you have applied your knowledge in real life situations from past roles.
2. Highlight accomplishments from past roles
An interview is the time to talk yourself up—bring up whatever you’re proud of accomplishing throughout your career! Your answers should highlight how you overcome challenges and what past results prove this claim. This will show the interviewer how you’ll continue to make an impact on their company.
3. Keep your responses clear and concise
Make sure your responses stay quick and to the point. You don’t want to start rambling—shoot for less than two minutes per response. This is the best way to keep your answers concise, which helps with clarity, so you don’t end up confusing the interviewer. Try practicing out loud while timing yourself or even role play with a friend!
5 Sample Questions and How to Respond
Now let’s go over some examples of behavioral interview questions and what to include in your response.
Question: Describe the most difficult scenario you’ve had to face in the last year.
How to respond: This question is your chance to show the interviewer how you overcome adversity and respond to challenges. Employers want to know that you won’t be overwhelmed during unexpected situations. Discuss what led you to be in that situation and the steps you took to succeed despite the obstacles.
Question: Describe the best team you have worked with and what you did to support each other. What types of results did this team achieve?
How to respond: This question allows you to highlight your interpersonal skills and how they have benefited your team. The way you interact with team members can show if you align with the company’s culture. Your answer should include how you personally helped coworkers realize their potential and the impact this had on the company.
Question: Give me an example of a time you had a conflict with a team member. How did you handle it?
How to respond: Many positions require you to work as a team, so the answer to this question should show your conflict management and resolution skills. Discuss a specific time when you and a colleague disagreed on how to solve a problem or experienced personal differences. Explain how you resolved this conflict.
Question: Tell me about a time you made a mistake at work. How did you resolve the problem, and what did you learn from that situation?
How to respond: Interviewers understand that we’re all human. Nobody’s perfect and mistakes will happen—it’s how you bounce back from them that matters. This question aims to test how you handle challenging situations and learn from them. Your response should show your ability to admit your mistakes and the steps you took to avoid making similar mistakes in the future.
Question: Tell me about a time you took the initiative in your career. What was your motivation for doing so?
How to respond: Interviewers want to know how dedicated potential candidates will be to the role and to the team. In your response, you want to highlight your willingness to contribute to the organization’s success. Describe a situation where you helped others or offered to work on a project in addition to completing your regular job duties. You can use your answer to show your integrity, selflessness, and teamwork.
Start Your Job Search Today
If you’re looking for a new, exciting job or additional job seeker guidance, connect with the Insight Global team today. You can leverage our job board to find your next great opportunity.