While on the job search circuit, you will likely encounter three basic types of interviews: structured, unstructured, and behavioral. In this article, we will discuss the latter as its prevalence has significantly increased in recent years. In fact, according to a 2022 LinkedIn survey, 75% of employers reported using behavioral interview techniques to assess a candidate’s most relevant competencies or power skills.
In order to tackle a job interview that behaviorally established, you need to develop a fresh understanding of how this interview system works. The Behavioral Interviewing systems that are commonly utilized today involve a method for learning one’s personal competency traits and how the candidate utilizes these skills in getting a job done. This interview method also focuses on past successes in order to predict and assume future success within an organization.
In other words, aside from learning and considering a candidate’s general level of expertise that includes their core skills and industry knowledge, the Behavioral Interview method focuses on what personal qualities the candidate employs in order to get work done and achieve success. Most companies have a list of key behavioral/personality competencies which coincide with their company culture, such as:
- Relationship Development & Management
- Team Work & Leadership
- Strong Interpersonal Communication Skills
- Motivating & Caring Professional
- Influential Leader
- Goal-Focused
These behavioral competencies are a whole different set of skills than that of your basic job skills and level of expertise. In order to succeed in any interview, it is important to understand both sets of competencies and to come to terms with them regarding your individual character and level of expertise.
To prepare for the Behavioral Interview:
- Begin by practicing on a verbal level, presenting your best or most relevant behavioral competencies you’ve employed to achieve significant success. Provide a case for a certain competency through a success story which backs it up. For example, if you utilize team leadership as one of your strong points, then come up with a former success story where you employed this skill in order to achieve it.
- Be specific on how you employed this behavior and define the individual components of the behavior that were used in order to shoot for, and accomplish a certain company goal. For instance, as a team leader, did you display compassion and respect while overseeing a certain project? Did you enhance staff performance through motivation and assistance? Did you set corporate goals with enthusiasm in order to drive employee inspiration and improve various aspects of business?
- Do your research on a targeted employer in order to learn the overall company culture in preparation for a convincing verbal presentation and success in the interview. You need to research and understand their overall vision and goals. Be aware of former corporate accomplishments, and know their clientele, services and products. Following this research, you then need to draw upon and know your personal behaviors / competencies / traits that correlate with the company culture and address the corporation needs. In addition, come up with a SHARE or success story in which you utilized a certain behavioral competency to achieve success and provide growth to an organization.
The goal for achieving success with the behavioral interview system lies in making sure that you come across as someone who will fit in with the company culture. In addition, you want to be prepared to discuss prior achievements where you garnered success through certain behavioral competencies. This will help prove to the employer that you will more than likely achieve the same level of success for them in the future.
By following the simple steps provided above, and understanding the difference between your Basic Job Skills and your Personal Behavioral Competencies, you should be much better prepared for any interview that comes your way. Good luck!
Stewart, Cooper & Coon offers Human Capital Strategy Services to both individuals and corporations. Our staff is dedicated to our clients’ success via innovative job search processes, employment management strategies, and state-of-the-art technologies. Contact Fred Coon – 866-883-4200, Ext. 200
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