BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

1. Tell me about a typical workday; be as specific as possible about
   what you did. (Look for signs of work ethic, time management,
   motivation)


2. Tell me about the busiest workday you ever had. How did you
   handle it? (Look for time management, organization of thought)

• How did you deal with the stress?



3. In your previous position, what were your manager’s biggest
   strengths? (May identify what he/she is looking for in a manager)

4. In your previous position, what was your manager’s biggest
   weakness? Why do you say that? (You may get some clues about
   the interviewee’s ability to work with his/her boss)

5. Specifically, how did you handle a situation in the past where you
   disagreed with our boss? (Honesty, integrity, openness,
   interpersonal communication skills, tact, diplomacy, self-
   confidence)

6. What is something you wish you had told your last boss, but
   didn’t?

      • What else?
      • Why do you think you didn’t approach him/her with these
        issues? (Honesty, openness, self-confidence, interpersonal
        relationship with superiors, professionalism)
BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS PAGE 2

7. It’s not a perfect world out there, and instances arise when
   company’s policy doesn’t exactly fit the situation. Give me a
   specific example of when you felt it was necessary to bend or
   break a company policy or procedure. (Adherence to company
   policy, judgment) (Depending on the answer, you may want to ask
   for another illustration).

8. Give me a specific example of a time when you conformed to a
   company policy to which you did not agree.

9. Tell me about the toughest situation at work you had in dealing
   with a customer. Be as specific as you can. (Ability to think on
   their feet, customer service skills, ability to handle stress and
   pressure)

• Give me another one

10. What was the biggest obstacle you had to overcome to your last
   job, and how did you do it?

11. In the last 3 years, what accomplishment of yours gives you the
   most pride? Why? (If not work related, follow-up with a work
   related accomplishment). (Priorities, recent successes,
   motivation).

12. In the last 3 years what has been your biggest disappointment
   with your own work performance? (Pride, honesty, openness,
   potential weakness, follow-through).

13. What are some goals you set for yourself in the last year? (Goal
   oriented, ambition, aggressiveness).

• (Pick out the most relevant goal to the situation) How did you go
  about accomplishing it? (Follow through, organization,
  persistence, ability to deal with obstacles)
BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS PAGE 3

14. Give me a SPECIFIC example of something you really had to
    work at or go above the call of duty to get accomplished.
    (Persistence, creativity).

15. What did you like least about your last job? Why?

• What job responsibility did you like least in your last job? Why?



16. What did you like most about your last job? Why?

17. What frustrates you? (Insight into his/her personality). What
   else?

18. What is your biggest weakness? DON’T SETTLE FOR CANNED
    RESPONSES SUCH AS, “I TEND TO BE A WORKAHOLIC”
    OR “I TRY TO DO TO MUCH AT ONE TIME”. (These may be
    honest responses, but ask “why”. Then, probe for more specific
    answers to job skills.

• What have you done to improve these weaknesses in the last 12
  months? (Motivation, personal development).

19. What are your biggest strengths? Why?

20. Is there anything that you think I should have asked you but
   didn’t?

Behavioral Interview Questions1

  • 1.
    BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS 1.Tell me about a typical workday; be as specific as possible about what you did. (Look for signs of work ethic, time management, motivation) 2. Tell me about the busiest workday you ever had. How did you handle it? (Look for time management, organization of thought) • How did you deal with the stress? 3. In your previous position, what were your manager’s biggest strengths? (May identify what he/she is looking for in a manager) 4. In your previous position, what was your manager’s biggest weakness? Why do you say that? (You may get some clues about the interviewee’s ability to work with his/her boss) 5. Specifically, how did you handle a situation in the past where you disagreed with our boss? (Honesty, integrity, openness, interpersonal communication skills, tact, diplomacy, self- confidence) 6. What is something you wish you had told your last boss, but didn’t? • What else? • Why do you think you didn’t approach him/her with these issues? (Honesty, openness, self-confidence, interpersonal relationship with superiors, professionalism)
  • 2.
    BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONSPAGE 2 7. It’s not a perfect world out there, and instances arise when company’s policy doesn’t exactly fit the situation. Give me a specific example of when you felt it was necessary to bend or break a company policy or procedure. (Adherence to company policy, judgment) (Depending on the answer, you may want to ask for another illustration). 8. Give me a specific example of a time when you conformed to a company policy to which you did not agree. 9. Tell me about the toughest situation at work you had in dealing with a customer. Be as specific as you can. (Ability to think on their feet, customer service skills, ability to handle stress and pressure) • Give me another one 10. What was the biggest obstacle you had to overcome to your last job, and how did you do it? 11. In the last 3 years, what accomplishment of yours gives you the most pride? Why? (If not work related, follow-up with a work related accomplishment). (Priorities, recent successes, motivation). 12. In the last 3 years what has been your biggest disappointment with your own work performance? (Pride, honesty, openness, potential weakness, follow-through). 13. What are some goals you set for yourself in the last year? (Goal oriented, ambition, aggressiveness). • (Pick out the most relevant goal to the situation) How did you go about accomplishing it? (Follow through, organization, persistence, ability to deal with obstacles)
  • 3.
    BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONSPAGE 3 14. Give me a SPECIFIC example of something you really had to work at or go above the call of duty to get accomplished. (Persistence, creativity). 15. What did you like least about your last job? Why? • What job responsibility did you like least in your last job? Why? 16. What did you like most about your last job? Why? 17. What frustrates you? (Insight into his/her personality). What else? 18. What is your biggest weakness? DON’T SETTLE FOR CANNED RESPONSES SUCH AS, “I TEND TO BE A WORKAHOLIC” OR “I TRY TO DO TO MUCH AT ONE TIME”. (These may be honest responses, but ask “why”. Then, probe for more specific answers to job skills. • What have you done to improve these weaknesses in the last 12 months? (Motivation, personal development). 19. What are your biggest strengths? Why? 20. Is there anything that you think I should have asked you but didn’t?