A behavioral job interview is an interview wherein the employer uses past behavior as a baromoter to possible future success of the interviewee. In this type of interview your answers need to focus on specific examples in order to demonstrate to the employer that you are a suitable candidate for the position.

Behavioral interview questions are usually open-ended in order to allow the interviewee provide extended answers rather than yes/ no answers. This type of interview differs from situational interviews as a situational interview usually seeks answers to hypothetical questions whereas a behavioral interview seeks answers based on past performance.

Example behavioral interview questions.

• Describe a problem you encountered in your last job, how did you overcome it?
• Summarize a situation where you had to demonstrate ability to use your own initiative, how did you do this?
• Demonstrate an example where you had to use your leadership skills.
• Have you ever had to work with a colleague or client with whom you had a difficult relationship?
• Provide an example of when your communication skills were used effectively in a work situation.
• What factors do you take into account when making important decisions?
• Describe a situation where you were put under extreme pressure, how did you handle the pressure?

Open-ended questions offer a great way for candidates to showcase their ability to potential employers through descriptive responses so ensure you know your resume inside out and provide examples to boost your chances of job success.

The employment marketplace is a crowded sector with strong competition for every job that becomes available. Being best-equipped in both the application process and interview process will give you an added advantage over competitors so take these 7 job hunting tips to heart when looking for work.

1.  Use business-related publications to your advantage.

Most business-sectors have a magazine or publication that provides the current news related to that business-sector. Keep a keen eye on the one for your industry, if you read of companies expanding then send your resume into them. This can be particularly advantageous if there is a new HR Manager quoted, you can then send him/her a letter of congratulations on his/her appointment along with your resume.

2.  Be open to change.

Finding the perfect job can be a rarity, so welcome new challenges and don’t make yourself immune to new ideas.

3.  Don’t just email your resume and hope to get a call.

To give yourself the best shot at getting interviews and finding vacancies you need to be proactive and not just rely on finding a job via the internet. You can find roles at job fairs or through word of mouth via your network of friends and ex-colleagues.

4.  Be sure to register with a recruitment firm.

Recruitment firms will be eager to find you a job, after all they earn their money by getting you a job, so register with one. Do research in advance to see if there is a recruitment agency that specializes in your area of expertise.

5.  Evaluate your resume and cover-letter.

If you are not getting called for interviews that you think you are a good match for, check your cover-letter and resume to make sure there are no errors on the cover letter or spelling mistakes on the resume. The slightest inaccurate detail could impact your success-rate so ensure grammar is correct. Make sure to read How To Write Cover-Letters That Will Grab The Recruiters Attention along with How To Write A Resume.

6.  Don’t let stress follow you into your interview.

Stress affects us all in one way or another and job searching can be a particularly stressful time in your life, however it is vital that you come across calm and composed in your interview. Recruiters and Hiring Managers would be wary of hiring someone that they may perceive to be unable to handle pressure.

7.  Look the part.

Make sure to treat each job interview with professionalism, know the appropriate dress-code for the company and dress accordingly.

Stay determined and try to remain positive, stay calm in the face of any disappointment, it will make the sweet taste of success taste all the better when you eventually do find a job.

Coping With Rejection After A Job Interview

From a recruiters view the hardest part of the interview process is contacting applicants to tell them they have been unsuccessful in their quest for a job. Similarly it can be a distressing time to realize that you were not the best applicant for a job and that someone was chosen over you, particularly if you had your heart set on that particular job. Unfortunately for every one person hired there will be many more passed over for the job so at least you can be assured that it is nothing personal, just that the company found someone who is a closer match for their needs than you, and the many more who applied.

Requesting feedback is a way to enhance your employment chances at your next interview so try to find out whether your rejection was due to a lack of experience, through poor interviewing skills or for any other factor. Take constructive criticism professionally and use the criticism as a way to improve your candidacy for other job opportunities. It is important not to get too despondent and to refocus on the task in hand, that being, getting a new job.

If the job interview was for a promotion in your current company be careful not to harbor a grudge against the interviewer, aside from sowing a lack of professionalism it may impact your future chance should other jobs become available with the company that you might tempt you to apply.

You can console yourself with the fact that you at least got interviewed for the position, meaning there was sufficient skills and experience on your resume to warrant being interviewed, you can bet hundreds more will have applied and not quirked enough interest to be brought forward to interview stage.

If you had an interview with another company you should still send a thank-you letter despite being unsuccessful. Maintaining a good relationship is vital as other jobs could arise that may be more suited to your strengths and you don’t want to burn any bridges thus harming your chances of getting future roles with them.

There are many factors that come into play when hiring someone, these include (but are not limited to);

Salary

Education

Experience

Availability

Future career-path

Interview skills

Finding the person who ticks the right boxes in each and every one of those categories is not easy so take solace in the fact that there will be many more people getting rejection calls and rejection letters than just you and stay focused with a positive attitude to your next interview.

8 Questions To Consider Before Accepting A Job Offer.

When you receive a job offer you should be delighted with yourself for being chosen above all other applicants as the best candidate following the interview process. Even if the salary you are offered matches or exceeds your expectations there are other important criteria to consider before officially accepting the offer letter. This post looks at 8 questions definitely worth pondering over before making your mind up on the job offer.

1.  Will the role stimulate you and allow you to look forward to going to work?
2. Is there a future career-path associated with the position?
3.  Will you be thrown in at the deep-end or will training be provided?
4.  Does the benefits package match your expectations?
5.  Is the location of the company in a reasonable distance from your home?
6.  Have you met your new boss yet, if so did you get on well with him /her ?
7.  Are you happy with the hours of work?
8.  Can you picture yourself staying with the company for a significant period?

If you answer all these questions in a favorable manner then you can be confident that the job is ideal for you, even if you can only answer 5 or 6 of the 8 questions favorably then the job is still worth considering. If unsure about whether to accept a job then get a blank piece of paper and write the advantages and disadvantages of the job down, once written weigh up the importance of each issue before coming to a final decision on whether to accept it or not.

Successful job interviews can hinge on the slightest aspect of your interview, having all the right answers is one thing but they alone may not be enough to guarantee you get the job, today we look at some of the other critical factors that interviewers take into consideration before deciding on who to select for the job.

Punctuality.

You may have heard 100 times already about how important it is to arrive to your interview on time, well in that case, here is the 101st time. It is vital not just from the prospective employers viewpoint but also to allow you to relax and collect your thoughts before going in to meet the interviewer. You do not want to be rushing in to an interview as this will display a lack of professionalism and may harm your chances of getting the job.

Precision.

Being precise in your answers will be of great benefit to you, being able to zone in on facts and figures will show in real terms the value you might add to the company. An example might be “Your resume states that sales is one of your strengths, can you expand on that?”, “Certainly, last year I led the sales team to a 50% increase in sales over the previous year and won one account alone which brought in revenue exceeding $50,000.”

Positivity.

Any negative comments you make, no matter how honest, will reflect poorly on you so stay positive even in your comments on former employers. It is also important to stay positive when discussing the role you are being interviewed for, a positive demeanor will show a relaxed, confident job applicant and this confidence will reflect favorably on your employment chances.

Professionalism.

Professionalism is defined as “the conduct, aims or qualities that mark a profession or professional person”, in a job interview the interviewer will be analyzing your professionalism from the minute you walk through his/her door. He/She will be considering your professionalism in terms of your appearance, conduct and attitude so the importance maintaining your professionalism at all times is critical.

Politeness.

Sometimes overlooked, a polite friendly manner will allow you to build a bond with the interviewer, you want to leave a favorable impression on the interviewer, being courteous will allow you to do so. If the interviewer has a decision to make between two equally-suited candidates he/she will choose the polite candidate over an impersonal one 9 times out of 10.

Preparation.

Preparing for an interview means finding out what type of interview it is, being aware of the job titles of those you are meeting and having a solid understanding of the company’s history along with a having a thorough understanding of the job specification. The more preparation you put in will be worth it in the end as it will help you provide a composed confident job interview giving you an edge over rivals.

Focusing on these factors along with being prepared for difficult interview questions coupled with salary negotiation tips will provide you with the perfect platform to ensure your success in the recruitment process.

3 Sample Situational Interview Questions And Example Answers.

In a situational job interview, questions are asked based on hypothetical situations in order to ascertain how a job applicant would react should such a scenario arise. The questions often begin with phrases like “How would you react…?” or “What would you do…?” or “How would you handle…?”. The ability to think on your feet and to remain calm under pressure are key in this type of job interview.

 1.  How do you react to pressure?

I enjoy the challenge of working under pressure, the sense of accomplishment can be very rewarding. Through good management and work practices I try to avoid a situation becoming pressurized.

2.  How would handle delivering bad news to colleagues?

Laying off colleagues is a never a nice thing to do, however the ability to do so in an emotionless manner is a fundamental aspect of any supervisors role. I faced a task in my previous job where I had to tell a colleague, who was also a friend, that due to downsizing his job was being made redundant. I explained to him the unfortunate reasoning as to why the job was no longer needed, despite his disappointment he understood and we remain friends to this day.

3.  How would you react to indecision between team members?

I would reiterate the importance of coming up with a solution in a timely manner. I would listen to any questions or queries between colleagues and provide solutions to those queries.  My goal would be to repair any conflict between colleagues to ensure that work is carried out effectively,with the group working in unison and well within deadline timelines.

Situational interviews allow you to prove to employers that you have the ability to handle the most difficult of scenarios.  A confident situational interview will help ensure you stay ahead of other job seekers in the search for employment.

Funny Job Interview Answers

Since my blog was launched back in April, I have focused on providing serious tips and strategies to help improve resumes and interview skills today we take a break from the serious stuff and have a lighthearted look at some of the funniest, sharpest, wittiest interview answers I have received over the years.

A job interview is not usually the time for jokes and humor but depending on how the interview is going, and how the general flow of conversation progresses, deadpan humor can work well in helping to personalize your job application and in creating a bond with the interviewer.

Q. Describe a poor business decision that you’ve made?

A. Would dating the boss’s daughter count? (in this example the guy was actually dating his boss’s daughter, in fact they are now a happily married couple.)

Q. Why did you leave your previous employer?

A. More than likely for the same reasons you left your previous employer! (not recommended but had me laughing at the time.)

Q.  How would you describe yourself in 5 words?

A. Tall, chubby, enthusiastic, honest and unemployed.

Q. If successful could you come back tomorrow for a mandatory medical test?

A.  Tomorrow? No I’d need more time to study for it.

It should be noted on each of the above occasions, the interviewee then said, “No seriously….” and gave a proper answer. The general rule of thumb is not to initiate humor during an employment interview however don’t be afraid to let your natural personality shine through should the situation arise during your interview.

Five Types Of Job Interviews.

There are a number of types of job interviews, however no matter how varied these interviews may be, each share the same goal in mind, to find out whether you are the right person to fill the vacant position. Today we look at 5 of the most common interview types and what you can expect to face within them.

1. Behavioral Interviews.

Behavioral interviews are interviews wherein the interviewer will probe your past in order to assess your suitability for the role. Common questions in this type of interview include;

Give me an example where you overcame a difficult situation in work?

Provide an example of when you had to complete a project within a strict deadline?

2. Panel Interviews.

Panel interviews as the name suggests is when your interview is not one-on-one as is the norm but rather an interview with a small group of people, usually from different areas within the company. In this instance you can expect a Recruiter, HR Manager, and the person to whom the role reports to, to be in attendance.

3. Telephone Interviews.

Telephone interviews take place for a couple of reasons, firstly as a screening interview to weed out unqualified candidates and secondly, if the applicant lives in a different state or country telephone interviews offer a chance to assess their suitability before having them travel all the way to the office for an interview.

4. Stress Interviews.

The aim of a stress interview is to challenge the applicant and see how he/she reacts under pressure. Your qualifications or suitability for the role may be doubted by the interviewer in order to see your reaction and ability to cope when put on the spot.

5. Situational Interviews.

Situational interviews are along the same lines as a behavioral interview expect rather than “Give me an example of how…” the questions are related to how you would propose solutions to possible scenarios such as “How would you react to…”

No matter what job you are being interviewed for, to be the best qualified candidate, be prepared for questions that fit into each of the interview categories and then provide a confident interview that will be the springboard to interview success.

Six Rules To Successful Job References.

Excellent references are essential to successfully gaining employment, most job offers are subject to references so even when you have an offer you still need your qualities and experience rubber-stamped by your previous employer. Bearing this in mind it is essential to adhere to the following rules when supplying referees;

1. Ensure the referee is a previous manager or supervisor, rather than a friend.

2. Graduates and Interns should use college professors as referees if they have no work experience.

3. Choose a former supervisor with whom you had a good relationship when looking for a referee.

4. Make sure you gain the approval of the referee before including them on your resume.

5. Should you receive an offer “subject to successful reference” then call your referees in advance to tell them to expect a call from the company offering you the job.

6. Ensure the contact details are correct and up to date before submitting them. The contact details should include name, position, company, telephone number and email address.

A bad reference could have a disastrous impact on your employment chances so take time to pick referees that you know will enhance your application and leave you with nothing to worry about when your offer is “subject to references.”

Issues To Consider Before Deciding To Change Your Job.

Changing jobs is an important decision, so careful consideration should be taken into understanding the root cause of your unhappiness and see if they can be resolved. You should make a list of the reasons why you want to change jobs and sort them in order of importance. Examples of some of the main reasons employees look to move to a new job are outlined below along with tips to overcoming the obstacles.

1. You are considering leaving because you want more money.

This is straight-forward enough, if you like your job but feel that you are being paid below your worth then arrange a meeting with your manager and HR to discuss the problem. Come prepared with examples of your work and salary-surveys that will help back-up your claim. Be reasonable and see if a mutually happy agreement can be agreed upon, if not then it will probably reaffirm your decision to seek pastures new.

2. You are considering leaving because of the commute to work.

The balancing act of career and family- life can be a tricky one, if there is an hour or two added to your journey each day it makes it an even trickier balancing act. Employers are not unsympathetic to this so before making the final decision to move, arrange a meeting with your boss to try and work-out a compromise. Again depending on your job you may be allowed work from home a couple of days a week or be given the opportunity to flexible working-hours to help avoid traffic congestion at peak-times.

3. You are considering leaving because you were overlooked for a promotion.

Arrange a meeting with your manager to discuss the reasons why you did not get the job. Do not be confrontational, instead ask the manager where he/she sees your future in the company. The feedback you get from him/her will give you a strong indication of where your future lies.

If you are steadfast in your decision to leave then make sure you have a job to walk into once you finish your notice-period. In the current economic climate job-openings are at a premium so make sure you’re leaving your current company for the right reasons as opposed to obstacles that can be overcome.