BehaviorBased Interviewing

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Behavior-Based Interviewing
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Objectives
Structuring the interview
Introduction/warm-up Breaking the ice 3 minutes
Setting the ground rules 2 minutes
Recording Interview results Interview
preparation 5 minutes
0
5
10
15
45
20
40
Close interview 2 minutes
25
35
30
Answer questions 3 minutes
Gathering information Key competencies 30 minutes
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Prior to the Interview

• Understand who you are with respect to
• Values - what you want from a career and what
  you are willing to give up to get it.
• Strengths what skills you bring to the
  marketplace as a worker.
• Weaknesses - what skills and/or personal
  characteristics need to be improved.
• Interests what field excites you and where you
  can make the most contributions.

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Concept Behavior-Based Interviewing

• That past behavior is the best predictor of
  future behavior that more recent behavior is a
  better predictor of future behavior than older
  behavior, and that long standing trends are
  better predictors of behavior than isolated
  incidents.

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What should you do to prepare for the interview?

• Analyze the job or position being
  interviewed for. Determine the skills
  required.

Initiative
Creativity
High Self Confidence
Detail Oriented
Interpersonal Skills
Good with numbers
Ability to Multi-task
High Energy
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• Evaluate your own background to identify
  your skills and experience related to the job
  description. Develop and rehearse brief
  scenarios about how you used those skills
  each illustrating a specific activity or task
  required by the job. Each story should
  explain the problem and your solution, and
  give the results in quantified terms if
  possible. i.e.
• increased output by 20
• developed a six sigma process for x widget during
  the weekend.

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• Be prepared to provide examples of occasions
  when results were different than expected.
  Your skill in handling failure as well as
  success will be probed.
• Share with me a time when you were disappointed
  with your performance. Describe the situation.
• How did you handle it?
• Describe a gap between what you learned in a
  class and a practical application.
• How did you recognize the inconsistency?
• What did you do about it?

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• Be prepared for questions asking for more
  detail than youve already given.
• How .
• Why .
• Think of a specific time that happened and .
• What was your specific role?

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• Identify 3 to 5 top selling points
  attributes that set you apart from other
  candidates and be sure you get the chance to
  point them out in the interview.
• Led a team of 5 to win 1st place in the GE
  Aircraft Engine Design Contest .
• Started a small summer painting business and grew
  it to 5 employees in 2 years.
• Was able to graduate with a 3.8/4.0 GPA while
  working 30 hours per week, play lacrosse, and
  hold officer positions in 3 organizations.

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What can the interviewer expect from you

• Appropriate attire
• An understanding of the organization and the
  position
• Energy active/assertive/enthusiastic
• Arrive to the interview on time
• Use a firm but not a crushing handshake
• Good eye contact
• Smile, appear confident, composed
• Do not ramble. Be specific about
  events/challenges/outcomes
• Bring extra copies of your resume
• Valid questions

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What can you expect from the Interviewer.

• Concern for your well being
• Will take notes
• Fairness
• May interrupt you
• Stays on time
• Professional
• Focused
• Open ended questions
• Tell me about a time when .
• Describe a situation .
• Give me an example of .
• Probing questions
• How
• Why
• What was your specific role