How To Answer Any Behavioral Interview Question In 2022
Bigstock
{"adCodes": [{"desktop": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "display": true, "mobile": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "new_amp": "\u003camp-ad width=336 height=280\n type=\"doubleclick\"\n data-slot=\"/22278042776,22664312254/wit/wit_content\"\n data-multi-size=\"300x250\"\u003e\n\u003c/amp-ad\u003e", "order": 0, "tablet": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"}, {"desktop": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "display": true, "mobile": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "new_amp": "\u003camp-ad width=336 height=280\n type=\"doubleclick\"\n data-slot=\"/22278042776,22664312254/wit/wit_content\"\n data-multi-size=\"300x250\"\u003e\n\u003c/amp-ad\u003e", "order": 1, "tablet": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"}, {"desktop": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "display": true, "mobile": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "new_amp": "\u003camp-ad width=336 height=280\n type=\"doubleclick\"\n data-slot=\"/22278042776,22664312254/wit/wit_content\"\n data-multi-size=\"300x250\"\u003e\n\u003c/amp-ad\u003e", "order": 2, "tablet": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"}], "adsOrder": [2]}
We've gotten a lot of questions lately about interviews, which is a good thing because it means our readers are putting in the work and getting interviews (So, kudos to you!). But what we want to talk about today is a very particular type of interview question that hiring managers are increasingly asking these days. This kind of question—a behavioral question—can be a curveball.
So, let's get started by talking about what a behavioral question is.
What Is A Behavioral Interview Question?
A behavioral interview question is a special type of question. It's one that requires more than a one-word answer. It's the type of question where you are not going to respond with just a "yes" or "no." In contrast, you're going to have to elaborate in order to deliver an answer properly.
For example, a behavioral question would look something like, "Tell me about a time when you had to do X or Y…" You're going to see these questions all the time during interviews because it helps the hiring manager get inside your head and understand how you approach and tackle certain problems.
Remember, an employer wants to make sure that you're the right fit for the job. It's not just that you have the experience. It's also that you have the aptitude and the know-how to apply that experience so that you can do the job successfully in the way that you need to do it. This is what makes them feel comfortable with you as a hire—and all of this has to come out in your answer.
Now that you understand what a behavioral interview question is, and why it's so important to answer it thoroughly and correctly, I'm going to give you a methodology you can use to answer each and every behavioral interview question effectively. It's called the "Experience + Learn = Grow"model.
It's a system we've designed that allows you to come up with answers that give the employer exactly what they want to hear.
How To Answer A Behavioral Interview Question
Bigstock
Step 1: Outline an experience that you've had that explains why you can do what they're asking you to do.
Step 2: Talk about what you learned from that experience—how it made you smarter and better in your job.
Step 3: Talk about how you grew as a professional so that you can take that experience and use it to your advantage going forward.
When you answer behavioral questions using the "Experience + Learn = Grow" model, you're mentally taking the hiring manager through the process they need to go through to come to the conclusion that you can do the job.
It's also important that you ask good questions in an interview in order to make a great impression.
Example Of A Behavioral Interview Question & Answer
Bigstock
So, here's an actual example of a typical behavioral question that you might get asked in your next interview:
"Tell me your greatest accomplishment on the job."
Now, again, if you are going to use the "Experience + Learn = Grow" model here, you have to share enough information for the hiring manager to fully understand that you are capable of doing the job.
Let's say you're a customer service representative. Your answer might be:
Experience: "Well, as a customer service representative, the greatest accomplishment I ever had was learning how to deal with difficult customers. I remember a time when I got a call from a really angry customer. We had double-charged her, and she was irate. She was swearing at me and yelling at me on the phone. She was completely out of control, and I didn't know what to do."
Learn: "But I realized that if I stepped back for a second and didn't take what she was saying personally, I could recognize how she was feeling. I could put myself in her shoes. So, I was able to do that. And in doing so, I was able to calmly address her needs, figure out what was going on, get her a credit, and really exceed her expectations. When it was all said and done, she was totally calmed down. She was apologetic for her behavior—for swearing at me—and most importantly, she was grateful and even gave me a four-star review afterward."
Grow: "That really taught me the power of patience and empathy. When I'm talking to customers now, every time I get a difficult customer, I'm able to immediately go into that empathy mode so that I can give them a great customer service experience."
Do you see how that answer followed the "Experience + Learn = Grow" model? By taking the time to map out your answers to questions like this, you can really make sure that you're covering your bases, and helping the hiring manager understand just how effective you can be in the job.
There are lots of behavioral questions that you can get asked in an interview. In fact, at Work It Daily, we have a list of 18 potential questions that we take our clients through. To give you an idea of some other ones that you might come across, here are two more that you should be prepared to answer:
Those are just a couple more examples of the types of behavioral questions you can get asked, which again require much more than a typical one-word answer.
Most importantly, the "Experience + Learn = Grow" structure helps you consistently deliver the right answer at the right time!
Need more help preparing for behavioral interview questions?
We'd love it if you joined our FREE community. It’s a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades. More importantly, we have tons of resources inside our community that can help you prepare for your next job interview.
It's time to find work that makes you feel happy, satisfied, and fulfilled.Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!
This article was originally published at an earlier date.
From Your Site Articles- 5 Interview Secrets That Will Help You Beat The Competition - Work ... ›
- How To Answer Interview Questions About How You Handle A ... ›
- 6 Ways To Be Interesting During Your Interview - Work It Daily ›
- How To Answer Behavioral Interview Questions - Work It Daily ... ›
- 4 Smart Tips For Answering Interview Questions - Work It Daily ... ›
- How To Answer "Why Are You Interested In This Job?" - Work It ... ›
- 7 Sample Behavioral Interview Questions and Answers | Indeed.com ›
- 11 Must-Ask Behavioral Interview Questions - Glassdoor for Employers ›
- 10 Common Behavioral Interview Questions ›
Get Some LeverageSign up for The Work It Daily NewsletterEnter emailSubscribeFollow
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};
googletag.cmd.push(function() {
googletag.defineSlot('/22278042776,22664312254/wit/wit_multiplex', ['fluid'], 'wit_multiplex').addService(googletag.pubads());
googletag.enableServices();
googletag.display('wit_multiplex');
});
Popular The Waiting Game: Surviving Job Offer Anxiety Erik EpiscopoJenna ArcandJune 07, 2022
Bigstock
{"adCodes": [{"desktop": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "display": true, "mobile": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "new_amp": "\u003camp-ad width=336 height=280\n type=\"doubleclick\"\n data-slot=\"/22278042776,22664312254/wit/wit_content\"\n data-multi-size=\"300x250\"\u003e\n\u003c/amp-ad\u003e", "order": 0, "tablet": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"}, {"desktop": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "display": true, "mobile": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "new_amp": "\u003camp-ad width=336 height=280\n type=\"doubleclick\"\n data-slot=\"/22278042776,22664312254/wit/wit_content\"\n data-multi-size=\"300x250\"\u003e\n\u003c/amp-ad\u003e", "order": 1, "tablet": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"}, {"desktop": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "display": true, "mobile": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "new_amp": "\u003camp-ad width=336 height=280\n type=\"doubleclick\"\n data-slot=\"/22278042776,22664312254/wit/wit_content\"\n data-multi-size=\"300x250\"\u003e\n\u003c/amp-ad\u003e", "order": 2, "tablet": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"}], "adsOrder": [2]}
Have you ever felt like you totally rocked an interview? You had all your questions and answers prepared, the hiring manager really seemed impressed, and they even hinted at a call back. You wake up the next morning with a huge grin on your face expecting an email or a phone call, but you receive nothing. No worries, right? “They will probably get back to me tomorrow," you think to yourself.
However, tomorrow comes and goes, as does the next day and the day after that, all without a phone call or an email. Days turn into a week, and you begin to get a bit antsy. Hope starts to dwindle as the questions begin to mount.
- What's taking so long?
- Was my interview not as good as I thought?
- Did I say something wrong? Did I misread the cues?
- Was my writing sample terrible?
- Should I send another email?
- WHY HAVEN'T THEY CALLED ME BACK?
As time goes on, you are consumed by these questions and can think of nothing else. This is a dangerous time for any job seeker. This inner state of turmoil is often referred to as job offer anxiety.
What Is Job Offer Anxiety?via GIPHY
Job offer anxiety is the anxiousness and stress one feels usually while waiting for an interview or a callback. This anxiousness is frequently accompanied by tense behavior and rumination. People who suffer from this are in a never-ending search to discover why they haven't received an interview/callback when everything seemed promising.
In a struggle to answer this question, job seekers start to second-guess their interview and writing skills as each day passes. They blame themselves for not getting the call and their confidence all but disappears. Job offer anxiety can even affect job seekers after they have received an offer.
For instance, a job seeker may receive a job offer that happens to be their second choice. The question of whether to accept the offer or wait for their first choice now arises. This may cause unnecessary panic in the applicant which can lead to a misguided decision. Even just waiting for a callback is extremely destructive to the job search. You end up losing focus and wasting valuable time that could be spent pursuing other job opportunities.
If you have ever suffered from job offer anxiety, have no fear. Here are some specific causes of job offer anxiety and ways to overcome them.
Cause #1 - Forgetting To Continue The Job Searchvia GIPHY
The solution: Apply for other jobs.
This advice seems obvious, but many people become so focused on the callback that they forget about the end goal: getting a job.
What better way to distract yourself than to continue looking for other jobs? Continuing your job search allows you to take your mind off the callback and get back to using your time wisely. Sitting around and waiting for the perfect job to get back to you isn't productive and won't get you anywhere closer to realizing your goal.
And who knows? While you are being focused and productive, time will pass a lot more quickly and you might finally get that callback you were waiting for, and if not, at least you expanded your job opportunities.
Cause #2 - Restlessness And Insomniavia GIPHY
The solution: Exercise.
All that stress and anxiety can inflict heavy damage to your body and overall health. Those at WebMD.com recommend people with high anxiety to "relieve tension with vigorous exercise or massage." The Anxiety and Depression Association of America has found that "regular participation in aerobic exercise has been shown to decrease overall levels of tension, elevate and stabilize mood, improve sleep, and improve self-esteem."
When it comes to reducing stress and anxiety, exercise should not be overlooked.
Cause #3 - Lack Of Perspectivevia GIPHY
The solution: Realize that HR is on a different time frame than you.
There is no doubt that, when searching for a job, time seems to creep by at a snail's pace. Some like to believe that hiring managers sit at their desk with an evil smirk tapping their fingers together (think Mr. Burns from The Simpsons) purposefully making candidates wait in despair.
Yet, it's easy to forget that employers may have responsibilities other than hiring candidates. Hiring managers would love nothing more than to get through all the applicants in a timely manner. But like every job, things tend to pop up unexpectedly that require immediate attention. It's important to remember this, take a deep breath, and give the hiring manager the benefit of the doubt.
Cause #4 - Not Sure When To Follow Upvia GIPHY
The solution: Use proper follow-up etiquette.
It's important to remember that the interview doesn't end until you have sent a follow-up thank-you letter. Susan Adams of Forbes advises applicants to send a follow-up letter as soon as possible. If you wait too long, other prospective employees might beat you to it.
While sending a handwritten note is a nice thought, it takes much too long for the employer to receive it. So, email is always the best choice for sending your follow-up thank-you note. It's also a nice touch if you add a high point from the interview in your message.
However, even after the follow-up thank-you letter, applicants can still find themselves without a response. In this case, it is appropriate to follow up again.
In "4 Things You Need To Do After The Interview To Get The Job," Sudy Bharadwaj believes that periodically following up every few weeks is a great way to stay on the hiring manager's mind. He recommends that: "Instead of asking, 'Have you made a decision yet?' forward a recent article you've read that you believe he'll find interesting and helpful. Following up in this way demonstrates that you're a great network connection instead of a pesky wannabe employee."
Cause #5 - Lack Of Confidence In Your Resumevia GIPHY
The solution: Check if you made common resume mistakes and/or get your resume reviewed by trained coaches.
One last measure to reduce stress and anxiety during the job search is to make sure your resume is in tip-top shape. Knowing that your resume is up to par can be a great boost to your confidence.
An excellent way to get some tips on your resume is to pass it out to your friends and colleagues. They might be able to bring some fresh ideas to your resume and suggest edits to improve it.
We hope you found these tips for overcoming job offer anxiety to be helpful, no matter where you are in your career. And remember...only worry about the things you can control. You'll avoid a lot of stress and anxiety this way!
We know how difficult it is to overcome anxiety in your job search. If you're struggling to find a job, we're here for you.
We'd love it if you joined our FREE community. It’s a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades.
It's time to find work that makes you feel happy, satisfied, and fulfilled. Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!
This article was originally published at an earlier date.
Read moreShow lesswaiting for job offer anxiety {"customDimensions": {"1":"Erik Episcopo, Jenna Arcand","2":"popular","3":"anxiety, job offer, stress, surviving job offer anxiety, job search tips, job search advice, interview process, job offer anxiety, interview, job search, ~popular_source-pageview, job seekers, career advice, career, stress and anxiety, job interview, unemployed, unemployment, job offers, interviewing, waiting for job offer anxiety, waiting for job offer, career tips, ~rmsc:rebelmouse-image:19815205, ~rmsc:rebelmouse-image:19815830","4":"06/07/2022"}, "post": {"split_testing": {}, "providerId": 14, "sections": [0, 370480899, 376489574, 404327439, 543270555, 479660731, 473333499], "buckets": [], "authors": [19548635, 19836096]} } Featured
The Waiting Game: Surviving Job Offer Anxiety
{"customDimensions": {"1":"Erik Episcopo, Jenna Arcand","2":"popular","3":"anxiety, job offer, stress, surviving job offer anxiety, job search tips, job search advice, interview process, job offer anxiety, interview, job search, ~popular_source-pageview, job seekers, career advice, career, stress and anxiety, job interview, unemployed, unemployment, job offers, interviewing, waiting for job offer anxiety, waiting for job offer, career tips, ~rmsc:rebelmouse-image:19815205, ~rmsc:rebelmouse-image:19815830","4":"06/07/2022"}, "post": {"split_testing": {}, "providerId": 14, "sections": [0, 370480899, 376489574, 404327439, 543270555, 479660731, 473333499], "buckets": [], "authors": [19548635, 19836096]} }
Now Hiring: Remote SysOps Engineer
{"customDimensions": {"1":"Work It Daily, Kinsta \u00ae","2":"popular","3":"kinsta, hiring, remote jobs, remote work, remote workforce, remote companies hiring, remote companies 2021, sysops engineer, sysops engineer jobs, ~popular_source-pageview, ~rmsc:rebelmouse-image:26404410, ~rmsc:rebelmouse-image:26409812","4":"05/18/2021"}, "post": {"split_testing": {}, "providerId": 0, "sections": [370480899, 545998439, 545998440, 473310812, 376489962, 526353713, 545658354, 548352055, 548352058, 543270555, 473333499, 473310813], "buckets": [], "authors": [19548593, 21891195]} }
3 Important Career Lessons Learned On And Off The Field
{"customDimensions": {"1":"Executive Community, J.T. O'Donnell","2":"popular","3":"career change, entrepreneur, entrepreneurship, career, career challenges, overcoming career challenges, personal branding, personal development, professional development, professional growth, success, career success, pro athletes, tom brady, chris gronkowski, nfl, tiktok, social media strategy, social media, career growth, ~rmsc:rebelmouse-image:25632872, ~rmsc:rebelmouse-image:25633076, ~rmsc:rebelmouse-image:25632876, ~rmsc:rebelmouse-image:25632899","4":"02/10/2021"}, "post": {"split_testing": {}, "providerId": 0, "sections": [0, 370480899, 473333499, 376489962, 526353713, 376489624, 479660731], "buckets": [], "authors": [21030904, 19549412]} }
How Ex-NFL Player, Chris Gronkowski, Is Using Social Media To Change Careers
{"customDimensions": {"1":"Executive Community, J.T. O'Donnell","2":"popular","3":"2010, Barstool, camera phone, career growth and development, career growth opportunities, chrisgronkowski, cowboys, dallascowboys, dinner, football, free, gronkspike, iceshaker, investor, nfl, nflfootball, nflplayer, nflplayers, nflworkout, payday, rookie, salary, sharing, sharktank, tic toc, tic tok, tick tock, ticktock, tictok, tik tok, tiktok, tiktok.com, trade, trainingcamp, upload, video, video phone, weighin, youtube.com, ~popular_source-pageview, \u0442\u0438\u043a \u0442\u043e\u043a, \u30c6\u30a3\u30c3\u30af\u30c8\u30c3\u30af, chris gronkowski, ~rmsc:rebelmouse-image:25551501, ~rmsc:rebelmouse-image:25551637, ~rmsc:rebelmouse-image:25551540, ~rmsc:rebelmouse-image:25598481","4":"01/29/2021"}, "post": {"split_testing": {}, "providerId": 0, "sections": [0, 370480899, 473333499, 526353713, 376489624, 479660731], "buckets": [], "authors": [21030904, 19549412]} }
PropertySea is the ultimate platform for all your real estate needs. Whether you're searching for your dream home, looking to sell or rent your property, or seeking investment opportunities, PropertySea is your one-stop destination.
Whether you're a homebuyer, seller, renter, or investor, PropertySea is your trusted partner in the real estate market. Discover a world of possibilities, connect with expert agents, and make your property dreams a reality. Start your real estate journey with PropertySea today and experience the convenience, efficiency, and reliability of our comprehensive platform.
Originally posted on: https://www.workitdaily.com/answering-behavioral-interview-questions