Office 2007 Standard blog behavioral-interviewing-

We had some amazing Seattle sunshine paired up with 9 inches of new snowfall last week, so it had been time for you to skip out of work early and head to the slopes. As I was riding the chairlift, I struck up a conversation with my fellow passenger and told him I was a recruiter, and he then shared with me he had an upcoming interview with a local company. He asked for advice: “What kinds of questions should I be prepared for?” I reviewed the usual ones with him and then went through a slew of “behavioral interview” questions. You know the ones: “Tell me about a time you . . . " These are very popular questions, and chances are that in your interviewing career you will come across a few. I borrowed these from some spots on the internet and then added some of my own, so they are hardly “Microsoft specific” but they are useful none-the-less: Tell me about a time you were able to successfully deal with another person even when that individual may not have personally liked you (or vice versa). Tell me about a difficult decision you've made in the last year. Give me an example of when you showed initiative and took the lead. Tell me about a recent situation in which you had to deal with a very upset customer or co-worker. Give me an example of a time when you motivated others. Tell me about a time when you delegated a project effectively. Describe a situation in which you were able to use persuasion to successfully convince someone to see things your way. Describe a time when you were faced with a stressful situation that demonstrated your coping skills. Give me an example of a time when you set a goal and were able to meet or achieve it. Tell me about a time when you had to use your presentation skills to influence someone's opinion. Give me a specific example of a time when you had to conform to a policy with which you did not agree. Tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond the call of duty in order to get a job done. Tell me about a time when you had too many things to do and you were required to prioritize your tasks. Give me an example of a time when you had to make a split second decision. What is your typical way of dealing with conflict? Give me an example. Give me an example of a time when you used your fact-finding skills to solve a problem. Tell me about a time when you missed an obvious solution to a problem. Describe a time when you anticipated potential problems and developed preventative measures. Tell me about a time when you were forced to make an unpopular decision. Describe a time when you set your sights too high (or too low). Tell me about a time that you failed. Tell me about a time when you came up with a breakthrough idea There is no secret on how to answer behavioral interview questions - other than to show you have put thought into your past actions and have learned from them. In general, interviewers will rely on your past behavior to help indicate what they perceive to be your future, so even if you have to tell a story of how you failed,Office 2007 Standard, make sure to cover what you would have done differently next time. Good luck to my fellow chairlift rider . . . you know who you are . . . I’m sure you will be a star. -Jenna