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Behavioural Based Questions

When a vacancy becomes available in a company the first action the HR Manager takes is scope out the role i.e. they develop a Position Description outlining who the role reports to, describing the key responsibilities and listing the necessary and desired skill set (competencies).

As it is widely believed that past behaviour is the best indicator of future behaviour, behavioural-based questions are the favoured interview method.  The interviewer would have prepared questions covering each skill listed on the PD with the aim of establishing how the candidate handled the situation in the past rather than how they would handle it in the future. 


Following are 50 examples of behavioural-based questions that you can use to help you prepare for or conduct the interview.
 
Ability to handle stress
 
What has been the most stressful situation you have found yourself in at work and how did you handle it?
 
Give us an example of a time in the past when you have mitigated a stressful situation at work.
 
How do you minimize stress?
 
Communication skills
 
Have you ever had to sell an unpopular idea to your team/manager/board?  How did you approach this?
 
Give me an example of a time you had to communicate complex technical information to a person who had no technical experience.  How did you approach this and how did you make sure they understood?
 
Have you ever had a time when you strongly disagreed with a group of senior managers?  How did you voice you disagreement?  What was the result?
 
Describe the most complex piece of written work you have had to produce and how did you achieve it?
 
Give us some examples of your public speaking experience.
 
Provide an example of how your resolved a conflict with another person that you did not like.
 
What problems have you encountered in communicating your ideas?
 
What is your preferred mode of communication?
 
Describe a time you have resolved conflict with a fellow team member.
 
Team Management
 
Give me am an example of how you handled a situation when a fellow team member was not pulling his/her weight. How did you react/handle it?
 
Provide an example of when your fellow team members have not agreed with how you have wanted to proceed with a project.  How have you handled this?
 
Have you ever been part of a team where information was not shared freely?  How did you manage this?
 
Tell us a time when you had to work in a team you did not get along with?
 
What have you done to contribute towards team motivation?
 
Leadership
 
How would you describe your leadership style?
 
What style of management do you respond to?
 
Can you recall a work experience where a situation requiring immediate action arose and no senior manager was available?  How did you handle the situation, and how did things turn out?
 
Tell us about a time you managed a dysfunctional team, were you successful in turning things around?  How did you do this?
 
Have you ever had to build a team?  What approach did to you take?
 
In your career as a leader what are you particularly proud of?
 
What has been your most difficult leadership experience and why?
 
What leadership roles have you held outside of work?
 
Have you ever had to reprimand one of your team?  How did you handle this?
 
How do you evaluate if you your leadership style is successful?
 
What would you do to motivate your team?
 
Planning and Time Management
 
How do you set goals for yourself and your team?
 
Describe how you would prioritise conflicting priorities.
How do you stay organised?
 
Give us an example of a project you had to plan from start to finish.
 
Give me an example of a time when you were overloaded with work and two looming deadlines.  How did you manage?
 
What personal career goals have you set in the past?  How have you achieved them and how did you overcome problems along the way?
 
What method do you use to set short-term and long-term goals?
 
Can you run through your typical day?
 
Analytical Skills/Problem Solving
 
What steps do you follow in resolving a looming problem?
 
Describe your thought process when analysing data.
 
Decision Making
 
Describe a time you have had to be very quick in making a decision?
 
Give an example of when you have had to pull together resources from different departments to make a final decision.  How did you instigate and manage this?
 
What is the most difficult decision you have had to take and why?  How did you come to your decision?
 
What decisions would you be willing to delegate?
 
Negotiation
 
Can you give me two examples of when you have negotiated successfully and unsuccessfully?
 
General
 
Tell me an accomplishment you are particularly proud of.
 
What have been the two most difficult decisions you have had to make in your life?  How did you handle them?
 
Can you give any examples of when you have over delivered?
 
Guide me through an example of when your manager was not satisfied with your work.  How did you handle this?
 
What aspect of company culture in your previous role do you never want to experience again and what would you like to have moving forward?
 
Have you ever been asked to do something that has been against your integrity?  How have you managed this?
 
Can you give an example of when you conformed to a policy you did not agree to?
 
Describe a time when you felt the customer was wrong, how did you manage this?

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