An employer wants to know, before they hire you, how you will behave in certain situations that you could potentially face on the job. Everyone possesses attributes that allow her to cope with different situations. These attributes are called competencies. On a behavioral interview you are expected to prove (or disprove) that you have certain competencies by describing circumstances under which you had to use them in the past. The interviewer will use this information to help him determine whether you will be a good employee.

Preparing for a Behavioral Interview

You will need to do a great deal of preparation before a behavioral interview. Begin by trying to figure out what competencies the employer desires. Read the job description thoroughly and try to pick up clues. You can consult your network to see if any of your contacts are familiar with the company. Someone familiar with the company may know what competencies it values. If you can't find out what competencies you might need to demonstrate on a behavioral interview with a particular employer, don't panic. The competencies employers most desire, and therefore the ones they often ask you about on a behavioral interview, are problem-solving, decision-making, organization, time management, interpersonal skills, and the ability to multitask.

Once you have figured out which competencies you will have to demonstrate, it is time to come up with an anecdote for each one. Review all the jobs listed on your resume to refresh your memory. Think about the projects you worked on at each one and what actions you took in order to complete them successfully. You should also consider the problems you may have encountered and how you solved them. Which of your strengths did you draw upon to help you achieve positive results?

You should start by writing down these anecdotes, making sure to include details. Next, you should practice telling your stories out loud. Find a friend who is willing to listen to you, preferably someone who works in a similar job. Find out what your friend thinks of the story and whether it demonstrates the competency and skill you intend it to demonstrate.

Sample Behavioral Interview Questions

Each of these questions asks the job candidate to demonstrate one or a few competencies. The competency or competencies the employer expects you to demonstrate in your answer is shown in parentheses following the question.

• How have you handled being assigned several projects at once? (prioritizing, time management, multitasking)

• Describe a situation where you had to critique someone's performance and offer suggestions to help him do better. (interpersonal)

• Discuss a project you had to complete on short notice. (time management)

• Talk about a time you had to motivate members of a team. (leadership)

• Describe how you dealt with an unforeseen problem. (problem-solving)

• How have you set goals for yourself and achieved them? (goal-setting)

• Talk about a presentation you had to make. (presentation)

• Discuss a time when you had to deal with an unhappy client. (interpersonal)

Of course, these are only a few of the questions you may be presented with during a behavioral interview. You will most likely need to think on your feet in order to come up with an appropriate example for each question. The main way to prepare is to practice, practice, practice. The more situations you prepare for, the better your chances of impressing the interviewer and getting the job.