Behavioral Interview Questions and Answers. When asked a traditional question like, "What would you do if you had a customer who wasn't interested in buying the product? " you can make up a story. But when you're asked behavioral questions, the interviewer is listening for specific examples of how you have handled situations or problems in the past. When presented with interview questions beginning with phrases like "tell me about a time when" or "give me an example of" the interviewer wants to hear your real-life examples. When interviewers ask such behavioral interview questions, they are listening for examples of how you handled situations similar to the ones you may handle for this company.
Your success stories should include the situation, the action you took and the result. The Situation: I had a customer who did not want to hear about the features of my merchandise because of a prior interaction with my company. One way to prepare for behavioral interview questions is by writing out your stories before the interview. Interview Cheat Sheet. Relax -- a cheat sheet is not really cheating. It's a checklist to make sure you stay focused before, during and after the interview. Creating a cheat sheet will help you feel more prepared and confident. You shouldn't memorize what's on the sheet or check it off during the interview. You should use your cheat sheet to remind you of key facts. Here are some suggestions for what you should include on it. In the Days Before the Interview Draw a line down the center of a piece of paper. Prepare Your Interview Answers Be ready to answer common interview questions such as these: Before You Go to the Interview Do you look professional?
Carry these items to the interview: Several copies of your resume on quality paper.A copy of your references.A pad of paper on which to take notes, though notes are optional.Directions to the interview site. Upon Arrival During the Interview After the Interview. Interview Presentation: Perception vs. Reality. In our work as recruiters, we clearly have experienced situations where what we see and what the candidate thinks he is presenting could not be further from each other.
For example, let's say Jeremy waltzes into our conference room and plops himself down in the chair. His hair is a mess and his shirt looks like it needs some spray starch and a hot iron. Jeremy thinks he's presenting a picture of someone who is self-confident, comfortable with himself, not looking too eager about the open position and not intimidated by a couple of recruiters. His personal grooming choices make his solid qualifications moot, because it's hard to get over his appearance. Our first thought would be that Jeremy is recovering from a late night on the town. His posture indicates his energy is low and his half-closed eyes convey that he is trying (unsuccessfully) to stay awake during the interview. His wardrobe malfunctions reflected a lack of preparation for the important meeting. Interview Checklist: Things to Remember for Interviews. Interview Skills: 10 Tips to Improve Interview Performance. Even the smartest and most qualified job seekers need to prepare for job interviews.
Why, you ask? Interviewing is a learned skill, and there are no second chances to make a great first impression. So study these 10 strategies to enhance your interview skills. Practice Good Nonverbal Communication It's about demonstrating confidence: standing straight, making eye contact and connecting with a firm handshake. Dress for the Job or Company Today's casual dress codes do not give you permission to dress as "they" do when you interview.
Listen From the very beginning of the interview, your interviewer is giving you information, either directly or indirectly. Don't Talk Too Much Telling the interviewer more than he needs to know could be a fatal mistake. Don't Be Too Familiar The interview is a professional meeting to talk business. Use Appropriate Language It's a given that you should use professional language during the interview.
Don't Be Cocky Take Care to Answer the Questions Ask Questions. Interview Preparation: Last-Minute Job Interview Prep. Adapted from Monster Careers: Interviewing Even if you have less than a day before your job interview, you can outshine the competition with a little interview preparation. The following four tasks will take you about four hours (plus five minutes) to complete, and you'll walk into the interview confident you'll be successful. Conduct Basic Interview Research To prepare for an interview, find out as much as you can beforehand.
Who will you be talking to? That's a five-minute phone call. Learn About the Company Online Do some fast Web research, which will give you something to talk about in addition to the job description. How big is the company in terms of annual sales or employees? Basic research should take you about an hour. Think of Some Stories Be ready to answer typical interview questions with a story about yourself.
By the way, nonwork achievement stories are good too; if you volunteer for the local food pantry, write down a time you overcame a big challenge or a crisis there.