Hi there, everybody!
My name is Richard McMunnn from the interview training company How2Become.com, and in this
training video I'm going to teach you how to answer behavioural-type interview questions.
Please make sure you watch the video from beginning to end because the tips in this
video are gonna ensure you get the highest scores possible when answering behavioral
type interview questions.
So, before I get into the tips and the sample questions and answers, a very warm welcome
to this tutorial.
That's me there on the right-hand side.
My name is Richard McMunn.
I've been helping people like you to pass interviews for over 20 years now and in this
video, I'm going to teach you specifically how to answer behavioral type interview questions,
which let's face it, they are the toughest type of interview questions and when you get
to the end of this tutorial you will know how to answer them perfectly.
As normal, please do subscribe to the channel by clicking the red button below the video.
That way you won't miss out on any of the free training resources that I'm uploading
every week.
Also, if you do like the content that I'm giving you today, please give the video a
thumbs up, give it a like as that will motivate me to do more for you.
Also, in return, tell me the name of your interview in the comments section below this
video and I will give you a list of behavioral type interview questions to prepare for to
help you further during your preparation.
OK, so behavioral interview questions, what are they?
Well, they are designed to do two things.
They assess your skills and qualities that are relevant to the job that you're being
interviewed for.
They also, and this is really important, they assess whether or not you have the evidence
to match the skills and qualities required for the job.
And that's why you have to tell the interview panel what you have done in previous situations
and I will come on to that in more detail as we get through this tutorial.
So first of all, a couple of sample behavioral interview questions.
One of them might be: “Describe a time when you delivered excellent customer service?”
Now that kind of behavioral question is only likely to be asked if you are applying for
a job where you have to deal with customers, whether it's online or in-person.
Second kind of behavioral interview question: “Describe a time when you worked hard under
pressure to complete a difficult task?”
Now that could be asked during any kind of interview because when we are working for
an employer, we all have to work hard under pressure.
Another question: “Describe a time when you adapted how you did something following
feedback from someone else?”
So, they want to hear when asking this question whether or not you can take constructive feedback
and criticism with a view to improving.
That's just a small selection of behavioral type questions.
Now, importantly, how do you answer these to get the perfect scores during your interview?
So, I want you to start using, when answering behavioral type interview questions, the STAR
technique.
So, when you're responding to every question, you start off and you tell them what the SITUATION
was that you were in.
You then move on and explain the TASK, so you described a task that needed to be done.
Then you explain what ACTION you took and what ACTION other people took, and then you
tell the interview panel the end RESULT of your actions.
Always make sure the end RESULT is positive following your actions, and if you follow
this process it's really simple: Situation, Task, Action and Result and it stands for
STAR.
It's called The STAR technique.
Then you won't go wrong and you will get the best scores possible; more importantly, you
will be providing ‘evidence’ of where you match the skills qualities and attributes
for the job you're being interviewed for.
And I promise you, you will be one of the few percent that actually do this during the
interview!
Therefore, increasing your chances of success.
So, it's SITUATION, TASK, ACTION, RESULT.
Now if you want to go one step further, whilst this is not essential, this does show a higher
level of thinking and it demonstrates that you're a smart employee: add another ‘R’
at the end.
Now that ‘R’ is ‘REFLECTION’.
So, tell me what you learned from that situation?
And I'm going to give you a couple of examples in a minute.
Situation, Task, Action, Result.
At the end I REFLECT.
So, if we take this behavioral interview question: “Describe a time when you adapted how you
did something following feedback from someone else?”
So, I will immediately think of the situation.
So here we go.
“During my last appraisal for my former employee my manager wanted me to try and improve
my skillset by undertaking a customer service training course.
Now although I was competent customer service, I hadn't yet received any formal training.
It was my job to embrace this opportunity to develop and to undertake the course with
a view to increasing my knowledge and understanding of customer care.
This in turn would allow me to help the company to grow and develop.
I registered to take the course as soon as possible.
During the five-day training course, I immersed myself in the education, took comprehensive
notes and studied hard in the evenings to pass the end of course exam with 87 percent.
Since returning to work following the course, I now feel more empowered to provide our customers
with the perfect customer service experience.
Upon reflection, I think it is always important to embrace opportunities like this as it can
help the company to grow develop and it also creates new opportunities for internal members
of staff.
If your employer is willing to help you to develop you simply must embrace the opportunity.”
So, you'll notice there with the Situation, Task, Action, Result.
That's the main part of the response.
And then I added R, whilst not essential to do, but it makes you look smarter than the
other interviewees.
Okay, so SITUATION, TASK, ACTION, RESULT and then REFLECTION right at the end.
Don't forget, if you have an interview coming up tell me the name of it in the comments
section below the video and I'll give you some behavioral questions to prepare for.
Let's have a look at another type of behavioral interview question.
Here it is: “Describe a time when you achieved a difficult task whilst under pressure?”,
a real common interview question.
So again, we will use STAR technique.
Here we go.
“I was working on an important project for my manager and it was 2 p.m. on deadline day.
I was confident of finishing the project on time for the 6 p.m. deadline.
However, all of a sudden, the fire alarm activated and we all had to evacuate the building.
Now this unfortunate incident set the project back by one hour and the pressure was now
on to complete the project on time.
It was my job to figure out a way of making up the lost time as the deadline was fast
approaching.
I quickly considered the final stages of the project and realized I could utilize the help
of one of my colleagues who specialized in a certain aspect of the project.
He agreed to help me complete the project and so I quickly briefed him on what was needed
to be done and by what time.
Now the end result was, through collaborative working with my colleague, we managed to safely
complete the project fully and deliver the first draft to our manager by 6 p.m. Upon
reflection, I feel it is very important to be able to respond to pressure quickly in
situations like this.
I felt proud I had the foresight to ask a colleague failed in order to get the project
over the finishing line.”
A really solid answer that you could use during your interview to that common behavioral type
interview question.
Let's have a look at another one.
So, we're making really good progress now.
“Give me an example of a time you faced a conflict whilst working in a team?
How did you handle it?”
Okay.
Here we go with Situation, Task, Action, Result.
So, the question is: “Give me an example of a time you faced a conflict whilst working
in a team?
How did you handle it?”
“I was working as part of a new team for a previous employer that involved people from
different external organisations.
During the initial team meeting it was clear there was going to be a control issue as two
team members disagreed strongly on the direction of the task.
I felt someone needed to step in and say something as the team was in danger of failing before
I even got off the ground.
I calmly put my hand up to speak and express my concerns about the conflict I could detect
within the team.
As soon as I did this, the other team members also agreed with my observations.
I suggested that we should nominate one team leader and that all communication should go
through them first of all to save any conflict.
Everybody agreed with my suggestion and a team leader was nominated.
Now, by simply expressing my concerns about the conflict, it essentially stopped it in
its tracks.
The team task moving forward was much more harmonious and we managed to successfully
complete the project according to the set brief.”
OK.
Now if you would like more of these questions and suggested answers, go to my website www.PassMyInterview.com
or click the link directly below the video.
Now that will take you to my website here.
PassMyInterview.com and I will teach you how to become a job interview master that you're
guaranteed to pass every single interview!
The website has got over 500 positive reviews on TrustPilot, so all the information's there
on the page and you can get free limited access to it by clicking the orange button and like
I say, you'll get online access to over 50 interview questions and answers training videos
- a brilliant resource, loads of people are finding lots of success from it!
Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE and give the video a thumbs up.
I very, very much appreciate that and I hope you've found that structure and those sample
interview questions and answers of use for helping you pass your interview.
Thank you very much for watching.
I genuinely want you to pass your interview.
Don't forget to give him the name of your interview in the comments section below and
I wish you all the very best.
Thank you guys for watching and supporting my channel!
All the best!