News

You may or may not be familiar with the term ‘behavioural interviewing’. It essentially means that interview questions will require you to provide specific examples. Interviewers are seeking real and recent examples of where and how you have demonstrated a particular skill or competency. Behavioural interviews are based on the theory that the best predictor of your future performance is your past performance. Questions will typically be structured to seek information relating to:

• The Situation at the time, or Task you were given;
• The specific Action you took in that situation or for that task; and
• The Result or outcome of your actions.

This is often referred to as ‘STAR’ questions and answers. Watch this short, fun video for an overview of the STAR format in interviews. Click here to view the video. 

As a guide, most interviews will likely ask questions relating to:

• Team orientation
• Your technical skills and knowledge
• Initiative
• Safety

Think about recent experiences you have had that may demonstrate your capability in each of the above areas. Make notes on each as follows (an example):

Initiative

What was the Situation or Task (i.e. where were you, what was happening or what were you tasked to do?)

During Year 10 work experience, I completed a placement at the local radio station with the morning show, working closely with the two presenters. 

What specific Actions did you take?

I attended planning meetings, observed how run sheets are prepared, and assisted with producing content.  Early in the week, I asked if I could prepare content and present on air, which was approved.  During the week, I presented five times on different topics.

What was the Result?

Because of my work on placement week, I was subsequently offered my own show on another community radio station. This is a weekly show that will allow me to produce and present my own content. The presenters I worked with on work placement have also said they will provide me with ongoing support and coaching.

If you had prepared the above example using the STAR format, you are in a confident position to answer any one of the following interview questions:

• Tell us about a time when you demonstrated initiative
• Give us an example of a time when you created something new.
• Has there been a time when you proposed an idea that was accepted by your employer/school?  What happened?

It is strongly recommended that you identify the top four or five specific criteria that the employer is seeking and to draft examples for each of these. Every job advert will typically provide explicit detail on requirements, making it easy to identify the type of questions they will ask. If you prepare this way, it means you will have a simple menu of five or so examples to draw from to answer any question that is asked of you. Think back over your schooling, sporting, home, work or volunteering experience and select examples that are as recent as possible, but also have impact.

Next, practice, practice, practice!  It may sound strange, but actually practicing your responses in front of the mirror or to someone else is a great way of ensuring that you gain confidence and can then be aware of any particular habit you have when nervous, e.g. tapping your leg, avoiding eye contact. You need to practice answers that are succinct and articulate – where you still provide enough detail but without waffling. 

If you identify five or six specific examples for common job requirements like initiative, safety, team work and customer service, it then almost does not matter what the question is that is asked – your answer will likely suit!  This means you will then feel more relaxed during the interview and less nervous about thinking of an answer on the spot.  Obviously, your answers need to be true because they will likely be checked with your referees. Even if an interviewer asks you what you would do in a particular scenario (e.g. “what would you do if you had an angry customer?”), it is far more impressive if you can respond with, "Rather than tell you what I might do, let me give you a recent example of what I did do". 

Further questions to help you practice with the STAR format:

Most often interviews will open with a question/request like:

• Tell us about you
• Why are you interested in a working here/or a career in……?
• Based on what you know about the role, tell us how your skills and experience align with our requirements.

Questions relating to Safety

• Tell us about a time when you had to follow safety procedures. How did you familiarise yourself?
• Tell us about a dangerous task you had to perform. How did you make sure you or someone else was not injured?
• Tell us about a time when you observed someone not following correct safety procedure/being unsafe. What did you do?

Questions relating to Teams

• What is it that you contribute to a team?  Give me an example.
• Tell us about your role in the most successful team you have been associated with. What made it a successful team?
• Tell us about a time you worked with someone who was not as cooperative as you needed him or her to be. What did you do?
• Tell us about a time when you went out of your way to help a team member.

Questions relating to Initiative

• Describe some of the ways you have demonstrated initiative at school/home/work?
• What are some of the ways you have improved the way you study and learn?

The interview is an opportunity to share information, so be prepared to ask questions as well as answer them.

Whilst it is your only chance to make a good first impression (and therefore important, to present well), also remember it is only a meeting, so no matter how much you want the job, try to relax.  Every interview is an opportunity to practice.

CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO NEWSLETTER