Behavioral Interviews

The majority of employers conduct behavioral interviews.  Here's how it works. Employers identify 2-4 characteristics important for success in their organization.  Interview questions are designed to identify students who possess these characteristics.

• Sample characteristics
  Adaptability, attention to detail, communication, decisiveness, energy, entrepreneurial, flexibility, initiative, innovation, integrity, judgment, leadership, negotiation, persuasiveness, resilience, risk taking, teamwork.

• Sample questions
  Behavioral interview questions follow the STAR technique formula.
  
  S ---- situation or
  T ---- task ---------------- what occurred
  A ---- action ------------- how you handled it
  R ---- results ------------- the outcome

1st question: you are asked to describe a situation.
2nd question: you are asked how you handled it.
3rd question: you are asked the results.

View sample behavioral questions.

• How to prepare
  Identify 3-4 situations in advance (draw from work, school, or community). Clarify what the situations or problems were, how you handled them, and what the results were. Bottom line: employers want to know how you react to and handle difficult situations. Look for opportunities to show your personal strengths.