Behavioural

Interview Questions

Validated for use by

Goal: To frame behavioural interviewing questions and use it for conducting interviews.

Why this is important: Behavioural Interview questions help to assess candidates’

behavioural fitment.

Where this can be used: In any organisation.

When this is used: When Hiring managers want to assess the behavioural fitment of
candidates.

Who uses this: The HR department.

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 Revisions
Revision No. - Revision date - Approved by
Revision No. - Revision date - Approved by

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Introductory Questions

● I have reviewed your resume but would like to ask you to begin by giving me an overview of
your education and experience as they relate to this position and why you are interested in this
position.
● Please elaborate on one of the work experiences listed on your resume.

● What were your major responsibilities?

● What were some of the most difficult duties of that job?

● Who did you report to and who reported to you (title)?

● What special skills and knowledge were needed to perform the duties in your previous jobs?

● Your resume/application lists many job changes. Tell me about that.

● How has your present/previous job changed while you’ve held it?

● What unique talent do you offer? Why do you feel it is unique?

● What else should I know about your qualifications for this job?

Result/Achievement Orientation

● Tell me about a time when you set and achieved a goal?

o How did you go about it?
o Give me an example of anticipated problems and the action that you took?
o What do you now feel that you should have done?

● Tell me about a time when you improved the way things were typically done on the job?
o What approaches did you try?
o What are the factors that encourage you to do this?

● Describe a time when you did something that really stretched you?
o How easy or difficult was it?
o How did you set out to accomplish it?
o How did you feel about it?
Planning Organizing

● Describe a project you have managed / been responsible for?

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 o How did you go about it?
o Give me an example of anticipated problems and the action that you took?
o What effective was the project?

● Tell me about a time when you exceeded a deadline?

o How did you feel about this?
o What do you think you overlooked?
o How was the situation resolved?
o What did you learn from this?

● In your current job, how do you manage your time and set priorities?
o Describe your day at work?
o To what extent do you adhere to timelines? Give examples from recent past

● How did you prepare for this interview?

o How could you have prepared better

Energy

● What sort of work hours do you normally put in?

● When you have a lot of work to do, how do you get it all done? Give an example? (Find out if it
was poor planning that caused the backlog.)
● How many hours a day do you put into your work? What were your study patterns at school?

Analysis / Numbers

● What kinds of data and technical information do you review?

● Are you good with numbers? Give me an example where this proved to be a strength?

● How do you disseminate the information to other people? How do you decide what's important?
How do you use this information?
● Have you ever done research? How did you go about putting it together?

● How do you learn about a product or a process?

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Ability to work with others

● Have you ever worked with a colleague to solve a problem? What was the situation? How did
you go about working it through? What was your role?
● When is the last time you had a disagreement with a peer? How did you resolve the situation?

● Some people work best as part of a group - others prefer the role of individual contributor. How
would you describe yourself? Give an example of a situation where you felt you were most
effective.
● Tell me about a time when you had to resolve a difference of opinion with a
co-worker/customer/supervisor. How do you feel you showed respect?
● Tell me about a time when you needed to give feedback to an employee with emotional or
sensitive problems. Was the outcome?
● Describe the way you handled a specific problem involving others with differing values, ideas
and beliefs in your current/previous job.
● Tell me about the most difficult challenge you faced in trying to work cooperatively with
someone who did not share the same ideas. What was your role in achieving the work objective?
What was the long-term impact on your ability to get things done while working with this
person?
● Describe a work situation that required you to really listen and display compassion to a co-
worker/employee who was telling you about a personal/sensitive situation.
● Describe the way you handled a specific problem involving people in your last job.

Positive Attitude
● What three specific things about your last job gave you the most satisfaction? Why?

● What have you done in your last job that makes you feel proud?

● Please think back to a time when setting a positive example had the most beneficial impact on
people you worked with. How did you determine that a strong example was needed? What was
the effect on the staff?
● Tell me about a time when you needed to address an employee’s attitude. What did you say to
that person? What was the outcome?
● Describe your best boss. Describe your worst boss.

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MORE QUESTIONS
Analytical Skills

● What kinds of data and technical information do you review?

● How do you disseminate the information to other people? How do you decide what's important?
How do you use this information?
● Tell me about a time when you recognized a problem, an opportunity, when other people were
not aware of it? What was the situation? What did you do? How did you see the opportunity?
● Have you ever done research? How did you go about putting it together?

● How do you learn about a product or a process?

Listen for logical, organized and systematic approach to thinking and problem solving. Listen for an
analytical and disciplined approach to solving problems.

Energy Level

Let us create agreement on what we mean by Energy Level

● What sort of work hours do you normally put in?

● When you have a lot of work to do, how do you get it all done? Give an example? (Find out if it
was poor planning that caused the backlog.)

● How many hours a day do you put into your work? What were your study patterns at school?

Listen for examples of high energy. Look out for instances that demonstrate a 9 to 5 mindset or
poor planning.

Initiative

● What changes did you develop at your most recent employer?

● How did you get work assignments at your most recent employer?

● What sorts of projects did you generate that required you to go beyond your job description?

● What sorts of things did you do at school that were beyond expectations?

● What kinds of things really get you excited?

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 ● Tell me about a time when you were able to provide a co-worker with recognition for the work
they performed. What did you do?
● Tell me about a time when you reached out for additional responsibility.

● Tell me about a project/suggestion that you initiated. Explain how you communicated the
project/suggestion.
● What have you done in your present/previous job that goes beyond what was required?

● What risks did you take in your present/previous job? Tell me about it.

● Tell me about your efforts to "sell" a new idea to your supervisor.

Listen for examples of being a self starter. Probe for details. Look out for instances of lack of
ownership and blaming.
Commitment

● Describe the system you use for keeping track of multiple projects. How do you track your
progress so that you can meet deadlines? How do you stay focused?
● Give me an example when you initiated a change in process or operations.

● In your last job, what problems did you identify that had previously been overlooked? Were
changes made? Who supported the changes as a result of your ideas?
● Describe something you have implemented at work. What were the steps you used to implement
this?
● Give me an example of an important goal that you had set in the past, and tell me about your
success in reaching it.
● What projects were accomplished during your previous job? How were these accomplished?
What experiences did you have when meeting deadlines for project completion? Explain.
● Are you better at working on many things at a time, or are you better at working on and getting
results on a few specific things? Please give me two examples that illustrate this.

Listen for self-awareness and desire to finish what was started. Listen for a strong commitment
and contributions to team members working towards a specific goal.

Stability

● Give me a specific example of a time when you did not meet a deadline. How did you handle it?

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 ● We all face times when personal issues pull us away from work responsibilities. If possible, tell
me about a time when your dependability or attendance was challenged. How did you handle it
and/or remain accountable or involved in work? How long did the situation last?

● What would your supervisor say about why you are quitting your job?

Listen for commitment and persistence. Look out for unfinished projects and chasing desires.

Growth Potential
● What sorts of things have you done to become better qualified for your career?

● What impact did you have in your last job?

● Careers grow and develop just like people do. They are born, have a youth, prime, and mature
period. Where do you see your career? Why? What are you doing to sustain it?

● Why were you promoted in your last job?

● Looking back when your career started to gel, what were your goals? What influenced your
goals? How did you influence them?

● What have you done to get ahead?

Listen for ambition and aspirations. Probe to find out desire to learn and grow.

Ability to work with others

● Have you ever worked with a colleague to solve a problem? What was the situation? How did
you go about working it through? What was your role?

● How have you helped cross-functional groups work together?

● When is the last time you had a disagreement with a peer? How did you resolve the situation?

● Some people work best as part of a group - others prefer the role of individual contributor. How
would you describe yourself? Give an example of a situation where you felt you were most
effective.

● Tell me about a time when you had to resolve a difference of opinion with a
co-worker/customer/supervisor. How do you feel you showed respect?

● Tell me about a time when you needed to give feedback to an employee with emotional or
sensitive problems. Was the outcome?

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 ● Describe the way you handled a specific problem involving others with differing values, ideas
and beliefs in your current/previous job.

● Tell me about the most difficult challenge you faced in trying to work cooperatively with
someone who did not share the same ideas. What was your role in achieving the work objective?
What was the long-term impact on your ability to get things done while working with this
person?

● Describe a work situation that required you to really listen and display compassion to a co-
worker/employee who was telling you about a personal/sensitive situation.

● Describe the way you handled a specific problem involving people in your last job.

Listen for self-awareness, understanding and an ability to communicate effectively with others
regardless of differences.

Verbal Communication
● What approach do you take in communicating with people?

● How do you go about explaining a complex technical problem to a person who does not
understand technical jargon?

● What kinds of communication situations cause you difficulty? Give an example.

● Describe a situation in which you were able to use persuasion to successfully convince someone
to see things your way.

● Tell me about a time in which you had to use your written communication skills in order to get an
important point across.

● Give me an example of a time when you were able to successfully communicate with another
person even when that individual may not have agreed with your perspective.

● Give me a specific example of a time when you had to handle an angry customer. What was the
problem and what was the outcome?

● Tell me about a time when you and your current/previous supervisor disagreed but you still found
a way to get your point across.

● How do you make your feelings known when you disagree with the views of your staff?

● What have you done to improve your verbal communication skills?

● What have you done to improve your listening skills?

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 ● Tell me how you kept your supervisor advised of the status on projects.

● How have you assessed your behavioral messages and what have you learned about yourself as a
result?
Listen for articulation, complete sentences, confidence and enthusiasm about communication.
Listen for efforts to improve.

Attitude / Orientation
● What three specific things about your last job gave you the most satisfaction? Why?

● What have you done in your last job that makes you feel proud?

● Please think back to a time when setting a positive example had the most beneficial impact on
people you worked with. How did you determine that a strong example was needed? What was
the effect on the staff?

● Tell me about a time when you needed to address an employee’s attitude. What did you say to
that person? What was the outcome?

● Describe your best boss. Describe your worst boss.

Listen for a positive mindset. Look out for blaming or negative descriptions of past colleagues,
bosses or work environment. Listen for composure, assertiveness and emotional stability.

Management Style / Skills

● When do you give positive feedback to people? Tell me about the last time you did. Give an
example of how you handle the need for constructive criticism with a subordinate or peer.

● How do you handle performance reviews? Tell me about a difficult one.

● How do you handle a subordinate whose work is not up to expectations?

● How do you coach a subordinate to develop a new skill?

● How often do you discuss a subordinate's performance with him/her? Give an example.

● Have you ever had to make a major decision on your own? What was it? How did you make it?

● How have you gone about making important decisions?

● How quickly do you make decisions? Give an example.

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 ● When you have a new problem situation, how do you go about making a decision?

● How do you involve your manager and/or others when you make a decision?

● Please tell me about your most successful attempt to encourage others to take action and get the
job done. What led you to take these actions? Exactly how did you encourage others to take
action or responsibility? What was the result of your efforts? Did anyone comment on your
actions? Who? What was said? How often have you taken this type of action in the past six
months?

● Tell me about a time when you needed to have co-workers working on a project who normally
have different work styles/ideas. How did you pull them together?

Listen for an ability to obtain the trust, commitment and motivation of others to achieve goals
and objectives.

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