About Behavioral Interviewing
Behavioral Interviewing is a pretty mainstream interviewing practice that follows the assumption that past behavior is the best indicator of future behavior.
Rather than asking job candidates what they would do in a situation, behavioral interviewers ask them what they have done in past situations.
It is critical that you answer these questions:
- Specifically - be as specific as possible about the situation in question
- Accurately - answer the question asked
- Substantially - provide plenty of detail
- Responsibly - you need to take responsibility for your actions (avoid talking as a team)
Many candidates choose to answer these questions using the SARI style:
- Situation - Briefly recount the situation you faced
- Action - Say exactly what action you took
- Results - Briefly describe the results of YOUR action in as much detail as possible
- Interesting Features - Say something special or memorable about the vignette or relate the story back to the 13 D's.
Example:
"Tell me about a time when you could have been biased but remained objective."
Situation: Last year I was promoted to manage the sales group that I was a member of. I had made friends with certain employees who were now my subordinates. I could have chosen to make their lives easier while making the lives of others difficult.
Action: I ensured that that my judgment was not impaired by changing the nature of the relationship with my new subordinates and by distributing sales leads and responsibilities fairly.
Result: While I had the opportunity to "play favorites" my objectivity led to enhanced team morale and productivity because the sales team felt that they were all in it together.
Tips for Behavioral Interviews
- Expand on Answers. The BEX will not likely accept a very short answer.
- Ask for repetition of question if needed, but try not to abuse this.
- In the SI, they tell you on the sheet what dimension they are looking for. Read both question choices and look at all parts of the Dimensions they are looking for before answering.
- Think about the Dimensions they say they are looking for when answering. Make sure you hit the dimension in your answer. They tell you what they want…Give it to them.
- Use a Variety of experiences and Be Honest in your answers.
- The Dimension definitions are the filters. You have your life stories, you know the big things you've done or most memorable experiences you've had. You need to describe them - while thinking about the definitions of those dimensions. Before going to the OA look carefully at the definitions of each dimension and make sure you have at least one story for each subset of each dimension.
- Listen to or read the questions carefully. Answer what you are asked.
- Remember Composure is a very important dimension.
- Shake hands and greet everyone, as appropriate when you enter and leave the rooms.
Sample Questions & Practice Tips
- You should spend time coming up with an example from you life that exhibits each of the thirteen-dimensions.
- You should be prepared to talk about your statement of interest and how your past experience have led you to want to join the foreign service.
- Attached are flashcards that contain sample questions from the Yahoo! Group and from a behavioral interviewing web site. These questions are broken down by dimension.
- Ask a friend to ask you these questions so you have practice answering them in the SARI style.
