How to Answer Behavioral Interview Questions with Top-scoring Answers

In this post article you will learn how to answer behavioral interview questions with top-scoring Answers.

If you have a job interview coming up for any role or any organization, make sure you read this article very well because it will help you to pass it.

Behavioral Interview Questions and Answers

This post article will cover four things to help you pass your interview:

• What behavioral interview questions are.
• Some great tips for answering them correctly.
• How to answer behavioral interview questions if you have no previous work experience.
• Some brilliant example answers.

What are behavioral interview questions?

Behavioral interview questions assess how you have previously performed in given specific situations and if you can provide the interviewer with details of how you have acted in given previous situations, you are far more likely to get hired.

So behavioral interview questions often start off with;

• Tell me about a time when you…
• Give me an example of a situation you were in, where you had to… or
• Describe a time when you…

So they always start off in that manner and some examples of behavioral interview questions include:

• Tell me about a time when you worked as part of a team.
• Describe a time when you provided excellent customer service.
• Explain a situation when you faced conflict with a co-worker, or
• Describe a situation when you worked under pressure.

Those are just some examples of behavioral interview questions. Let’s now look at how to structure your answers to those difficult behavioral interview questions.

How do you answer difficult behavioral interview questions?

Always use the S.T.A.R technique.

STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action and Result.

Whenever you are asked to behavioral interview question, start off and briefly outline the situation you were in. Then move on and explain to the interviewer the task that needed doing.

You will then give specific deals details about the action you took before finishing off and giving the interviewer the results of your actions, and it’s really important to make sure that the results are always positive.

Whenever you answer difficult behavioral interview questions, make sure you focus on using the S.T.A.R technique, (Situation, Task, Action, and Results).

So let me now look at some brilliant example answers to difficult behavioral interview questions.

Question #1: Tell me about a time when you worked as part of a team

Below is an example answer to that difficult behavioral interview question.

Example Answer:

“I was working in a large retail store in a previous role. Two members of staff called in sick that morning, which meant just four of us had to manage the day and fulfill all customer orders. It was a very busy period for the company because we had a sale on.

It was our task to provide excellent service despite being short of staff, and to make sure all customers orders were fulfilled correctly.

To achieve our goal, we got together at the start of the day and we allocated tasks based on each other’s strengths.

My job was to welcome customers into the store to answer any questions they had before guiding them to the available checkouts when they were ready to pay.

My colleagues then fulfilled the orders and they took the payments. During the day we supported each other, we communicated effectively to make sure all tasks were being completed and we stay motivated as a team despite being under pressure.

The end result was that we managed to take care of all customers orders and provide a first class service throughout the day.”

That’s a brilliant example answer to that behavioral interview question, “Tell me about a time when you worked as part of a team” and it utilizes to great effect the Star technique.

Question #2: Explain a situation when you faced conflict with a co-worker

This question comes up time and time again during job interviews. Here’s a really good answer that uses S.T.A.R technique.

Example Answer:

“When I started working a previous role, I noticed a senior member of the team was constantly being dismissive of my suggestions during team meetings. Being someone who feels conflict is counterproductive to a team’s performance, I decided to tackle the conflict with a view to gaining a positive outcome.

During a tea break, I spoke to my work colleague in private to asking why he was being dismissive of my ideas. I gave him some examples of what he had said during several team meetings, and I explained how this made me feel in a calm and professional manner.

He said that he was not aware he’d been doing this, and he apologized for acting the way that he had done.

From that day forward, our working relationship improved significantly and we ended up working together on numerous company projects.”

That’s a brilliant answer that shows that you are not afraid to deal with conflict in a professional manner, and it’s another great example of how to answer behavioral interview questions using the Star technique.

Question #3: Describe a time when you provided excellent customer service

This is a common behavioral interview question, so it’s important that you have an answer already prepared. Below is an example answer.

Example Answer:

Situation:

“One day a customer called our company to ask about the availability of a product.

Task:

Unfortunately, we did not have the product available, but I felt it was my duty to go above and beyond what was normally required to try and find the product for the Lady because she really needed it for her upcoming grandson birthday.

Action:

So I informed the customer that I would spend some time trying to locate the product, and that I would call her back with an update within 24 hours. I then spent 30 minutes trying to source the product, and I eventually came across one of our suppliers that had it available for a next day delivery.

Result:

I immediately called the customer back with the good news before taking the payment for the product. The customer was so pleased with the service she had received from our company that she went on to leave a glowing five star review online.”

That’s a great example of where somebody has gone above and beyond what is required to provide excellent customer service and it’s the perfect example of how to answer that difficult behavioral interview question.

Question #4: Tell me about a time when you went above and beyond what was required

This is a difficult one to answer correctly, but below is an example answer to help you.

Example Answer:

Situation:

“My supervisor came into the office one morning to ask for volunteer to help cover the workload of a co-worker who was going to be off sick for some time. I immediately volunteered as I saw this as a way to help the company and to learn some new workplace skills.

Tasks:

It was my responsibility to make sure I completed both my own work and my colleagues work on time and to the appropriate standard.

Action:

So I started off by obtaining a brief from my supervisor and what he needed me to do before putting a plan of action in place to ensure all tasks were completed. I focused on the priority tasks first, and when I was unsure of how to complete a particular task, I spent time researching the correct way to tackle it.

Result:

By remaining calm, by prioritizing tasks and by focusing on my objectives, I was able to complete my own work on my colleagues work as required by my supervisor.”

That’s really good example of how to answer the difficult behavioral interview question, “Tell me at a time when you went above and beyond what was required.”

All of the example answers that are provided above are for somebody who has previous work experience. But what if you are a fresher somebody who has no previous work experience, or if you are a first time job applicant, how do you answer difficult behavioral interview questions then?

Below are some tips and a brilliant example answer to help you. If the interviewer asks you a behavioral interview question, but you’ve not been in that type of situation before, make sure you tell the interviewer when you observed somebody else tackling that situation and explain what you learned from it.

If the interviewer was to say to you, tell me about a time when you provided excellent customer service and you’ve not been in that situation.

If you are a fresher:

Here’s how to answer it.

Example:

“Although I’ve not been in this type of situation before, I have been on the receiving end of outstanding customer service, and therefore, I do know what to do.

For example, I visited a store recently to purchase some goods, and as soon as I entered the store, the shop assistant welcomed me.

Whilst I was browsing, they asked me if I needed any assistance and they answered several questions I had. When it was time to pay for my shopping they spoke to me in a friendly and positive manner, they were efficient, and they thanked me for visiting the store.

I left the store feeling positive and I remember thinking that I would certainly go back there again in the future. They were the perfect example of how to provide excellent customer service.”

That’s a great example of how to answer a difficult behavioral interview question, if you have not been in that specific situation before.