Behavioral interviews (or behavior-based interviews) have been around since the 1980s and have become a rather prominent form for selecting qualified candidates. The effectiveness of this type of interview has been validated in respected research journals repeatedly. In short, behavioral interviews work when they are done right. Unfortunately, they are not always done right because they are conducted by people who have not been trained to conduct them.

In the behavioral interview candidates are asked to give an example of their past behavior in a particular situation. Questions usually take the form of, “Describe a time when you. . . ”or “Tell me about a time when you. . .” The questions are supposed to relate directly to job-related skills, and they should be asked of every candidate for a position in order for this type of interview to be effective.

The underlying premise of this type of interview is that people will handle future situations in the same way they have handled similar past situations.

Since one of the keys to successful interviewing is rehearsal, we encourage you to take time to work out answers to the kinds of questions you will encounter in a behavioral interview. Be sure to use your accomplishment statements or CARS whenever possible. This should give you a solid framework from which to answer. Your answers should not sound memorized, but they should be well rehearsed. Remember, interviewing success is about being prepared for and having a mental outline to follow in responding to the questions. Keep your answers brief and resist the temptation to chase rabbits!

Here is a sample list of behavioral interview questions we’ve seen over the years:

• Describe a situation in which you were able to use persuasion to successfully convince someone to see things your way.
• Describe a time when you were faced with a stressful situation.
• Tell me about a situation where you had to deal with an upset customer or co-worker.
• Describe the worst project you have ever worked on.
• Give me an example of a time when you were able to motivate others to achieve their objectives.
• Give me a specific example of a time when you used logic to solve a problem.
• Tell me about a time when you used your presentation skills to influence a group of co-workers.
• Tell me about a difficult decision you’ve made in the last year.
• Give me a specific example of a time when you had to follow a policy that you did not agree with.
• Tell me about a time when you disagreed with your boss, but followed his/her orders anyway.
• Give me an example of a time when you went above and beyond the call of duty in order to get the job done.
• Tell me about a time when you set a goal and were able to meet it.
• Can you think of a time when you utilized time management skills to accomplish a business activity.
• Have you ever witness a person doing something that you felt was against company policy. What did you do and why?
• Give me an example of when you had to prioritize your tasks because you had too many things to do.
• Describe a time when you set your sights too high (or too low).
• When have you had to make a split second decision? Please tell me about it.
• What is your typical way of dealing with conflict? Give me an example.
• Tell me about a time when you missed an obvious solution to a problem.
• Tell me about a time you were able to successfully deal with a person who did personally like you.
• Please discuss an instance of when you were required to produce an important written document.
• Give me an example of a time when you failed to accomplish something important.
• Give me an example of when you showed initiative and took the lead.
• Tell me about a time when you effectively delegated a project.
• Give me an example of a time when you used your fact-finding skills to solve a problem.
• Describe a time when you developed preventive measures by anticipating a potential problem.
• Tell me about a time when you were forced to make a decision that was not popular.
• Have you ever had to fire a friend or co-worker? Please tell me about what happened.
• Tell me about a project you worked on where the requirements changed midstream. What did you do?
• Tell me about a time when you took the lead on a project. What did you do?
• Describe a time you were forced to work with someone you didn’t like.
• Give me an example of something innovative you have done that made a difference in your company.

Happy hunting!

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