How to Answer Behavioral Interview Questions

How to Answer Behavioral Interview QuestionsBehavioral bewerbungsinterview questions (questions about how youve reacted to things in the past, or would react to hypothetical situations) are really popular with job interviewers. They can push job candidates out of their comfort zone, and give a glimpse of what the person is really like underneath the polished interview suit. They can also identify potential dealbreakers. Thats what makes it so dangerous for job seekers, who may only be prepared to talk about whats on their resume and the job description. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) Once you learn the patterns and the whys behind these questions, you can prep for interviews in a meaningful way. Here are five strategies for dealing with behavioral interview questions.DONT panic.Even if you get a curve ball you werent expecting (what do you mean, what kind of cat would I be?), dont show fear. (Interviewers and dogs can both smell fear.) If you need a second to gather your thoughts, do that, and then calmly answer the question to the best of your ability.DO come up with a general list of professional examples and anecdotes you can turn to.Focus on things like problem solving (what did you do at a challenging time) and teamwork, because many behavioral questions hinge on how you would react if things went wrong, or how you would interact with your colleagues. Also have in your pocket a story about a time that things went wrong, and how you resolved it/learned from it for next time. And definitely come up with (true) stories about times you showed leadership or negotiated a challenging time with team members.DONT stay negative, even if the question is asking you to talk about a negative event.This would be questions like, is there anything youve failed at doing in your career? or tell me about your weaknesses. Those are textbook Interview Traps 101. Its not a confessional, and youre not obligated to tell them about ev ery weakness you have. Instead, turn to that list of examples you haveDO tell a story.Short answers dont help you here, because what the interviewer is looking for is process and context information. You want to be articulate and seem candid. Practice in the mirror ahead of the interview, but dont memorize speeches so that it doesnt feel like youre giving canned answers.DONT be afraid to talk about your challenges.No candidate (or employee) is perfect, and everyone has faced highly challenging times at some point in their careers. The important thing is that when you do mention challenges, emphasize how you worked through them, and how that has made you a stronger professional.The best way to prep for behavioral interview questions is to practice, practice, practice. If you have a friend or family member around whos willing to ask sample questions and listen to your spiel, great Even if you dont, you can practice by yourself in the mirror to make sure everything flows conversational ly. As with anything else, a little advance thought goes a long way, and can make you seem like the suave A+ candidate you are when you walk into the interview, no matter what questions come your way.