Behavioural interviews can be the career changer's worst
nightmare. Since being introduced in the 80s by industrial
psychologist, Dr Tom Janz, at least 1 in 3 recruiters make
use of behavioural interview questions. This article shares
simple albeit powerful steps by which people seeking to
make career changes can answer behavioural interview
questions successfully.
1. Be Friendly - If the job in question requires people
skills (and most sociable jobs do) then your interviewers
will want to see tangible proof of your claims. Don't go
over the top though, just be polite and confident,
listening attentively and emphasising similarities whilst
making small talk. For instance, if your interviewer has
just had a baby, extend your congratulations and ask how he
or she is coping with the change in lifestyle. If you have
recently had a baby yourself, briefly share experiences
that the interviewer may find humorous and helpful. If all
goes according to plan, be sure to tender your rapport
building skills as ample evidence during the course of the
behavioural interview.
2. Ask - Nothing denotes timidity and disinterest like
candidates who fail to ask questions of their own during
job interviews. After giving a good account of yourself,
find out if the job is really a great match for you by
asking the interviewers some behavioural questions too.
Good questions to ask each interviewer are: 'How did you
come to work for this company and what have you enjoyed the
most so far? How many hours a week do you put into this job
and what have been your biggest challenges yet? In what
ways have the company rewarded hard work and initiative of
recent?' It is also a great idea to ask your interviewers
if they would be willing to offer you some feedback on your
performance at a later date. If you manage to build good
rapport and express genuine interest in the company, many
interviewers would be more than happy to give you interview
feedback.
3. Recap - Never forget that employers want to hire multi
talented people who will add long term value to their
organisations. At the end of your behavioural interview,
recap by summarising the talents and behaviours that equip
you for the role as well as the values and ethics that will
enable you fit well into the organisation. Some candidates
even go as far as preparing power-point presentations that
demonstrate their competence and show how their long term
goals fit in with the prospective employer's. Be creative
if you want to stand out from your competitors. Don't
forget to thank your interviewers for their time and say
how much you look forward to hearing from them.
4. Follow Up - Don't leave the interview room without a
contact name and direct telephone number you can use for
follow up purposes. However, make sure you find out how
long you should wait before getting in touch. It is good
manners to send a thank you note a few days after the final
interview and to ring for the result within agreed
time-scales. If further follow up is required do so no more
than twice per week, contacting the key decision makers
(usually the interviewers) directly where possible. Do
exhibit polite and professional behaviour at all times.
5. Get Feedback - It is vital that you get some feedback on
your performance as this will serve you well should you
have cause to attend future behavioural interviews.
Candidates who are humble enough to solicit constructive
criticism score high marks with hiring managers and often
get special consideration when subsequent vacancies arise.
In a nutshell, people who shine at behavioural interviews
are those who have taken the time to find hidden talents
and discover their purpose in life. By passionately
communicating how your talents, skills and behaviours
complement your prospective employer's ethics and business
objectives, you can put yourself head and shoulders above
your competitors and make the career changes you desire.
----------------------------------------------------
Ogo Ogbata helps individuals and businesses to discover,
develop and maximise hidden assets. Are you ready to get
more fulfilment and profit out of the work you do? Then
visit http://www.creativityandsense.com for tips and
strategies guaranteed to help you create the lifestyle and
career changes you desire.
No comments:
Post a Comment