Getting the Right People in the Right Seats on the Bus:Behavioral Interviewing discusses behavioral interviewing as a more effective interviewing technique than traditional interviewing. Behavioral interviewing is based on the assumption that past performance predicts future performance, and involves asking candidates about specific past experiences that demonstrate the key behaviors needed for the job. It has a 70% validity rate for predicting job success, compared to only 19% for traditional interviewing. The document provides guidance on developing behavioral interview questions focused on competencies required for the role.

1. Getting the Right People in the Right Seats on the Bus:Behavioral InterviewingKim Vitray, SPHR

2. Behavioral interviewingBased on the assumption that past performance is the best indicator of future performanceAsks probing questions about specific critical incidents in the candidate’s past that demonstrate behaviors necessary for job successFocuses on job, not personality

3. Why behavioral interviewing?Improves your chances of selecting the right candidate 2 to 5 times over the traditional processAccurate, cost effective, and defensibleIs a selling toolHas a validity (predictive ability) rate of 70%Reduces bias

4. Why not traditional interviewing?Candidates are vetted against each other instead of the jobDetermining that a candidates has the skills/knowledge doesn’t mean they can/will use themHas only 19% validity

5. Behavioral theoryA behavior exhibited in one circumstance will be exhibited in other circumstances as wellThe more recent the past behavior, the more likely it is to be repeatedThe more often the behavior was demonstrated over time, the higher the probability it will be repeated in the future

6. Create a behavioral profileCreate a profile of behaviors that allow a person to be successful in that jobAsk top performers:How they learn new thingsHow they detect and solve problemsHow they make decisionsHow they communicateWhat motivates them personallyHow they solve conflictHow they organize their work

7. Glossary of behaviorsAdministrative skill Listening skillsAnalytical skill Negotiation skillsBusiness acumen People developmentCoaching Problem solvingCommunication Process improvementCreativity Quality orientationCustomer service ResourcefulDecision making Risk takingDelegation Strategic thinkingInitiative TeamworkInterpersonal skills Technical skillsLeadership Time management

8. Project management behaviors?Decision makingProblem solvingResourcefulTeamworkTime management

9. Develop questionsDevelop questions that will elicit information about a candidate having exhibited those behaviors in the pastUse open-ended questionsTell me about a time when…Give me an example of…Describe for me…How did you handle a situation where…What did you do when…

10. InterviewSelect only candidates whom you’ve already determined have the right skills, education, and experience (or almost!)Make arrangements to be undisturbedPut the candidate at easeAsk all candidates all of the same questionsTake notesProbe all responses until you can seethe critical incident play out likea movie in your mindBe comfortable with silence, patiently awaiting and encouraging responses

11. ProbingTell me about a time when you were under a great deal of pressure to deliver on time.What did you do to get the work done on time?What were the possible consequences you were concerned about?What was the outcome?If you were faced with a similar situation in the future, would you deal with it the same way or differently?Why?

12. More probingDescribe the most effective team that you were part of or led.What was your role exactly?Were there any extraneous circumstances?Did you have any other concerns?When did this occur?What did you find most challenging?How did you overcome those challenges?Why did you consider it the most effective team you’d ever been a part of?

13. Even more probingDescribe a time when you had to choose between product delivery and quality.What were some of the obstacles you encountered?How did you deal with those obstacles?What was the final outcome?What did you learn from the situation?What feedback did you get from others?What were the consequences?

14. What you may not askIf it’s not job related, don’t ask!Race, colorReligion, creedNational origin, citizenshipSex, marital status, child careName, age, birthplaceDisability/handicapPhotographCriminal historyMilitary serviceLanguage

15. You have a very unusual name. German ancestry?Can you think of anything that would prevent you from being to work on time?You’ve stated that you have three children. Since you brought it up, will your family obligations prevent you from overnight travel?Have you ever been arrested?Tell me about the advantages anddisadvantages of team assignments.Are these legal?

16. Other interviewing tipsDo far more listening (80%) than talking (20%)Ask all the questions, but let the discussion unfold naturallyAllow candidate to ask questions after you have finished asking yours“We’ll make an offer to the person we choose based on their skills and experience”Close by telling them what will happen next

17. Typical evasionClaims has either not had such an experience or can’t think of an exampleBe patient, encouragingRefuses to link answer to a concrete time and instead gives a theoretical response (doesn’t use past tense)Insist on a specific critical incidentMakes role in group effort unclear (uses “we” instead of “I”)Ask “What was your involvement?”

18. Take responsibilityReassure the candidateRestate the question using different wordsStress that you’re looking for a description of a specific situationBe sympathetic but persistent and patient

19. Why go to all this trouble?The cost of a wrong hire is 1 to 2-1/2 times that employee’s annual salary

20. Sample questions—decision makingDescribe an unpopular decision you had to make.Tell me about a decision you came to regret, and why.Give me an example of a time when you had to make an important decision with limited facts.

21. Sample questions—problem solvingTell me about a time when you had to analyze facts quickly, define key issues, and respond immediately.Describe for me a situation where you may have missed an obvious solution to a problem.Give me an example of when you anticipated potential problems and developed preventive measures.

22. Sample questions—resourcefulTell me about a time when you had to handle a kind of project that you hadn’t handled before.Give me an example of when you had to learn something new and produce results on your own.Describe a problem, issue, or concern that you handled in a unique, creative way.

23. Sample questions—teamworkTell me about your most successful team project, and the role you played in it.Give me an example of a project that did not go well and how you may have contributed to its problems.Describe your most recent team experience.

24. Sample questions—time managementGive me an example of when a project under your direction was late and how you dealt with the issue.Describe your current projects and how you keep them scheduled for on-time delivery.Tell me about a time when you had to balance competing priorities and did so successfully.

25. Sample questions—risk takingDescribe a situation where you heard of a new technology and implemented it.How do you determine if a plan is worth the risk of rocking the boat?Give me an example of when you weighed the pros and cons of a risk and decided to take it, and why.

26. Sample questions—technology skillsI see you have worked with X technology. Tell me about its features and benefits.Give me examples of how you adopted X technology into your process or your organization.How do you stay current in your field on new or evolving technologies?

27. Sample questions—customer serviceTell me about a time when you had to go the extra mile to support an internal customer.Describe a situation when you had to handle a customer complaint.Give me an example of when you made a lasting, positive impression on a customer.

28. A great resource!Society for Human Resource Managementwww.shrm.org

29. QUESTIONS?Kim Vitray, SPHR8609 Karling Dr.Austin, TX 78724 USA512-928-0859 (home)512-658-8587 (cell)kvitray@austin.rr.comwww.linkedin.com/in/kimvitray