You’re preparing for a behavioral interview. What’s the best way to make a great impression?

As you’re preparing for an interview, ask your recruiter if they can help shed light on the areas your interviewer will be focusing on, any cultural values you have questions on, and how your interviewer will interact with the person in the role. This will help you as you prepare your examples, ensuring they are relevant to your interviewers, the subjects they’re focused on, and fit the company. I also highly suggest practicing your examples. You don’t want to sound rehearsed but I’ve personally found that by speaking my examples out loud, I’m able to get the words in my mouth and work through any “rabbit holes” I might go down.

In order to prepare for a behavioral interview, I recommend that you make a list of your "greatest hits." These are examples that showcase your experience and accomplishments that you can easily speak to succinctly but impactfully. You want the examples to be multipurpose. Have a few ready that you really know and can be applied to a variety of questions. Practice explaining these to a friend or family member using the STAR framework.

Knowing what to expect in a behavioral interview is crucial for making a great impression. By researching common behavioral interview questions and understanding the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method, you can effectively prepare examples from your past experiences to showcase your skills and competencies. For example, anticipating questions about teamwork might prompt you to recall a successful collaboration project and articulate how you contributed to its success. This preparation ensures you're ready to provide insightful and relevant responses during the interview, leaving a positive and memorable impression on the interviewer.

1.Understand the company culture, values, and job requirements. Tailor your answers to align with these aspects 2.Familiarize yourself with the STAR method to structure your responses 3.Rehearse responses to common Q, drawing from your experiences to provide specific examples 4.Emphasize your accomplishments and how they demonstrate relevant skills and qualities for the job 5.Demonstrate: positive attitude, enthusiasm for the role, and passion for the industry 6.Pay attention to the questions and ensure your responses directly address the interviewer's inquiries 7.Be genuine and honest in your responses 8.Thank-you email after the interview and reiterate your interest in the position

Before anything else know what type of interview you are invited to attend, and understand what will be assessed. In this case we are focused on a behavioural interview. “The best predictor of future behaviour is past behaviour”, If you have ever come across this quote then you will understand what's required of you in this assessment. A Behavioural interviews focuses on a candidate's past experiences and actions as a predictor of future behaviours in situations in the relevant role they are being assessed for. Actions to prepare: -Match your current skills and responsibilities to job specification -Prepare examples of past experience aligned to skills and behavioural required on job specification. -Adapt answers to STAR Methodology.

Using the STAR method in a behavioral interview is an excellent way to make a great impression. By structuring your responses around Situation, Task, Action, and Result, you can effectively showcase your skills and experiences. For instance, when asked about a challenging project you managed, you could describe the Situation and Task, detail the Actions you took to address obstacles, and highlight the positive Result, such as exceeding project goals or improving team efficiency. This method demonstrates your ability to handle complex situations and achieve successful outcomes, leaving a lasting impression on the interviewer.

One of the most important ways to do well in an interview is to remain Clear concise and answer the question asked. The S.T.A.R methodology helps with the structures of ones answer. you cover the following with each answer: Situation, Task, Action, and Result. A tip I would give is Google "Behavioural interview questions" for the position and prepare using the above mentioned methodology to answer. Think it through because you must remember that your past actions and experiences are being assessed and being used to gauge possible future outcomes. The devil is truly in the detail, and this methodology helps one collect their thoughts, think clearly, get to the point and provide the best possible answers in a behavioural interview.

Preparing some examples is crucial for making a great impression in a behavioral interview. By having specific instances ready, you can demonstrate your skills and experiences effectively. For instance, you could prepare examples of times when you successfully solved a problem under pressure, collaborated with a team to achieve a goal, or took initiative to overcome a challenge. These examples not only showcase your abilities but also provide concrete evidence of your capabilities to the interviewer. Thus, preparing relevant examples beforehand can significantly enhance your performance and leave a positive impression during the interview.

When preparing examples, be sure to bring a range of them for any given question. Ask your recruiter to share the questions in advance, if possible, and try to identify 3 examples per question.

By providing insightful examples you really get the effect of guiding the recruiter through your daily activities. You can "show them around" your working domain, your expertise, thereby conveying a sense of professional self-confidence in the role. In order to be a master, preparation is pivotal, yet again! Do spend some time to collect some key moments in your job. Start from the job description, understand what key competencies are laid out there and nail down your best moments at that!

Whether the interview is over the phone, virtual, or in-person, write down some examples with measurable outcomes. To get started, consider an example for each bullet of the job description and each of the company's values.

What I have learnt is body Language speaks a thousand words, and the confidence and positivity needs to be authentic. Trust the preparation you have made, speak slowly, listen attentively and Breathe. To be honest remembering to sit up straight, keep a smile on your face, keep eye contact with whomever is engaging with you, sit with your feet firmly on the ground and keep hands in a comfortable position. Displaying good self confidence helps us trust you and in your abilities, the panel develops a sureness in your knowledge and experience. When you are faced with a question you have no answers to be honest but express you willingness to learn and redirect the conversation to relevant work where you are confident and have experience.

One of the most effective strategies to make a great impression in a behavioral interview is to exude confidence and positivity. Confidence demonstrates that you believe in your abilities and are capable of handling challenges. Positive energy can create a welcoming atmosphere and convey enthusiasm for the opportunity. For instance, maintaining good posture, making eye contact, and speaking clearly showcase confidence. Additionally, sharing anecdotes of past accomplishments with enthusiasm can illustrate your positive attitude and ability to overcome obstacles effectively. Overall, projecting confidence and positivity can leave a lasting impression on interviewers and increase your chances of success.

Practicing your answers will generate the confidence and positivity during your interviews. Use every resource at your disposal and engage with others to listen to your tone, provide feedback on your body posture, and embrace the fact that you won't be perfect at first. Be ok with not being perfect!

It might be tricky to imagine being confident during an interview, without ending up sounding either too boastful - which unfortunately is sometimes the case - or too technical in the specifics of the single tasks. The key, I would say, is to have genuine interest in the role you are interviewing for. When you are actually curious and eager to know more about the role, while understanding how much of your skill set and attitude can be aligned with what the company is looking for, you win!

One key way to make a great impression in a behavioral interview is to follow up after the interview. Sending a thank-you email expressing gratitude for the opportunity to interview demonstrates professionalism and leaves a positive impression on the interviewer. Additionally, following up with any additional information or clarifications regarding questions asked during the interview can further showcase your interest and suitability for the role. For example, you might mention specific points discussed during the interview that you found particularly interesting or highlight relevant experiences that align with the job requirements.

Following up with the recruiter is always a nice idea. It shows interest in the recruiting process and availability for any further updates or questions. Tip: keep it short and simple, and write what feels good for you.

I think sending a thank you is always a good idea. It can be overlooked, or it can seal the deal, so to speak. Keep a standard thank you signature or template handy so you can constantly tailor it to each specific interview but do not have to start from scratch every time you interview.

Okay, nailed the STAR method for those behaviorals? Don't stop there! Think "hidden gems." Remember that project where you caught a reporting issue? Show how you saved the day with your smarts. This proves you go the extra mile! Interviews are about more than just what you did, it's about how you crushed it. Shine a light on those hidden gems and you'll stand out from the crowd.