You're gearing up for a job interview. How can you ace those tricky behavioral questions?

Prepare with the STAR Method: Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses. Clearly outline the context, your role, the steps you took, and the outcome, ensuring a comprehensive and focused answer that highlights your skills. Practice Common Questions: Anticipate common behavioral questions and practice your responses. Focus on diverse scenarios that highlight your skills and experiences, and rehearse articulating these examples clearly and confidently. Be Authentic and Reflective: Provide honest and reflective answers that demonstrate self-awareness and growth. Highlight how you’ve learned from past experiences and how those lessons will benefit you in the role you’re applying for.

Behavioral questions are being used in increasing numbers by interviewers. The aim of a Behavioral question is to get you tell a story of how you used a particular skill or dealt with a particular situation in a previous work setting. The employer believes that what you have done with an employer in the past can transfer to a future employer. For instance, if you have successfully handled conflict with a previous employer, the same could be accomplished in a new setting. S= Describe the Situation in some detail. T= What was your Task in the Situation? A= Discuss 3-4 Action Steps you took to solve issue. R= Describe the Results using #s, %s, or $'s. Keep the "story" to 90 seconds to 2 minutes. This allows for follow-up questions.

When faced with tricky behavioral questions, the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is your best friend. Start by describing the Situation and Task you were dealing with, followed by the Action you took to address it, and finally, the Result of your efforts. This framework helps you deliver clear, concise, and structured responses that highlight your problem-solving abilities, leadership, and teamwork skills. Remember, employers are looking for how you handled past challenges, so focus on the positive outcomes you achieved. Prepare a few STAR stories ahead of time, and you'll be ready to tackle any question with confidence!

Because it can be difficult to anticipate what questions a hiring manager will ask during an interview, start by viewing the job description. Outline what tasks or qualities align with your skills, then search online for sample behavioral interview questions that resonate with your experiences and the requirements outlined in the job description. Write out your answers. Don't sidestep this part of the process. Writing out your answers is important because it forces you to be more clear and concise, which means you will be more articulate in the interview. Then, practice ‘answering’ the questions in front of a mirror so that you can be tuned into non-verbal cues such as facial expressions while you practice verbalizing your responses.

If you find it hard to determine your own weaknesses then ask a friend or coworker for support! They know you and your work and might be able to provide valuable feedback that you can take as a springboard to reflect further. Choose the acquaintance wisely, however, because only constructive feedback is helpful.

Authenticity is key when answering behavioral questions. Interviewers can often tell when a candidate is being disingenuous or overly rehearsed. Be honest about your experiences, even if they didn’t have perfect outcomes. If you’re discussing a time when you faced a significant challenge, don’t be afraid to admit what you learned from the situation. Authenticity not only builds trust with the interviewer but also allows you to present yourself as a genuine and reflective candidate. Remember, it’s not about having flawless experiences but about showing how you grow and learn from every situation.

Openly talking about your weaknesses might be uncomfortable, but it is absolutely essential that you stay authentic about them. Nobody is perfect, there is nothing wrong with having a problem or two you are still working on. Apart from that the interviewer can absolutely tell if you disingenuous, so don’t even try, if you want to make it to the next round of the application.

Behavioral questions sometimes delve into challenging or negative situations, but it’s important to maintain a positive tone in your answers. Even when discussing difficult experiences, focus on what you learned and how you turned the situation around. For instance, if you’re asked about a time you failed, discuss what you learned from that failure and how it led to future success. Keeping your responses positive and forward-looking demonstrates resilience and a growth mindset—qualities that are highly valued by employers.

It’s natural to feel nervous before and during an interview, but learning to control your nerves can significantly improve your performance. Practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, visualization, or mindfulness to calm yourself before the interview begins. During the interview, take your time to answer questions; it’s okay to pause for a moment to collect your thoughts. If you find yourself getting flustered, don’t hesitate to ask for a moment to think about your answer. Controlling your nerves helps you stay focused, articulate your thoughts clearly, and come across as confident and composed.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with being nervous about a job interview, especially if you are meant to open up about your weaknesses. But keep yourself calm and always remind yourself of the preparation you have done leading up to the day. Nobody expects you to know the answer to every question right away, so if nerves come in, don’t hesitate to take a moment to think before you reply. You can do it!