How To Prepare For A Behavoural Interview
What can you expect during your next interview? The question “where do you see yourself in 5 years?” Maybe, but not likely. You will more than likely be exposed to behavioural based interview questions. During such and interview the emphasis will be on gaining behavioural examples, examples that will predict future performance based on past performance.
Good preparation before the interview can make answering these questions much easier.
These are questions designed to indicate how you would think and act in certain situations, and whether you would demonstrate the skills and qualities a future employer are interested in.
Behavioural questions usually begins with a statement like: 'Tell me about a time when...' or 'Can you describe a situation where...'
S is for 'situation' - introduce the occasion you are about to describe
T is for 'task' - describe your responsibilities and what you were required to do
A is for 'action' - describe what you did to fulfil your responsibilities
R is for 'results' - summarise the outcomes
You are asked: 'Can you tell me about a time when you had to formulate a sales plan?'
Using the guide your answer might be something like this:
Situation
'Yes - earlier this year I had to put together productivity plan for our Sales Director’
Task
'To do this, I identified target markets, used sales matrix figures and projected statistical ratio’s on which to base productivity targets.’
Action
'I correlated all the information and, based on the budgeted sales figures, worked back to what productivity targets would be needed, based on identified ratio’s, to be reach in order to achieve and exceed the budgeted figures’
Results
'The sales plan was excepted and implementation happened a week later. So far, having stuck to the plan, I have achieved 110% of my required results. The plan has been in operation now for a month and a half.”
