Hi there, it’s Uylander.
“Congratulations!” the email read. “We invite you to an interview next Tuesday at 3:00 p.m.” When you applied at your dream company two weeks ago, you had painstakingly prepared your resume and cover letter. You feel so excited yet nervous. Many thoughts are floating around, such as what to wear. What documents to take to the interview? What questions will be asked? In previous interviews, you recall being asked combination questions of hypothetical scenarios and your response to past events. Today we will look at the difference between situational and behavioral interview questions and how to prepare for both.
The Situational Interview Method
An interviewer who poses a hypothetical scenario and asks how you would respond to such a scenario is using the situational interview method. Situational questions aim to see how well you can problem solve, handle challenging situations and think on your feet. These questions highlight your mental agility. Employers use situational questions to assess your ability to handle tough situations.
Examples of Situational Interview Questions
In the interview, one of the panelists asks, “If you found out that a team member was stealing. What would you do?” Further in the discussion, another panelist asks, “Members of a team you manage are in conflict regarding how a project with an imminent deadline should be handled. How would you resolve the issue? Or “Suppose you were faced with an unexpected problem during a project, and the client’s expectations were at stake. How would you prioritize and find a solution?”
How to prepare for Situational Interview Question
When answering situational questions, tie the response to an authentic experience that you have had. To do this, review the job description of the position you are applying for. Research the company as best you can. This knowledge will assist in providing confident, logical, and solution-oriented responses that align with the company’s values and expectations.
The Behavioural Interview Method
In contrast, another commonly used interview technique is the behavioral interview, where the interviewer asks about your past experiences to gauge your future reactions in similar situations. These questions focus on your previous behavior as an indicator of how you might perform in the future.
Examples of Behavioural Interview Questions
In the interview, another panelist asks, “Describe a situation in which you had to solve a difficult situation.” or “Tell me about a time when you had to work successfully as part of a team.” or “Can you share an example of a project or task where you had to demonstrate strong leadership skills? What actions did you take, and what was the result?
How to Prepare for Behavioural Interview Questions
Conversely, the focus of behavioural questions is on your experience. To answer these questions effectively:
- Create engaging stories highlighting your experience.
- Ask yourself what the task was, what action you took, and what the results were.
- Tie your skills and accomplishments to the example you use to showcase your expertise.
The STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method is widely used in answering behavioural questions. Further information on situational and behavioural interviews can be found in this LinkedIn article. This Glassdoor article shares more examples of situational interview questions.
In summary, by taking the time to research the company, review the position’s job description and prepare engaging stories ahead of time. You can ace the interview and become a member of the staff. Who knows how soon you will be on the other side of the table asking the same questions of an eager applicant? You’ve got this! Share the outcome of your next interview here.