Behavioural Interview techniques

Behavioral Questions

Question

Describe one of the most challenging assignments you’ve had.

Probes

·          Why was it interesting to you?

·          What significant contribution do you feel you made to the organization?

·          How did you monitor your progress towards accomplishing the task?

·          How did you plan the project?

·          What barriers did you have and how did you overcome them?

 

 

Question

Describe a situation where you were required to work outside corporate policies and procedures in order to achieve project goals

Probes

·          What were the circumstances?

·          What did you do that was different than what was required?

·          Who did this effect?

·          How did others react?

·          What was your manager’s response?

Question

Describe a situation where you were “in over your head”

 

 

Probes

·          What were the issues?

·          How did you handle it?

·          What was the end result?

 

 

Question

Tell me about a major problem you had that required some quick solutions.  Describe how you went about tackling this?  What was the outcome?  How would you describe your planning process?  How did you apply it?

 

Probes

·          What was the time frame you had to decide?

·          How critical was the situation?

·          What was the impact if you didn’t act?

·          What was the impact of the problem?

·          Who did you involve?

Why did you let the situation slide?

 

  

Question

Describe a time when you have been involved in a challenging conflict situation of an interpersonal nature involving another discipline or service.  Describe how you dealt with this.

 

Probes

 

Question

Tell me about the most successful presentation/report that you have given to others (peers, boss, industry colleagues).

 

Probes

·          How was it received?

·          What went well?

·          What made it successful?

 

 

Question

Describe a time when you had to explain a complicated idea, plan or system to a potential customer or a group of people that were not fully convinced of the potential of the solution you were offering.

 

Probes

·          How did you handle the situation?

·          How did you know the customer was sold on the idea?

What was the end result?

 

Question

Describe a situation where the team you were working with was having interpersonal problems.

 

 

Probes

 

Question

Describe a situation when you found it difficult to work with a particular individual  within a team.

 

Probes

·          What characteristics led to conflict?

 

Question

Describe a situation where you worked on a team and achieved original goals.

 

Probes

·          How did you set goals?

·          What were the goals?

·          What was the end result?

 

Question

When you were working in a team, describe a situation when you felt you were doing the brunt of the work.

Probes

·          How did you handle it?

·          What was the end result?

 

Question

Describe your most successful employee/subordinate.

 

Probes

·          Why was he/she so effective?

·          Describe your role in developing him/her.

 

 

Question

Letting people know how they are doing is a key managerial responsibility.  Describe situations where you provided feedback, both negatively and positively.

 

Probes

·          What caused you to notice the performance?

·          What was the outcome?

Question

Handling conflicts between yourself and your subordinates, or among your team members is a part of any manager’s job.  I would like to hear about the most challenging conflict situation you faced and how you handled it.

 

Probes

·          Who was involved in the conflict?

·          How did you first learn about it?

·          What was the source of the conflict?

·          What did you do to help resolve the conflict?  How often did this type of situation come up in the past year?

·          Have you ever handled it differently?  What happened that time?

 


Question

Describe what it was like to work in the organizational structure and culture in your last job.

Probes

·          Did you consider it a barrier or an advantage (or both) in getting things done?

 

Question

Talk about an effective relationship you had with an internal/external customer.  Why do you think it was effective?

Probes

·          What specific services did you provide to that customer?

How did you measure the quality of that service, or get feedback?

 

Question

Give me an example of your ability to work to a quality system.  How did you follow procedures?

 

 

Probes

 

 

Question

What experience do you have working in an ISO environment?

Probes

·          What experience do you have working in an environment where standards and procedures are pre-determined for you?

 

Question

How do you deal with multiple tasks?

Probes

·          Have you ever had to deal with 3 or more tasks in a fixed period of time?

·          What were the tasks?

·          Who assigned you the tasks?

Question

How did you make your last system more efficient?

Probes

·          Do you think things happened faster and more efficient?

 

  

Question

Describe one of your key customers and the type of service you are required to provide.

Probes

·          What are some of the challenges you encountered?

·          How did you resolve these challenges?

·          What steps did you take to build rapport?

·          Comment on the feedback you received

Question

Describe your most difficult customer.

 

Probes

·          How did you deal with them?

 

 

Question

Describe a situation where you have gone beyond the scope of your position.

 

Probes

·          What was the request?

·          What was the outcome?

 

Question

What did you like most and least about your current position?

 

Probes

 

 

Question

Give me an example of your ability to communicate effectively.

Probes

·          Describe the type of communication used.

·          How did you know you were effective?

Question

Tell me about the most successful report that you had to supply to others (peers, boss, industry colleagues).

Probes

·          How was it received?

·          What went well?

·          What made it successful?

 

 

Question

Talk about a time when you asked someone in the company for help instead of “re-inventing the wheel” in order to get something done.

Probes

·          How did you determine who to call?

·          How did you approach the person to get their cooperation?

·          Were you successful in getting the cooperation?  If not, why?

 

Question

What steps did you take to get to know your current organization?

Probes

·          How long did it take?

·          How long before you felt comfortable?

 

 

Question

Describe a time when even though you may have been provoked, you kept your cool under severe pressure from a coworker.

Probes

·          Describe the situation.

·          What was the outcome?

 

Question

Describe a situation where you’ve been given instructions you didn’t understand.  How did you handle it?

Probes

·          Who gave you the instruction?

·          What was the end result?

 

Question

Describe a challenging project which your team under took and how you achieved it.

Probes

·          What was the project?

·          What was your role?

 

Question

Give me an example of a time when you had to put in extra effort to get the work done.

Probes

·          Describe the project.

·          What was the end result?

 

 

Question

Give me an example where you had to continue to work towards achieving a goal where your chances of success seemed unlikely.

Probes

·          What was the project?

·          Did you succeed?