10 Most Common Behavioural Interview Questions (BEI) and how to answer them?

What do you mean by Behavioural Event Questions and Answers?

Behavioural interview questions are questions based on how you would behaviour in a particular situation. They are designed to determine how you react to stress, your level of competency and how you behave in a professional setting. They also allow the interviewer to get a much better understanding of you as a candidate.

Why Employers Ask Behavioural Questions?

Behavioural questions are designed to understand how you will react to a particular work situation and how you can  solve problems  to be successful.

The interviewer will ask you how you handled  a particular situation and how you wee able to accomplish the desired result.. The logic is that your past success is a positive indicator of your future success.

How to prepare for a behavioural interview?

Find out as much as you can about the company and the position. The more you know about the job and the company, the easier it will be for you to answer interview questions. Take the time to research about the company and review job postings before your interview to familiarize yourself as much as possible about the position.

Match your qualifications to jobs. To help you prepare for a behavioural interview, review the job requirements and list the behavioural skills you have to match.
Here’s how to match your qualifications to jobs.

1. List examples. The interviewer asks questions to determine how  has the candidate performed the specific duties of the position. Obviously, you want to present your experience as clearly as possible, using concrete examples and highlighting your successes.

What types of questions are asked in a behavioural interview?

In a behavioural interview, you are presented with a possible situation and then asked how you have reacted to similar situations in the past. This situation could be a difficult project, a disagreement with colleagues, the prioritization of several projects, etc.

What do employers look for in a behavioural interview?

For interviewers, your responses to behavioural questions provide specific evidence of your skills and behaviour at work.
This can help them predict how you will perform in the relevant role. Employers will look for candidates who can demonstrate the skills required for the position and provide a clear and concise answer.

Behavioural Interview Questions and Sample Answers

Here are some common behavioural interview questions you might be asked in a job interview.
As you can see from the sample answers, it’s important to have specific examples and anecdotes handy.

Although you don’t need to memorize the answers by heart, you should know what experience you will be sharing and how to describe it to the interviewer. You will want your examples to be clear and concise.

Question1: Tell me about a time when you were faced with a challenging situation. How did you solve it?

What the interviewer wants to know is how you would react in a difficult situation and would like to know what you did to resolve the issue.

Answer:  So, your answer should be given by an example where you think that you had solved it. For example, at one point, my supervisor had to leave unexpectedly and we were in complicated negotiations with a new sponsor. My task was to put together a PowerPoint presentation based on the notes he had  left and his manager’s briefing. My speech was very successful. We got a sponsorship and the management team even recommended me for an award.

 Question 2:  Do you usually set goals at work? If yes, could you give me an example of a goal you had set and how you achieved it?

What the interviewer wants to know: The interviewer wants to know when a task is given to you, how well you plan and set a goal to achieve it. And what all task do you can do to achieve that goal.

Answer: For example, a few weeks after starting my first job as a sales assistant in a department store, I knew I wanted to be in the fashion industry. I decided to progress to department manager, which would save me enough money to attend design school full-time. I did, and even landed my first job through an internship I did the summer before I graduated.

Question 3: Give me an example of a time you made a mistake at work.

What the interview wants to know:  No one is perfect. But the interviewer is more interested in knowing how you handled it when you made a mistake

Answer: Example: I once misquoted the cost of a certain type of membership at the club I worked for. I explained my error to my supervisor and he appreciated my presence and my honesty. He made me offer to waive the registration fee for new members. Members joined the club despite my mistakes, my supervisor understood, and although I felt sorry for my mistakes, I learned to pay close attention to detail so I could provide accurate information in the future.

Question 4: Give an example of a goal you attained and tell me how you achieved it.

What the interviewer wants to know: The hiring manager is interested in learning what you do to achieve the goals, and the steps taken to achieve it.

Example: When I started working for XYZ Company, I wanted to be named Employee of the Month. It was an ambitious  challenge and not all the staff took it seriously, but I really wanted that parking space and my picture on the wall. I did  my best to be helpful to my colleagues, supervisors and clients – no matter what.  During my third month there, I was awarded employee of the month.
It’s a good thing that I achieved my goal, and I ended up being promoted to a management position there very quickly, I think because of my positive attitude and perseverance.

These are few of the examples that tells you how one should be prepared for the Behavioural interview

Key Takeaway:

• Interviewer asks you behavioural questions because your response gives them a concrete idea of how you will perform in a given situation when you are hired.
• The more you know about the role, industry and company, the better you can justify about your skills and experience. Take sufficient time and do your research before going to the interview.
• To improve your response, come prepared with specific examples and stories to share.