Most Common Behavioral Interview Questions

While few job seekers enjoy the interview process, being prepared can relieve some stress. It’s also crucial to understand the types of questions that might pop up so you can have better answers.

Behavioral interview questions can be particularly tricky because it’s not about the facts. Instead, the biggest clue is in the name: the interviewer wants to understand your behavior.

Rather than testing your hard skills like how fast you type, your proficiency with a program, or how much you can lift, you’re showcasing soft skills.

Preparing for a Behavioral Interview

Before you can conquer the interview, you need to battle interview anxiety. You might already know what methods work best for you. If not, there are plenty of techniques you might try. While taking a breath while studying common questions is wise, it’s equally essential to take a breath during the interview.

Remember, behavioral interviews are observing how you deal with a stressful situation. So by proving you can handle the interview, you’re already making a good impression.

When interviewees are stressed, it can be challenging to show off your best self. But you can limit some of that uncertainty by rehearsing common behavioral interview questions. By understanding the method behind the madness, you can better anticipate what the recruiter wants to hear.

Once you have a handle on your worrying, you’ll need to research, study, and practice. First, get to know the company or employer. For example, you might find keywords from the company values to work into your answers.

Practicing common questions and reviewing example answers will help you focus. Even if the questions don’t share the exact wording, understanding what recruiters are looking for can help. Using the STAR method is a fantastic way to organize your thoughts.

So what are the skills interviewers are testing? Check out the video below.

15 Skills That Common Behavioral Questions Want You to Answer

List of Behavioral Interview Questions

Now that you know some of the soft skills recruits are testing, let’s review the wording of typical behavioral interview questions

While some behavioral interviews will feature questions, sometimes recruiters use statements or commands. If the lack of a question mark makes you stumble, don’t be afraid to take a second to think or ask the interviewer to repeat the question. You’ll answer better when you understand the question and the motivation behind it.

However, some recruiters throw you a bone and add a clarifying question.

Here are examples:

● Describe an interaction with a difficult client/customer.

● Tell me about a time you made a mistake.

● Give me an example of a conflict with a coworker or team.

● Describe a time when your role or company was undergoing change.

● Share a situation where you needed to prioritize multiple tasks.

● Tell me about a time a customer was pleased with your service.

● Share an example of a goal you set and how you accomplished it.

● Describe a time you had to think on your feet or problem-solve something time-sensitive.

● Tell me about a successful presentation. Why do you think it was successful?

● Was there a situation where you disagreed with your boss?

● Describe a time you had to learn something quickly.

Summary

Behavioral interviews, popularized by Laszlo Bock and his tenure with Google, are everywhere these days. The style limits confirmation bias and assesses your ability to do the job. In many ways, it benefits both employers and prospective employees.

As long as you practice and understand the skills recruiters are looking for, you’ll ace your interview.