Are you nervous about interviews? If behavioral questions, situational questions, problem-solving, or tricky questions have you stumped, don't worry. Understanding the logic behind various types of questions can help you prepare better. Good preparation undoubtedly boosts your confidence and puts you at ease. Here are some clues to help you handle all kinds of questions with poise:
Behavioral questions: Behavior-based questions are based on the assumption that the past is a good indicator of the future. Therefore, while posing behavior-based questions, an interviewer tries to know about past actions to predict your future behavior. He tries to judge if you have relevant past experience that suits his organizational context. These questions are developed around the skills and traits considered necessary to succeed in the position being offered. To answer these questions effectively, you must do adequate research about the position you have applied for. Recall specific actions that demonstrate your accomplishments and fit for the position from work, academic, and life experiences. You can think of some situations where you have displayed a remarkable skill, such as:
- Ability to adapt to a difficult situation.
- Creativity that resulted in improved methods of work.
- Effectiveness in solving a crisis and the ability to work under pressure.
- Handled an upset client or a difficult customer.
- Ability to take important decisions with little information and also in the absence of guidance.
- Anticipated potential problems and developed preventive measures.
- Ability to handle conflicts.
- Ability to work in teams.
If you go unprepared for the behavior-based interview, your nervousness may prevent you from recalling the right instances. Therefore, your prior preparation should always include recollection of incidents where you have used your skills in the best interests of the organization. Before answering, take a few seconds to analyze the question. You will discover what particular trait or attitude the interviewer is looking for. Remember always to narrate only true incidents. You may even narrate experiences from college days or voluntary work if you do not have similar work-related experience. Also, make it a point to highlight what transferable skills you can bring to the organization owing to your past experience and learning.
Problem-solving questions: Through these questions, the interviewer tries to assess your ability to process information with speed, think logically, and come up with creative solutions. The questions usually sound like puzzles. For example: How will you estimate the number of cars on your city roads on a busy Monday morning? The key here is not to panic but stay calm and composed. Remember, there is no single right answer for such questions. Demonstrate your logical thinking abilities while you arrive at a solution.
Situational questions: The interviewers ask hypothetical questions to find out how you will handle certain real-life situations on the job. A good understanding of the job and its requirements will help you answer these questions well. You can also start the answer by saying, "I had a similar experience in the past..." and narrate a relevant incident. Describe how effectively you have dealt with the situation and also include any appreciation received from your superiors or clients in this regard.
Negative questions: Sometimes an interviewer may ask negatively phrased questions to gauge your weaknesses and strengths. For example, he may ask you to tell about a bad experience at work like failing to meet a deadline or a time when the decision taken by you has backfired. It is important to remain positive and honest while answering these questions. Never try to fix the blame for your failure on others or try to convert your weakness into strength. You will end up sounding too familiar and unconvincing. Instead, discuss a failure and state what you have learned from the experience and how you have improved since then. Sometimes not only questions but even silence on the part of the interviewer may put you in an awkward position. Some interviewers do this deliberately to test your ability to cope with stress and uncomfortable situations. The best thing to do in such situations is to put the ball back in the interviewer's court by asking him if he requires any further elaboration regarding your last response. Always gather as much information as possible about the job and the organization as part of your preparation. Also, use the information provided by the interviewer during the course of the interview to your best advantage and tailor your responses accordingly. A good measure of preparation, alertness, and an upbeat attitude are absolutely necessary to drive away your interview jitters and taste sweet success!
Behavioral questions: Behavior-based questions are based on the assumption that the past is a good indicator of the future. Therefore, while posing behavior-based questions, an interviewer tries to know about past actions to predict your future behavior. He tries to judge if you have relevant past experience that suits his organizational context. These questions are developed around the skills and traits considered necessary to succeed in the position being offered. To answer these questions effectively, you must do adequate research about the position you have applied for. Recall specific actions that demonstrate your accomplishments and fit for the position from work, academic, and life experiences. You can think of some situations where you have displayed a remarkable skill, such as:
- Ability to adapt to a difficult situation.
- Creativity that resulted in improved methods of work.
- Effectiveness in solving a crisis and the ability to work under pressure.
- Handled an upset client or a difficult customer.
- Ability to take important decisions with little information and also in the absence of guidance.
- Anticipated potential problems and developed preventive measures.
- Ability to handle conflicts.
- Ability to work in teams.
If you go unprepared for the behavior-based interview, your nervousness may prevent you from recalling the right instances. Therefore, your prior preparation should always include recollection of incidents where you have used your skills in the best interests of the organization. Before answering, take a few seconds to analyze the question. You will discover what particular trait or attitude the interviewer is looking for. Remember always to narrate only true incidents. You may even narrate experiences from college days or voluntary work if you do not have similar work-related experience. Also, make it a point to highlight what transferable skills you can bring to the organization owing to your past experience and learning.
Problem-solving questions: Through these questions, the interviewer tries to assess your ability to process information with speed, think logically, and come up with creative solutions. The questions usually sound like puzzles. For example: How will you estimate the number of cars on your city roads on a busy Monday morning? The key here is not to panic but stay calm and composed. Remember, there is no single right answer for such questions. Demonstrate your logical thinking abilities while you arrive at a solution.
Situational questions: The interviewers ask hypothetical questions to find out how you will handle certain real-life situations on the job. A good understanding of the job and its requirements will help you answer these questions well. You can also start the answer by saying, "I had a similar experience in the past..." and narrate a relevant incident. Describe how effectively you have dealt with the situation and also include any appreciation received from your superiors or clients in this regard.
Negative questions: Sometimes an interviewer may ask negatively phrased questions to gauge your weaknesses and strengths. For example, he may ask you to tell about a bad experience at work like failing to meet a deadline or a time when the decision taken by you has backfired. It is important to remain positive and honest while answering these questions. Never try to fix the blame for your failure on others or try to convert your weakness into strength. You will end up sounding too familiar and unconvincing. Instead, discuss a failure and state what you have learned from the experience and how you have improved since then. Sometimes not only questions but even silence on the part of the interviewer may put you in an awkward position. Some interviewers do this deliberately to test your ability to cope with stress and uncomfortable situations. The best thing to do in such situations is to put the ball back in the interviewer's court by asking him if he requires any further elaboration regarding your last response. Always gather as much information as possible about the job and the organization as part of your preparation. Also, use the information provided by the interviewer during the course of the interview to your best advantage and tailor your responses accordingly. A good measure of preparation, alertness, and an upbeat attitude are absolutely necessary to drive away your interview jitters and taste sweet success!