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How to use social media in your job search | Guardian Jobs

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Brought to you by Personal Career Management in association with Guardian Jobs How to use social media in your job search Most employers and recruitment agencies today are using social media to source the right candidates, which means it should be a big part of your job search strategy.

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Preparing for an interview takes a lot more than Googling a list of common interview questions (though yes, you should 100% be ready for those). You have to make a great first impression (no showing up in wrinkly suits or running late!), know about the company and its products and mission, and, of course, convey exactly why you'd be a great hire for this job.

What's the best job for you?

Use The Muse to find a job at a company with a culture you love. Select the career path that aligns with you:

How many years of experience do you have?

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Calculating your job matches...

So to help you prepare, we compiled a list of our all-time best pre-interview tips. From strategizing about how to tackle the toughest questions to packing your bag, we've got you covered-with 30 ways to make sure you bring your A-game.

Learn everything you can about the company, the job, and the interview.

A lot of your interview preparation will depend on the specifics surrounding the job, the company, and even who is interviewing you and how.

1. Research the company.

Spend a few hours learning everything you can about the company-from as many sources as you can. Talk to people in your network to find current and previous employees, read current news releases, and, yes, spend some time on Google. Often, candidates just look at the information a company is pushing out on its own website and social media accounts, but fail to look more in depth at what others are saying. By looking at multiple sources, you'll get a broader picture of the company (along with any negative press), and be ready to talk about why you'd like to work there and what you can do for them.

2. Learn everything you can about the open position.

Before you can show your interviewer why you'd be a great hire, you need to know what they're looking for. Luckily, most organizations have laid out exactly what they want in an applicant in the job posting. So go back to the description you looked at before you applied. What skills and experiences are they emphasizing? What problems will this hire need to solve? These are the things you'll want to emphasize throughout your interview.

3. Try out the company's product or service (if you can).

If the company you're interviewing for sells a product you can feasibly check out-try it before your interview (ideally, a few times). If hired, your goal will be to create value for the people who use that product, and being a user yourself is the first step. Plus, it'll help show the hiring manager that you're truly interested in the role.

4. Learn about the interviewers (without being creepy!)

If you're not told who you'll be meeting with during your interview, ask. For each interviewer, learn what their role at the company is and prep some questions that are specific to them. You can ask for details about their role, discuss current events related to their field, or bring up a common interest you know they have outside the office (just stick to one mentioned in an easily accessible spot, like their company bio or LinkedIn profile).

5. Find out what kind of interview you're in for-and prepare accordingly.

Different companies use different types of interviews, so ask what you'll be faced with. For example, some companies will have you meet one on one with several different people at the company, while others might have you meet with multiple people at once or give an interview presentation. You may also have a phone or video interview. Asking the recruiter or HR contact about the interview format ahead of time is totally fair game. And once you know, investing time to become familiar with this style can make a huge difference.

Brush up on interview skills and common interview questions.

Next, you'll want to use what you learned to prepare your answers to common interview questions and practice some interview techniques.

6. Identify your selling points for this job.

Even if you're a well-oiled interviewing machine, it's essential to spend time thinking carefully about what skills, accomplishments, and interview answers will resonate with your interviewers most for this job. Your management abilities? Your creativity? Go back to your research and see what makes you most qualified.

7. Be ready to tell the interviewer about yourself.

For every interview, you'll want to have an answer to " Tell me about yourself" that's tailored to this job and company and ready to go. Interviewers almost always ask this question or a similar one-like " Walk me through your resume "-to start off the conversation, so you want to make sure you're getting started on the right foot.

8. Know why you're interested in this position at this company.

It's likely you'll get asked why you're interested in this particular role and company. (And if you can't answer this question, you shouldn't be in the interview!) So to make sure you can answer, identify a couple of key factors about the job and the organization that align well with your strengths, interests, and/or work style and get you excited about the position. Even if you're not asked about this specifically, you can use this to inform your answers to other questions.

9. Do some salary research.

Even if you're not ready to have the money conversation, you might still get asked about your salary expectations. To keep yourself from getting caught off guard and giving (or agreeing to) a way-too-low number, do a bit of salary research to figure out how you'd answer.

10. Prepare your stories.

Most interviewers will ask at least a few behavioral questions, that is, questions about how you've acted or would act in certain scenarios. While you can't anticipate every possible situation you'll be asked about, you can prepare a few stories about your past work experiences that you can adapt as needed.

11. Familiarize yourself with the STAR method.

Whenever you're answering interview questions with a story, you want to make sure that story is well structured and the takeaway is clear. Your goal should be to give your interviewer all the context they need to understand what happened while still answering the question clearly and concisely. One way to do this is using the STAR method. STAR stands for:

Situation: Briefly lay out the scenario using just enough detail that the interviewer will understand the stakes and everything else in your answer.

Task: Talk about what your role in the situation was.

Action: Discuss what you did and why.

Result: Tell your interviewer about the outcome and what you learned.

Note that for some questions you might want to tweak this structure slightly. For example, if you're talking about a time you demonstrated leadership skills, consider defining what leadership means to you before jumping into the situation. But the STAR method will ensure your stories always have a beginning, middle, and end.

12. Jot down important numbers and details.

Don't forget about the numbers! Find some revenue figures, engagement numbers, budget or team sizes, percentages of time saved, or anything else you can use to communicate your impact. Throwing in some hard numbers when talking about your responsibilities and accomplishments or answering behavioral interview questions really sweetens the deal and helps you tell a hiring manager why you're so awesome. You can even write them down so you can refer to them during the interview. (Here's how to quantify your accomplishments, even if you don't work with numbers.)

13. Brush up on your interview skills.

How well you answer interview questions isn't everything-though it is a lot. Interviewers are also consciously or subconsciously picking up on how well you use other interview skills such as active listening, small talk, and empathy. These skills not only help you impress an interviewer, but also give them a sense of what it might be like to work you as a colleague.

14. Practice-but don't memorize-your answers to common interview questions.

You can and should familiarize yourself with common interview questions-but don't prepare by writing out your entire answer; instead, jot down a few notes or bullet points and keep them on hand for the interview itself. You'll ensure you cover the bases-without reading from a script. Practice looking in the mirror and answering them out loud. This prep work will help you clarify your thoughts and make you much more comfortable during the interview.

15. Think about body language.

Brush up on what certain body language conveys. Be aware of what you're communicating through your posture and stance-and make sure it's good. (For example, sitting with your arms and legs crossed sends a message that you are closed-off or feel defensive.) Think your movements through ahead of time so you're not distracted (or distracting) during the interview. If you're on video, think about how you'll show that you're actively engaged in that format-putting the Zoom window near your camera so you're not looking away from your interviewer, for example, or making non-verbal gestures or expressions to show that you're listening without cutting off their microphone.

16. Try some mock interviews.

If you have the time, do a few mock interviews with a friend or loved one. You'll be much better at answering, "What would you bring to the position?" the 100th time you do it and you'll know ahead of time where you want to put your hands or how you want to sit.

17. Write down questions you'll ask them.

Most interviews will wrap up with "Do you have any questions for me?" and you should absolutely have some questions. You can start with this list of interview questions to ask, but you should also plan some questions that are very specific to the job and company. And prepare more than you think you'll need-you don't want to ask questions that have already been answered or be left without any backup options if the interviewer already touched on your first two questions during your conversation.

18. Plan for what you'll do if you're caught off guard.

You can't prepare for everything, but you can prepare to handle the unexpected-like an interview question you don't know how to answer. For example, you can come up with a go-to phrase that'll help you avoid dead air if you need time to stall and gather your thoughts. Two strategies that work well are repeating the question thoughtfully before answering or saying (slowly), "Now, that is a great question. I think I would have to say..."

19. Prepare for technical interviews or skill tests.

If you're getting ready for a technical interview or you've been told there will be a skill test during your interview, start preparing and practicing as early as possible. Working through a prep book or sample questions will not only give you good practice, but it'll also put you in the right problem-solving mindset.

Get ready to present yourself well and figure out all of the interview logistics.

Once you've prepped for the content of your interview, it's time to make sure you walk in looking put together and feeling confident.

20. Figure out what to wear.

Unless you're prepping for a phone interview, you'll need to take your physical appearance into account. (And yes, for video interviews, that does include pants.) Not sure what to wear? Ask a contact at the company if you have one or scope out photos on their social media or Muse profile and dress at least as professionally as employees do. For example, for a casual environment, business casual is appropriate for an interview.

21. Look appropriate and professional.

Don't forget the little things. Make sure your outfit is cleaned, ironed or steamed, and tailored if needed (a modern fit is best). Shine your shoes, check for loose hems, and make sure your fingernails look neat. Do a little pampering, because looking your best helps you feel your best. If that means you need a facial, haircut, shave, or even a new interview outfit then by all means go for it! If you can't afford an appropriate outfit, you can check out a local Goodwill or thrift store or search for services in your area that provide free or discounted interview clothes for people who are out of work. Feeling good about yourself will boost your confidence-and we probably don't have to tell you that confidence is key to landing the job.

22. Print out copies of your resume.

If you're going to an in-person interview, you'll want to bring enough copies of your resume for everyone you're meeting with plus one to refer to yourself. However, if you have a phone or video interview it can still be useful to print out a hard copy of your resume to easily refer back to.

23. Prepare a reference list.

Prepare a reference list, whether you think you'll be asked for it or not. For each reference, include a name, title, organization, division or department, telephone number, and email address, as well as a sentence briefly explaining the relationship (e.g., "Carlton was my team leader for two years, during which we collaborated on four major product launches"). If you have an in-person interview, a hard copy is a good idea, and for any later-round interview, being prepared to send off the file as soon as you're asked for it shows how you prepare ahead of time.

24. Test any needed tech.

If you're doing your interview over the computer or the phone, make sure ahead of time that all the needed hardware, software, and network connections are working smoothly. If you can use headphones with a microphone, do so, and make sure they're connected before the interview begins.

25. Pack your bag ahead of time.

Whatever purse, backpack, or briefcase you carry should be large enough to hold your everyday essentials, plus your interview musts, such as extra resumes and a notepad, as well as a special emergency kit stocked with what you might need in an unexpected situation (think: Band-Aids, a stain stick, an umbrella, and breath mints). Here's a general checklist of what to bring to an interview so you're super prepared. And clean out that bag! If you have to dig past candy wrappers, phone chargers, and old receipts to get that resume, you're going to look a little disorganized.

26. Figure out where you're going and how you're getting there.

Whether you're driving or taking public transportation, make sure you look up your route ahead of time (including where you'll park). Buy any needed tickets, add needed money to your metro card, fill up your tank, or do anything that could slow you down on the way to your interview. Know how long it should take you to get there and add plenty of extra time in case of traffic or transit delays.

27. Prepare your environment (if needed).

If you're doing a remote interview, you're responsible for your environment, so make sure that you're in a quiet place without distractions and that anything you'll need to reference during the interview is laid out in front of you along with a notepad, working pen, and beverage. For video interviews, you'll also need to pay attention to what's going on behind you, so choose a plain or non-distracting background to sit in front of and make sure your shot is free of clutter and well lit ahead of time.

28. Fill in an interview cheat sheet.

You can use an interview cheat sheet to compile all the details you need to remember, jot down notes about what you want to say and ask, and check off all the essentials of what to bring to the interview. Print one out for every interview, read it over the morning of, and you'll be good to go! (We made one for you right here!)

29. Get a good night's sleep.

This sounds like something your mom would tell you, but there are few things that will throw you off your game like sleep deprivation.

30. Calm your nerves and/or get psyched.

Immediately before the interview (or as close to the time as possible) you'll want to get yourself in the right headspace. Expect to be nervous and plan ahead of time to use whatever tools you need. These methods are different for everyone, so think about what'll work for you. Maybe there's a friend who can pump you up (or talk you down) over the phone or text or a song that always makes you feel like you can do anything. Perhaps you need to do some breathing exercises or give yourself a pep talk in your car. Whatever will get you ready to go into your interview confident, calm, positive, and ready to ace it.
Regina Borsellino contributed writing, reporting, and/or advice to this article.

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Get ready for your upcoming job interview with this list of our all-time best interview tips on everything from salary questions to video interview backgrounds.

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In a culture where being social and outgoing are prized above all else, it can be difficult, even shameful, to be an introvert. But, as Susan Cain argues in this passionate talk, introverts bring extraordinary talents and abilities to the world, and should be encouraged and celebrated.

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Brené Brown studies human connection -- our ability to empathize, belong, love. In a poignant, funny talk, she shares a deep insight from her research, one that sent her on a personal quest to know herself as well as to understand humanity. A talk to share.

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Daniel Levitin: How to stay calm when you know you'll be stressed

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You're not at your best when you're stressed. In fact, your brain has evolved over millennia to release cortisol in stressful situations, inhibiting rational, logical thinking but potentially helping you survive, say, being attacked by a lion. Neuroscientist Daniel Levitin thinks there's a way to avoid making critical mistakes in stressful situations, when your thinking becomes clouded -- the pre-mortem.

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19 behavioural interview questions and how to answer them

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How to Answer _Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years

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Bank Teller Interview Questions and Answers

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20 Interview Questions Every Social Worker Needs to Know

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Interviews are always stressful, but they're less so when you know what to expect. Below, fifteen tech interviewers from a variety of companies share some favorite questions they like to ask, and their rationale for doing so.
1. When you don't know the answer to something, what is the first thing that you do?
"This question tells us if a candidate is able to self-manage, and if they're a fundamental problem solver. We want to hear that the candidate does the research and attempts to answer questions on their own before bringing the problem to their manager." - Annette Stone, Senior Manager of Recruiting, Wayfair Engineering
2. If you could design your dream job, what would it look like?
"This is an interesting question to ask because there is no right answer, but I consider good answers to be ones that come across as authentic. I can tell when a candidate is telling me what they think I'd like to hear. Along with creating connection and allowing the candidate to be creative, this question also reveals bits and pieces about an individual's long-term goals. Finally, I look for excitement in the candidate's answer. If a candidate can't get excited about their dream job, then how will they get excited about the job they are interviewing for?" - Talent Acquisition Manager at ONTRAPORT, Sara Hetyonk
3. Can you tell me about a side project you've worked on (outside of school or work) in the past year or so?
"Having a side project is a great indicator that the candidate loves to code and is passionate about writing software he or she is proud of. Furthermore, the code for a side project is often hosted on a public repository which I can browse to get another data point on the quality of code the candidate has written." - Brian Pugh, Vice President of Engineering for Lucid Software
4. Tell me about your process of getting work done. When you get a new job or take on a new project, how do you go about doing it successfully?
"I believe that every person has a very specific methodology behind the way they work. I want to know what that is, because in doing so I get to hear what I call the 6 P's of "A" Player passion, which are critical to understanding how the candidate will gel with the culture of the team, and whether their behavior will align with the hiring manager:

Purpose - Why they do what they do

Plan - How they do what they do

Process - What they do to do what they do

Persistence - What happens when what they do fails

Persuasive communication - How they get others involved in helping what they do become successful

Pride - How they celebrate what they do"

- Matt Doucette, Director of Global Talent Acquisition at Monster
5. How did you first learn to program and what was the first thing you built?
"I'm not trying to get at the skills level of a candidate with this question at all (I don't think you can do that for engineers by just asking questions, have to watch them code). I'm trying to get a sense of how excited does this candidate get when talking about something that was presumably a big moment in their life and I'm just checking for basic communication and any red flags -- this should be a pretty straightforward question for any engineer and gives them the best possible opportunity to show themselves in a good light." - Harj Taggar, cofounder and CEO of Triplebyte
6. Describe a coworker's working style.
"We ask candidates in project interviews to describe their coworkers' working styles, what they respect most about them, and what they learned from them. Does this person think about others? Can they distinguish between the strengths different coworkers add to the team? Can they identify anything beyond straight knowledge or skills that makes someone great/difficult to work with? For example, "They knew python really well" (meh) - "They had a talent to explain complex coding concepts in a way that was easily understood by everyone" (better).

"Great candidates can describe their coworkers working style in a nuanced manner with robust emotional vocabulary. Good candidates just say generically "good things" about co-workers but can't articulate details." - Nate Smith, cofounder and CTO of Lever
7. Can you tell us about a time you failed?
"This question tells us about how a person overcame a failure, without trying to hide their mistakes. A lot of the work Marxent does in the AR/VR space is uncharted territory and our engineers and other teams go through a lot of trial and error processes. Employees who hide behind failures waste time and cause confusion. We highly value members who can admit to mistakes, learn from them, and move forward." - Megan Gray, team operations manager at Marxent
8. Tell me how the Internet works.
"When candidates approach this question, some adopt a metaphor: "Well, it's like a post office, where you send out a letter and eventually you'll get a response back." Other candidates will go super granular to discuss the IP address, DNS server, packets, and you can learn a lot based on where they start. Whichever way they go helps pivot the conversation and ask about specific areas of focus." - Robert Gibbons, Chief Technology Officer of Datto
9. Which of your managers gets the best results and most value out of you and why?
"This particular question gives you a variety of information on the candidate on different levels. Based on their answer, we can identify their level of engagement and self-awareness. This also is a slightly unorthodox question purposefully because it causes them to think about the type of leadership that they respect, admire and want to follow. Subconsciously, they have specific managers that motivate them in a way that pushes them to achieve more.

"Their answer will tell us what motivates them, as a technical professional. What pushes them beyond their current technical scope to want to learn and achieve more? We can determine if their preferred leadership style matches the kind of leadership that we embody. It also gives us insight into whether they have the self-awareness to be able to identify the characteristics of another individual that affect them in a positive way." - Margaret Freel, Recruiter, TechSmith
10. Tell me about some of the more interesting or difficult problems you've been working on the past few years.
"It reverses the power dynamic; they're in control, not me. They're the expert on what they've worked on, I'm not. There's no wrong answer. So that relaxes them and is a great way to start an interview and make them feel comfortable. When they explain what they've been working on, I'm able to ask for more details about specific things as they are answering. So, I don't let them just give high-level general answers, I dig deeper on various topics they mention. That helps me understand exactly how deep their knowledge goes in the things they've been working on." - Tim Julien, Vice President of Engineering at Bonobos
11. If I were to ask your last set of coworkers to describe you, what do you think they'd say?
"It forces the candidate to think through the lens of those they work with, which can provide interesting insights about the candidate's working style. Answers range from "dependable" to "opinionated", and often provide a good opening to ask follow-up questions around why they believe their coworkers would hold that opinion." - Michael Boufford, VP of Engineering at Greenhouse
12. Have you made an account on our website and what do you think can be improved about the process?
"We love to ask this because it's a great test of two things: 1) does the interviewee show interest in our company and 2) can the interviewee think critically about product, not just as a user but as a builder. It's especially useful for smaller startups who need passionate early team members and you'd be astounded at how often an interviewee hasn't even taken the time to try out the product!" - Kenn Peters, Director of People at Vettery
13. Why do you get up in the morning?
"We're a young and rapidly growing team within a huge company, so we think of ourselves as a "startup in the enterprise" with the way we hire talent. This questions gives us a chance to see how well the candidates' passions align with their career goals, which is important when you're developing the collaborative and winning culture found in startup type environments." Miguel Quiroga, Head of Digital at Verizon Fios
14. Why are you taking the time to talk to me (recruiter, employer, etc.) today?
"[Tech workers] are the most sought-after professionals. The ones that are strong and most companies want to hire get dozens of reach-outs daily. This means they have their choice of employer and are very careful about picking who they work for. We put a lot of effort into making Prezi an inspiring place to work, and it is important that in addition to checking the boxes of "must haves" we also align their needs and motivations with our offerings." - Emoke Starr, Head of HR at Prezi
15. What's the one thing we haven't asked you about that you want to make sure we know?
"This question gives the candidate an opportunity to tell us exactly why they want the job, not just why they're qualified. In life, we are selling our ideas, projects, selves, etc., and it's important to have that skill at any level of the company, in any position - even the most technical ones. I want to hire people who would be passionate, excited and committed to work at ReadyTalk, so this question helps me weed out the people (even if they're highly skilled) who just want a job." - Courtney Graham, senior director of human resources, ReadyTalk

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15 Questions Technical Hiring Managers Love To Ask In Interviews

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Interviews are always stressful, but they're less so when you know what to expect. Below, fifteen tech interviewers from a variety of companies share some favorite questions they like to ask, and their rationale for doing so. 1. When you don't know the answer to something, what is the first thing that you do?

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Career Advice - Tips for Job Interviews, Resume & Career Development | Monster.com

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Whether you're looking to change careers or simply want to know what interview questions to prepare for, this is the place for career advice and tips.

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Catch up on the latest news, photos, videos, and more on Career Advice.

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Articles about Job Interview - tribunedigital-chicagotribune

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Job Interview News. Find breaking news, commentary, and archival information about Job Interview From The tribunedigital-chicagotribune

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Advice Before Answering Interview Questions

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Advice Before Answering Interview Questions

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Practice Difficult Interview Questions and Answers

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Practice Difficult Interview Questions and Answers

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Body Language and how it shapes who we are.

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Body Language and how it shapes who we are.

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Get a daily email featuring the latest talk, plus a quick mix of trending content.

By subscribing, you understand and agree that we will store, process and manage your personal information according to our Privacy Policy

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Amy Cuddy: Your body language may shape who you are

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(NOTE: Some of the findings presented in this talk have been referenced in an ongoing debate among social scientists about robustness and reproducibility. Read "Corrections & Updates" below for more details as well as Amy Cuddy's response.) Body language affects how others see us, but it may also change how we see ourselves.

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By Brandon Miller
Monster Generation Y Contributing Writer

People are so used to expressing themselves nowadays. They plaster captioned photos on Facebook, post their innermost thoughts to Wordpress, and outline entire work histories on LinkedIn. And yet, so many Canadians find it difficult to talk about themselves in the one instance where it's unabashedly necessary: in an interview.

Whereas one might describe his or herself as "carefree and compassionate" on a first date, there exists no such trait keywords for interviews. That's why it's essential to take simple adjectives and turn them into skills that can be transferred to the job at hand. Hereby we include a list of personality traits in the workplace.

Ambitious: I am driven to succeed.

Approachable: I work well with others.

Articulate: I can express myself well in front of groups.

Autonomous: I use initiative.

Calm: I stay levelheaded in a crisis.

Cheerful: I develop a positive work environment.

Clever: I can juggle multiple tasks.

Competitive: I thrive under pressure.

Confident: I am not afraid to ask questions.

Cooperative: I get along well in a team setting.

Courteous: I care about workplace atmosphere.

Curiosity: I am eager to learn.

Determined: I am self-motivated.

Devoted: I am committed to the company's success.

Diligent: I always work my hardest.

Easygoing: I easily adapt to new situations.

Educated: I possess formal training.

Efficient: I have very quick turnover time.

Eloquent: I have strong communication skills.

Energetic: I am able to work long and hard hours.

Enthusiastic: I put my all into every project.

Flexible: I am able to adapt my priorities.

Focused: I am goal-oriented.

Friendly: I am easy to work with.

Honest: I value integrity.

Imaginative: I am inventive in my work process.

Independent: I need little direction.

Inquisitive: I am excellent at gathering information.

Insightful: I can read between the lines.

Intuitive: I can sense when there is a problem.

Meticulous: I pay attention to the small details.

Neurotic: I am a perfectionist.

Open-minded: I take constructive criticism well.

Opinionated: I am comfortable voicing opinions.

Patient: I am not easily ruffled.

Perceptive: I can read people effortlessly.

Persuasive: I am a natural salesperson.

Procedural: I work best with structure.

Punctual: I have great time management skills.

Quiet: I am a great listener.

Relaxed: I do not stress easily.

Resourceful: I use every tool at hand.

Responsible: I always finish a task on time.

Talkative: I am comfortable initiating a dialogue.

Technological: I am industrially savvy.

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50 Positive Character Traits for the Workplace

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By Brandon Miller Monster Generation Y Contributing Writer People are so used to expressing themselves nowadays. They plaster captioned photos on Facebook, post their innermost thoughts to Wordpress, and outline entire work histories on LinkedIn. And yet, so many Canadians find it difficult to talk about themselves in the one instance where it's unabashedly necessary: in an interview.

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2% of Applicants get Jobs, you can be one of them

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2% of Applicants get Jobs, you can be one of them

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Behavioural Interview Questions and Answers

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Behavioural Interview Questions and Answers

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This article is based on the e-book "Interview Secrets Exposed"

It is estimated that 80% of every interview is made up of behavioural questions. This type of interviewing is based on the philosophy that your past actions and behaviours will be a good indicator of your future behaviours. Therefore, how you acted towards certain circumstances in your previous job is a reliable indicator of how you will act in your new job. In this article we'll take a closer look at these behaviour type questions - with preparation tips and examples.
What are behavioural questions
These types of questions differ from standard interview questions as they focus more on experiences, behaviours, knowledge, skills and abilities. Rather than the standard question of "Do you have leadership skills" a behavioural question is more likely to be "Give me an example of your previous role when you displayed leadership abilities." As the interviewer has already determined which skills are necessary for the role, it is important that you are prepared for these questions.

The best way to begin studying for these questions is to look at the job description. The list of skills that they require are the skills they will more than likely focus on. When the job description mentions they require a person with good teamwork skills or negotiation skills, it is more than likely that this will be turned into a behavioural question to see if you really do possess these skills.

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How to answer behavioural questions

The best way to answer a behavioural question is to use the STAR format.

Situation: The interviewer wants you to present a recent challenge and situation in which you found yourself.

Task: What did you have to achieve? The interviewer will be looking to see what you were trying to achieve from the situation.

Action: What did you do? The interviewer will be looking for information on what you did, why you did it and what the alternatives were.

Results: What were the outcomes of your actions? What did you achieve through your actions and did you meet your objectives? What did you learn from this experience and have you used this learning since?
How to nail the behavioural interview
1) Take a blank piece of paper and write down between 10-20 examples from your education, work experience, community work, charity etc. of where you added value in a positive way.

2) Now using the STAR format write out the Situation, Task, Action, R esult

Example question: "Give me an example of a time when you set a goal and were able to meet or achieve it."

Situation: My role as project manager was to ensure that projects are completed on time and on budget.

Task: My last role involved combining three office spaces into one. With a tight deadline of 90 days and dealing with multiple contractors from different companies, I knew it was going to be a struggle to complete the job in time. I set the goal of having everything completed within 80 days to give us 10 days at the end to make final corrections.

Action: By dividing all the different contractors into three main teams and having three project managers controlling the three teams, I was able to create a more efficient and effective work timetable and ensure that downtime was kept to a minimum.

Result: As a result of this more efficient working time we completed the job on time and reduced costs by 15%. This new way of dividing contractors into smaller teams has now been implemented into standard work procedure and seen a reduction in overall costs.
19 of the most asked behavioural questions

Describe a time when you were faced with a stressful situation and how you overcame the situation

Provide an example of when you showed initiative and took the lead

Tell me about a situation where you have had to speak with an unhappy customer

Give me an example of a time when you motivated others and how this led to a positive outcome

Give an example of a goal you set and how you reached it

Describe an instance when you had to think on your feet to make a split second decision

Describe a situation where you knew your boss was wrong - how did you handle it?

Describe a major change or adjustment to your job and your reactions to the change

Tell me about a time when you encountered conflict in the workplace and how you handled the conflict

Provide an example of when you had to go above and beyond your normal duties in order to get the job done

Describe a time when you put the needs of your workmates before your own when completing a task

Provide an example of a problem you had with a co-worker or boss and how you resolved it

Provide an example of a time when you felt you were able to motivate

Describe a time when you did not put in 100% into your job or performance and what you did about it

Tell me about a time when you had to solve a problem with very little guidance or direction

Tell me about a time when you went overtime on a deadline

What is the biggest contribution you made in your current role?

What are you most proud of in your working career?

Discuss a setback you have overcome in the last 12 months

If you would like to learn more about what it takes to properly prepare for an interview, then start by downloading and studying the free eBook "Interview Secrets Exposed" written by Gavin F. Redelman from RedStarResume.

[bookboon-book id="f5b3330f-67b8-4560-b8ca-9fdc00f801f8″ title="Download our FREE e-book to find out more" button="Download your FREE copy now"]

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19 behavioural interview questions and how to answer them - Bookboon Blog

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This article is based on the e-book "Interview Secrets Exposed" It is estimated that 80% of every interview is made up of behavioural questions. This type of interviewing is based on the philosophy that your past actions and behaviours will be a good indicator of your future behaviours.

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When The Interviewer Asks You "Give me an example of when you..."

By the Monster Career Coach

It used to be that in job interviews you'd be asked a series of questions that were set in the future. For instance, the interviewer might say something like "If you were in a situation that required you to make a good decision quickly, how might you react?"

Nowadays it's common for interviewers to focus more on your past behaviours than on future situations.

They might make a request of you to "Please give me an example of a situation that required you to make a good decision quickly. How did you react, and what were the outcomes?"

The Past Is a Predictor of Future Behaviour

An assumption being made in this line of questioning is that how you've acted in the past is the best indication of what you'll do in the future. Whether or not this is entirely true, you are best off to prepare for behavioural interview questions.

The way to answer this type of interview question is in the form of a brief story that relates to question that you have been asked. The story should be no longer than a minute or two. It can be broken down into three distinct parts: a description of The Situation, a summary of the Actions that you took, and highlights of the Results that you achieved.

Become A Storyteller

Here are the three parts, in more detail, of a reply to behavioural questions.

1. The SITUATION: What was happening at the time? What was the nature of the problem or opportunity?

2. The ACTIONS you took: Describe what you did, either personally or as part of a team, to solve the problem or take advantage of the opportunity.

3. The RESULTS: Describe how your efforts paid off. Try to quantify in specific terms wherever possible.

How do you get started? By taking one of the bullet points you've used in your
resume, and converting it into a SITUATION - ACTIONS - RESULTS story.

Here's an example from an interview with a potential salesperson at a toy manufacturing company, using the following bullet point from an applicant's resume:

* Designed a new in-store promotion based on input from the store owners. Boosted sales by 20% above initial projections.

Now, here's how the job interview might go.

Interviewer: How have you made sure that you've met your sales quota when helping to launch a new product?

Job Seeker:
Starts with Situation. "Hmmm...well, back at Playtime Inc., we launched a new doll based on a character from "The Addams Family" movie. Sales weren't anywhere near what we'd hoped for after the first three months.

Shifts to Actions. "So I went out and met with buyers from three of our other key accounts to determine what the problem was. Based on their input and that of the store owners, I worked with our marketing department to re-design the in-store sales material and we created a contest."

Finishes with Results. "After that, sales jumped up within three months to 20% above what we'd budgeted. My boss was so happy she put a letter of congratulations in my file. Here, I brought a copy to show you."

Keep The Story Short and Punchy

See? All it takes is a quick story about a relevant accomplishment. Structure it in three parts, including the Situation, Actions and Results. Tell the story with confidence and enthusiasm.

Then when you're finished answering the behavioural question - STOP TALKING. Let the interviewer probe further if they want to. Otherwise you can pat yourself on the shoulder for answering effectively, and move on to the next question.

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Behavioural Interview Questions & How to Answer Them

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When The Interviewer Asks You "Give me an example of when you..." By the Monster Career Coach It used to be that in job interviews you'd be asked a series of questions that were set in the future.

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Job Interview Tips - Job Interview Questions and Answers

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101 Great Answers To The Toughest Interview Questions ©

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This is an excellent guide to attend interviews. 101 Great Answers To The Toughest Interview Questions contains a collection of all possible interview questions and how to answer and face them in a typical interview. A prospective job seeker can also get excellent tips to cracking hard interview questions in this video.

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Why do you want to work here - Common Interview Questions

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FREE Online job interview training program - Get it here now: https://jobinterviewtools.com/YouTube In this free program you'll learn how to improve your interview performance with my simple step-by-step formula for interview success.

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Tell Me About Yourself - Interview answer example

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How to answer, Can you work under pressure - Job Interview Questions

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FREE Online job interview training program - Get it here now: https://jobinterviewtools.com/YouTube In this free program you'll learn how to improve your interview performance with my simple step-by-step formula for interview success.

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Why do you want to leave your job - Answers to job interview questions

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FREE Online job interview training program - Get it here now: https://jobinterviewtools.com/YouTube In this free program you'll learn how to improve your interview performance with my simple step-by-step formula for interview success.

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Why Should I Hire You? - Best Classic Answer

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What can you do for us that no one else can - Tough Interview Questions

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FREE Online job interview training program - Get it here now: https://jobinterviewtools.com/YouTube In this free program you'll learn how to improve your interview performance with my simple step-by-step formula for interview success.

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Awesome channel for practice questions. He walks you through them and demonstrates a good answer to them.