11/15/2010
Previous | Next | Career Corner Home | Health | Issues | Personal Finance
Currently there are over three million Americans who have lost their jobs in the current global economic down turn. There is mounting evidence that our economic situation is getting worse and the likelihood that you might need to be trained in the art of job interview skills is an ever increasing possibility.
One of the more popular types of questioning being used by employers today is called "behavioral questioning". Behavioral questions give a potential employer the ability to look into your psychological make up and determinne how you might "behave" in any given situation. The reason these questions have become so popular in job interviews is because it allows employers to see if you would be a good "fit" for the company's team chemistry.
Here is an example of behavioral job interview questions.
Example #1: "Describe a time when you were placed in a stressful situation that put your coping skills to work."
The answer to this question would give an employer some idea about your problem solving skills and how you emotionally react to stress. A question like this could catch you off guard if you are not prepared in advance of the interview.
Example #2: "Describe a time when you had to conform to a company policy with which you did not agree."
The answer to this question will reveal how you behave when you don't agree with the management position on a given issue. Can you disagree "agreeably"? This type of question can be a landmine if you are not ready for behavioral questioning.
Example #3: "Tell me about a time when you missed an obvious solution to a problem."
The answer to this question addresses your approach to personal failure, do you blame others or do you take responsibilty for your own actions?
Example #4: "Please tell me about a time when you had to terminate a friend."
The answer to this question will reveal if you can separate friendships from business.
As you can see, the behavioral questions are far more stressful and potentially more damaging to your hiring than the questions concerning your obvious qualifications. The more exposure and training you have in these specialized areas of interviewing will directly correlate to your chances of being hired. Hopefully, our economy will begin to recover and the number of available jobs will increase. But until that happens you owe it to yourself to be as educated as you possibly can for the decisive moment in the interview room.
Brad Richardson is an entrepenuer and a student of the times we are living in. He is a minister, husband, grandfather, and avid fan of all things Jayhawk! Specialized training resources for interview preparation can be found at http://www.jobinterviewtraining.net.
© 2010 Brad Richardson
The views and opinions expressed in these articles do not necessarily reflect those of College Central Network, Inc. or its affiliates. Reference to any company, organization, product, or service does not constitute endorsement by College Central Network, Inc., its affiliates or associated companies. The information provided is not intended to replace the advice or guidance of your legal, financial, or medical professional.