What is a Behavioural Interview?

What is a Behavioural Interview?  Do you know what to expect when you are invited to an interview that is going to be based on Behavioural questions?  How do you prepare?

A Behavioural Interview question asks you about your previous experience, and is used by interviewers to assess specific qualities, or competencies, such as flexibility, problem solving, etc.

I have previously talked about how to format your answers when asked about previous experience, but how do you know if the interviewer will ask you Behavioural type questions?  Who uses this format?

• The Federal Government often uses this interview format to assess qualities that are required for a specific job.
• Law Enforcement Agencies use this format when conducting suitability Interviews.  They will each have a very specific list of competencies for which they are assessing.
• Fire Departments will also have a list of competencies that they feel are required to be successful as a fire fighter.
• Large corporations are also likely to use this format as an avenue to distinguish one candidate from another and highlight those attributes or competencies that are most important.

So, how do you know if this is the format that will be used?

How do you prepare?

• Follow up your invitation to interview.  If you get a written invitation to the interview, carefully read the content to look for indications of what they will be assessing.  If the letter says that they will be assessing specific qualities, then that is a good indicator that they will be asking you to relay past experiences that demonstrate that you have that competency.
• If you are invited to an interview through a phone call, don’t be afraid to ask a few questions to help you with your preparation.  You can simply ask if they have a specific list of criteria that they will be assessing.
• Research the company, either through the internet or through friends and acquaintances that may have knowledge of the company.  Find out what attributes they look for in an employee, and have examples of your previous experience ready to show how you are a good fit for their organization.

As I have said in previous posts, when it comes time to prepare for the interview, you need to practice.  But make sure you practice articulating your previous experience with someone who has knowledge of good interview techniques, like a Hiring Manager or a Certified Professional Coach.

Do you know someone who is faced with this challenge?  Feel free to share this post by using the share links at the top of this page.  Also, if you’d like more interview tips, feel free to check out the interview resource page.