We’ve addressed the questions that you should absolutely be prepared to answer during an interview.  However, we’re far from done.  That’s because this isn’t your father’s interview . . . and it’s probably not your uncle’s interview, either.

If you want to excel during your interview—if you want to truly impress the hiring manager—then be prepared to answer behavioral interview questions.  These types of questions are designed to examine your past behavior patterns in specific situations.

Be Ready To Answer These Questions During an Interview

Here is an example of a behavioral interview question: “Have you ever made a mistake at work?”

The answer, of course, is “Yes,” since anybody who tries to do anything makes mistakes.  The interviewer will then ask follow-up questions to ascertain if you’ve learned from your mistakes.

Here’s another example of a behavioral interview question: “Tell me about a time when you were frustrated,” with the follow-up question of “What happened?”

The interviewer is looking for the following data:

  • Is this person a quitter?
  • How aggressive is this person?
  • How determined is this person?
  • Did this person come up with creative solutions?
  • What are this person’s human relations skills on the job?

How do you answer such open-ended and simulated questions?  First, take a moment or two to think about the question.  Second, refocus you attention back on the interviewer.  Third, answer the question as directly and concisely as possible.

Don’t attempt to provide a bunch of details.  If the interviewer wants elaboration, they’ll ask for it, and when they do, they’ll give additional clues about the information they’re seeking.

So be ready to answer behavioral interview questions and answer them in the correct fashion, and you’ll be sure to impress company officials even more than you already have.

(For more information about successfully preparing for YOUR next interview, download a copy of Dan Simmons’s e-Book, Put Your Best You Forward: Simple Steps to a Successful Interview.)