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Behavioral Based Interviewing: Asking the Questions
13 Desirable Skills and Behaviors
| 1. |
Focus and dedication to the industry
Does the candidate's resume reflect adequate experience, knowledge and growth in his/her chosen field?
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Tell me about a time when someone questioned your credibility in the industry. What was your reaction? |
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Give me an example of how you've continued to gain knowledge about the industry over the years. |
| 2. |
Technical and professional knowledge
Does the candidate have an appropriate level of professional knowledge and the demonstrated ability to apply technical skills?
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During your career thus far, describe for me the most challenging aspect of applying your knowledge. |
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Tell me about a time when you determined that you needed to expand your technical skills in order to complete an assignment. What did you do? |
| 3. |
Teamwork
Does the candidate work effectively with others in the organization and outside the formal lines of authority (e.g., peers, other departments, senior management) to accomplish organizational goals and to identify and resolve problems? Does he or she consider the impact of his or her decisions on others?
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Describe a project in which other you were working with disagreed with your ideas. What did you do? |
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Tell me about a time when you worked on a a team when a known leader was not appointed. How did decisions get made? |
| 4. |
Analysis
Is the candidate able to relate and compare data from different sources, identify issues, secure relevant information and determine relationships?
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Tell me about the most perplexing problem you have faced over the last two years. How did the problem arise? How did you go about analyzing the situation? What alternatives did you consider? What solution did you decide to try? How did you implement the solution? What was the result? |
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Tell me about the last time that you made a decision when the procedures or instructions you were given were unclear, ambiguous or contradictory. How did you decide what to do? What alternatives did you consider? How did the decision work out? |
| 5. |
Adaptability
Does the candidate maintain effectiveness in varying environments, tasks and responsibilities, and with various types of people?
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Tell me about a situation when you had to work with other departments to solve a common problem. |
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Tell me about a time when you were in a situation when the rules kept changing. |
| 6. |
Work Standard
Has the candidate set high goals or performance standards for him or her self, subordinates, others and the organizations? Is he or she satisfied with average performance?
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How have you differed from your manager in evaluating your performance? How did you handle the situation? |
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Describe for me and example of a time when you were persistent in achieving an objective. What was the objective? What specific efforts did you employ to achieve the objective? What was the result? |
| 7. |
Job motivation
To what extent do activities and responsibilities available in the job overlap with activities and responsibilities that result in personal satisfaction?
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Tell me about a time when you were passed over for a promotion that you thought you deserved. What was the situation? What did you do? How did it turn out? |
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Tell me about a time when you were up against a competitor to win an account. What steps did you take to put yourself ahead? |
| 8. |
Initiative
Does the candidate actively attempt to influence events and achieve goals? Is he or she self-starting rather than passively accepting? Does he or she go beyond what is necessary?
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Describe a situation in which you recognized a potential problem as an opportunity. How did others react? |
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Describe a time when you have 'stepped up to the plate' when others have not. |
| 9. |
Ability to learn
Does the candidate assimilate and apply new job-related information promptly?
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Tell me about a time when you had to quickly assimilate new information to solve a problem or perform well in your current role. |
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Walk me through the last time you lost a sale you thought you had. What did you learn form it? How did you implement what you learned? |
| 10. |
Planning and organizing
Does the candidate establish a course of action to accomplish specific goals? Does he or she plan proper assignments for personnel and allocate resources appropriately?
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Walk me through your thought process for you last project - from concept to completion. What did you do? Who else did you ask for help? What obstacles did you encounter? Were you able to deliver on time? |
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Give me an example of a time when you had to prioritize because you were juggling too many tasks. |
| 11. |
Communication
Does the candidate clearly express ideas in speaking and writing, via his or her grammar, organization and structure?
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Tell me about a time when your listening skills really paid off. |
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When was the last time you coached or gave advice to a subordinate? Describe the situation. What was the issue? What did you advise? How did it turn out? |
| 12. |
Customer service orientation
Does the candidate make efforts to listen to and understand the customer (both internal and external), anticipate customer needs and give high priority to customer satisfaction?
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Tell me about the most difficult customer service experience you have handled, perhaps with an angry or irate customer. What did you do and what was the outcome? |
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Think of a customer relationship that you have maintained for multiple years. Please tell me how you have approached maintaining that relationship. |
| 13. |
Sensitivity
Does the candidate act out of consideration for the feelings and needs of others?
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Tell me of an instance when a colleague achieved the prize you were seeking. |
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Describe for me a time when one of your reports or teammates was feeling a great deal of stress. How did you interact with that person? |
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