“Behavioral Interview” is an interview technique which was introduced in 1970’s. In Behavioral interview, you are not asked questions like what you can do in future? or how can you benefit us? Rather in this technique, you are asked about your past critical situations and how you behaved during those situations. The logic is that your past experience will show your future abilities. In this situation, one must describe in detail a particular event, project, or experience and how he dealt with that and most particularly what was the outcome? The interviewer will be interested in knowing how you behaved in past.
Sample Questions which can be asked during Behavioral Interview:
On a behavioral interview, mechanical engineers can expect questions like "Tell me about a time when..." or "Give me an example of when..." Fill in the blanks with one of any number of skills, knowledge, or abilities the interviewer is trying to ascertain you have. Sample questions are:
- Did it ever happen that someone rejected your ideas? Then How you convinced him to accept your idea? Did he agree?
- Tell me about some past situation when you were under pressure and how you dealt with that?
- Ever you went beyond call of duty? When? Why? How?
- Did you ever introduced some new concept or technology in your past job or education?
- Have you ever achieved your goals or dreams? How? When?
- Tell us about any project which included teamwork and what was your contribution in that?
- Tell us when you failed in some project and why?
- Give an example of a time when you had to be relatively quick in coming to a decision.
- Ever you were given leadership of some project? How you went with it?
- What things are normally your top priorities in some assignment? And how you select them?
- Tell us about the situation when you were not agree with your boss and how you persuaded him to your point? Did he agree?
- Have you ever worked with a team who knew nothing about their assignment? How you handled that?
- What if your schedule is interrupted? Give past example.
- Give me a specific example of a time when you used good judgment and logic in solving a problem.
- Tell us about your best presentation in life?
- Give me an example of a time when you had to make a split second decision.
- How you dealt with conflicting issues in past? Give example.
- Tell us about your experience when you took some initiative?
- Give a specific example of a policy you conformed to with which you did not agree.
- Describe the most creative work-related project you have completed
- Tell us when you worked with some coworker whom you don’t like or vice versa?
- Tell me about a situation when you had to speak up (be assertive) in order to get a point across that was important to you.
- Tell me about a time when you missed an obvious solution to a problem.
- Give me an example of a time when you had to keep from speaking or making a decision because you did not have enough information.
- Tell us about your quickest decision ever in life?
- Please discuss an important written document you were required to complete.
- Were you ever stuck in a situation when you were assigned too many jobs that you were unable to do them all?
- Were you ever forced to do something you never liked?
- Ever you faced some do or die situation in life? How you dealt with that?
- Tell me about a time two people you had to work with weren't getting along.
How to prepare for behavioral interview?
What's the best way for mechanical engineers to prepare for behavioral interview? It's important to remember that you won't know what type of interview will take place until you are sitting in the interview room. So preparing for behavioral interview will also get you prepared for traditional interviews as well. First you must determine what competencies the employer is looking for. For this purpose, you should know each and every thing about that company. You can go through company website or ask other employees in that company so that you are well aware of what that company requires from an employee. These competencies can be different from organization to organization. Behavioral interview competencies may include: Analytical thinking, Values Diversity, Toughness, Time Management, Variety, Strategic Planning, Team Work, Setting priorities, Stress management, Setting goals, Setting and developing people, Sales, Self assessment, Removing obstacles, Resolving conflict, Project management, Problem solving, Problem resolution, Ideas, Planning and organization, Presentation, Persuasion, Personal effectiveness, Negotiation, Self motivation, Motivation others, Integrity, Leadership, Initiative, Innovation, Introducing change, Flexibility, Evaluating employees, Decision making, Customer orientation, Communication, Ambition, Adaptability and Enthusiasm.
You may have a look on all the questions related to all the categories given above here on:
Next you need to come up with examples of how you've demonstrated those competencies. You can start by listing questions an interviewer might ask you. Try to answer the questions related to the competencies the job requires. Think not only of examples with positive outcomes, but those with negative outcomes as well. Interviewers will ask you about situations that you could not resolve favorably and what you learned from those experiences. That's the beauty of Behavioral interview.
Three-step STAR process for behavioral interview:
During the Behavioral interview, if you are not sure how to answer the question, ask for clarification. The best way to accomplish behavioral interview for mechanical engineers is to use the three-step STAR process or:
- The Situation
- The Tasks that needed to be done
- The Action you took
- The Results i.e. what happened
For example, you might recount a time when communication within your work group had broken down (situation). To resolve the problem, you organized informal lunch meetings for people to discuss relevant issues (action). Morale then improved, as did the lines of communication (result). Using this three step STAR process is a powerful way for mechanical engineers to frame your experiences and accomplishments for the interviewer.
Listen to the questions very carefully and if you are in doubt, you may ask again for clarification. It's important to keep in mind that there are no right or wrong answers. The interviewer is simply trying to understand how you behaved in a given situation. How you respond will determine if there is a fit between your skills and the position the company is seeking to fill. So, listen carefully, be clear and detailed when you respond and, most importantly, be honest. If your answers aren't what the interviewer is looking for, this position may not be the best job for you anyway.
