BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

1. Tell me about a typical workday; be as specific as possible about what you did. (Look for signs of work ethic, time management, motivation)

2. Tell me about the busiest workday you ever had. How did you handle it? (Look for time management, organization of thought)

• How did you deal with the stress?

3. In your previous position, what were your manager’s biggest strengths? (May identify what he/she is looking for in a manager)

4. In your previous position, what was your manager’s biggest

weakness? Why do you say that? (You may get some clues about the interviewee’s ability to work with his/her boss)

5. Specifically, how did you handle a situation in the past where you

disagreed with our boss? (Honesty, integrity, openness, interpersonal communication skills, tact, diplomacy, self-confidence)

6. What is something you wish you had told your last boss, but

didn’t?

• What else? • Why do you think you didn’t approach him/her with these

issues? (Honesty, openness, self-confidence, interpersonal relationship with superiors, professionalism)

BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS PAGE 2

7. It’s not a perfect world out there, and instances arise when company’s policy doesn’t exactly fit the situation. Give me a specific example of when you felt it was necessary to bend or break a company policy or procedure. (Adherence to company policy, judgment) (Depending on the answer, you may want to ask for another illustration).

8. Give me a specific example of a time when you conformed to a

company policy to which you did not agree.

9. Tell me about the toughest situation at work you had in dealing with a customer. Be as specific as you can. (Ability to think on their feet, customer service skills, ability to handle stress and pressure)

• Give me another one

10. What was the biggest obstacle you had to overcome to your last

job, and how did you do it? 11. In the last 3 years, what accomplishment of yours gives you the

most pride? Why? (If not work related, follow-up with a work related accomplishment). (Priorities, recent successes, motivation).

12. In the last 3 years what has been your biggest disappointment

with your own work performance? (Pride, honesty, openness, potential weakness, follow-through).

13. What are some goals you set for yourself in the last year? (Goal

oriented, ambition, aggressiveness).

• (Pick out the most relevant goal to the situation) How did you go about accomplishing it? (Follow through, organization, persistence, ability to deal with obstacles)

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14. Give me a SPECIFIC example of something you really had to work at or go above the call of duty to get accomplished. (Persistence, creativity).

15. What did you like least about your last job? Why?

• What job responsibility did you like least in your last job? Why?

16. What did you like most about your last job? Why? 17. What frustrates you? (Insight into his/her personality). What

else?

18. What is your biggest weakness? DON’T SETTLE FOR CANNED RESPONSES SUCH AS, “I TEND TO BE A WORKAHOLIC” OR “I TRY TO DO TO MUCH AT ONE TIME”. (These may be honest responses, but ask “why”. Then, probe for more specific answers to job skills.

• What have you done to improve these weaknesses in the last 12

months? (Motivation, personal development).

19. What are your biggest strengths? Why? 20. Is there anything that you think I should have asked you but

didn’t?