Behavioral Interviewing

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Behavioral Interviewing
What It Is and How To Do It
Mickey Choate Associate Director UT-Dallas
Career Center
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Top 10 Personal Qualities/Skills Employers
Seek

• Communication Skills (verbal written)
• Honesty/Integrity
• Teamwork (works well with others)
• Interpersonal Skills (relates well to others)
• Motivation/Initiative
• Strong Work Ethic
• Analytical Skills
• Flexibility/Adaptability
• Computer Skills
• Self-Confidence

National Association of College Employer Job
Outlook Survey 2005
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Traditional Interview Questions

• Tell me about yourself?
• What do you want to be doing in five years?
• What are your strengths?
• What are your weaknesses?
• Do you like to work with people?

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Behavioral Interview Questions

• Tell me about a time when ...
• Give me a specific example of a time when
• Describe a situation when you
• Give an example of  

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Behavioral Interview Questions

• Tell me about a time when your work required
  great attention to detail. How satisfied were you
  with that and why?
• Describe a situation when you were able to help
  peers/team members solve a problem

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Behavioral Interview Questions

• Give me a specific example of a time when you
  volunteered your personal time to complete a task
  in a timely manner.
• Tell me about a time when you had to work closely
  with a person no one else was able to get along
  with.

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Behavioral Interview Questions

• Tell me about a time in which you had to use your
  written communication skills in order to get an
  important point across.
• Give an example of an important goal you had set
  in the past and your success in reaching it.

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Approaches to Answering the Questions
Work

School
Volunteer

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Stories

• Situation Task       Action    Result

Action Skills Knowledge
or
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Preparation

• Write
• Reflect
• Practice