How To Answer Behavioural Interview Questions

Imagine this: You attend an interview and are asked, “Describe a time when you interacted with a difficult client and how you handled it?” How do you answer that question?

Recruiters will always ask such questions to see whether you have the necessary skills to handle that job.

Behavioural interview questions require you to relate to your direct workplace experiences to provide an answer.

How you answer usually plays a significant role in whether you get the job, as it reveals who you are.

Here are some tips to help you answer behavioural Interview questions;

1. Prepare ahead of time

How do you prepare? First, go through the job description and see the top skills the employer is looking for. Then, come up with scenarios you could use as examples to show you possess these exact skills.

You should look at your past experiences and achievements, as this will help you develop good examples to give.

You can also research commonly asked situation-based questions you might be asked and try to formulate answers to them. This way, you will not be caught off-guard during the interview.

2. Take your time

Because your answer is basically a story, you need to deliver it calmly and collectedly. Behavioural interview questions are meant to test your behaviour and personality when it comes to handling tasks.

Therefore, before you answer the question, take a few seconds to gather your thoughts to make your answer compelling.

3. Keep your answers positive

Even if you describe a negative situation, ending on a positive note is essential. This means you should never use an example that does not show you can do the job well.

Every example you give in a behavioural-based job interview should show that you are a capable employee and can handle a difficult situation.

Now you are in the interview room, what steps should you take to answer behavioural interview questions?

• Describe the situation

The employer is interested in how you would handle certain situations, so you need to have a scenario in mind that would help you demonstrate your skills. The situation has to be relevant to the position and has to be something that happened.

• Describe the problem

The next thing you need to do is to describe the task or problem you faced that you needed to try and solve

• Describe the action

What did you do to tackle the said problem?

• Describe the result

You should end your answer by stating the impact of your actions and if you could resolve the problem. The trick is to focus on how what you did positively impacted the situation and show that you have the skills required to excel at the job.

In the end,

Like any other type of question, behavioural interview questions require proper preparation if you want to land the job.

Use the achievements you wrote in your CV that convinced the employer to meet you to prove your capability to handle the job well. If you do not feel confident about doing well in the interview, you can always seek help through an interview coaching session.