General interview questions are typically on the following topics:
Behavioral interview questions are asked to ensure applicants describe specific examples during the interview process which provide details about the skills the applicant has for the position.
Behavioral interview questions are asked to ensure applicants describe specific examples during the interview process which provide details about the skills the applicant has for the position. These questions typically begin with phrases such as “Tell me about a time when…” or “Describe a situation in which you…”
When answering behavioral interview questions, it is important to use a specific example and the components of the P.A.R. technique.
Problem: What was the situation and specific problem
that had to be addressed?
Action: What specific skills/tools did you use to
address the task?
Result: What was the result of your behavior?
Question:
Describe a time when you took the initiative to do something when it wasn’t your responsibility to do so.
Answer (Problem):
The past two years, I have been in a mentor program. During the course of the program, I noticed there were many other student and alumni matches in our area, but we didn’t have a formal way to connect with each other. (Action) When I became aware of this, I scheduled a time to meet with the mentor program coordinator to talk about ways to increase our networks. We developed a plan to start a blog for participants to talk about their experiences and share insights from the program. (Result) As a result of our thoughtful approach we increased networking opportunities among the members in the program. It was a huge success!