Editor's Note: This blog was originally published in 2019 and has been completely revamped, updated for the current situation, and republished here.
As a recent grad or student with limited professional experience, you might find it challenging to showcase your future on-the-job behaviour, so interview preparation is key. Different types of job interview questions require unique research, a variety of approaches, and a good understanding of what answers your recruiter is looking for. Although people sometimes struggle with personality questions in interviews, behavioural questions are what you’ll find particularly tricky if you’re a new grad.
Behavioural based interview questions essentially give an interviewer an idea of how you've performed and behaved in the past based on actual results and scenarios. You’ll know you’re being asked a behavioural question if it starts off sounding something like this:
- Describe a situation when…
- What do you do if…
- Have you ever…
- Give me an example of…
- Tell me about a time when…
The behavioural interview question style is being adopted by many top employers globally. Responses to these questions allow hiring managers to gauge if you’re a good fit for their organization the position you’re applying to. To knock your interview out of the park, it’s vital to form structured responses that purposefully highlight your employability skills, competencies and experiences.
It can be difficult to know where to start, so we’ve compiled five simple steps to help you ace any behavioural interview questions that come your way.
1. Recognize the skills required for the job
Study the skills that are outlined in the job description since it’s the perfect insight into what an employer is looking for. A thorough understanding of these skills is a great way to anticipate the behavioural interview questions they may ask to gauge your proficiency as it relates to these skills. For example, if the job description highlights time management, the interviewer may ask you to describe a situation where you had to be strategic with your time to meet your priorities.
2. Consider your varying experience
Entering the workforce as a new grad may leave you feeling like you’re lacking in experience. But don’t forget: relevant experience isn’t only gained through formal employment. As a new grad, you’ve accumulated a great amount of experience through your education, group projects, exam preparation, co-ops or volunteer work, and maybe even part-time work. Take the time to review your past experiences to identify when and how you harnessed the skills and transferable experience required for the position.
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3. Showcase your talents and skills
Your answers to behavioural questions should not only exemplify your priorities and values but should also highlight your talents and skills. As well as your hard skills like IT knowledge, ability to use equipment or software, etc., employers are also looking for candidates with strong soft skills that will impact the way you work with others and get the job done under different circumstances. Showcase some of your best attributes which could include communication, organization, creativity, responsibility and stress management. Include in your answers the qualities needed to be successful within the position, and how these will benefit your team and the organization as a whole. Use real-life examples to demonstrate to the hiring manager why you’re the best candidate for the job.
4. Structure your answers using the STAR method
Properly structuring your answers is the best way to paint a clear picture for the interviewer, and it also helps you avoid rambling or repeating information as you go along. One of the best ways to structure your responses is by using the STAR method. This follows the effective and easy-to-understand structure of Situation, Task, Action and Result. Here’s a quick rundown on implementing the STAR method in response to a behavioural interview question:
Situation: Set the scene and describe how the situation unfolded.
Task: Describe what your responsibility was and how you identified the task at hand.
Action: Detail exactly the actions you took.
Result: Explain the results of your actions and what impact you had.
Develop your answers ahead of time to keep them in line and focused, ensuring you don’t lose direction from the question at hand and provide the interviewer with a clear and concise response. Practicing your STAR answers out loud is a great way to gain confidence and deliver even better responses in a real job interview.
5. Practice your responses
Practice truly does make perfect when it comes to job interviews, especially if you have limited experience being interviewed. One of the best ways to practice is simulating the interview process with help from family or friends. Provide them with some common behavioural questions and let them improvise with their own related off-the-cuff questions that replicate what a real recruiter might ask you. Practicing your structured responses will help you gain the confidence you need to be successful in the interview process and to fine-tune your answers along the way.
Another important way to get ready before the big day is to practice a virtual job interview, as these have become very common due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This can be done with family or friends over Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or any other video conferencing platform. Not only does this help you get used to answering questions and presenting yourself over a video call, but it also helps you prepare lighting, microphone volume, and gives you a chance to troubleshoot any technical problems that could obstruct your interview. For more tips on this, check out our recent blog about finding work during the pandemic and the particularly useful section on preparing yourself for a virtual job interview.
There you have our insider tips on acing your new grad job interview with effective responses to behavioural questions. You’re now officially ready to fire up your job search with the help of an Adecco recruiter. With access to hundreds of positions and resources to help you nail the toughest interviews, Adecco can fast track your entrance into the workforce with the career of your dreams. Contact your local Adecco branch today!