Behavioural interview questions have become increasingly popular in job interviews, and it's essential for job seekers to be prepared to answer them. Employers use these types of questions to evaluate candidates' past behaviours, experiences, and thought processes to determine if they're a good fit for the role and the company culture.

In this guide, we'll provide you with everything you need to know about answering behavioural interview questions, including what they are, why hiring companies ask these questions, examples of behavioural interview questions, how to answer them, and tips on how to prepare for a behavioural interview.

What are Behavioural Interview Questions?

Behavioural interview questions are open-ended questions that require job seekers to provide specific examples of how they have handled past situations or experiences. Employers use these questions to assess a candidate's problem-solving skills, decision-making abilities, communication skills, leadership skills, and other competencies that are necessary for the job.

Why Do Hiring Companies Ask Behavioural Interview Questions?

Hiring companies ask behavioural interview questions to evaluate a candidate's past behaviour and determine if they have the skills and experience necessary to perform the job. By asking questions about a candidate's past behaviour, employers can assess their skills and abilities, as well as their attitude, work ethic, and problem-solving skills. These questions also help employers understand how a candidate may behave in future situations and how they may fit into the company culture.

Examples of Behavioural Interview Questions

Here are some examples of common behavioural interview questions that employers may ask:

1. Tell me about a time when you had to solve a difficult problem at work.
2. Can you describe a time when you had to work with a difficult co-worker or supervisor?
3. Tell me about a time when you had to make a tough decision at work.
4. Can you describe a situation where you had to take on a leadership role?
5. Tell me about a time when you had to work under pressure to meet a deadline.

How to Answer Behavioural Interview Questions

When answering behavioural interview questions, it's essential to use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method. Here's how to use the STAR method:

1. Situation: Describe the situation or problem you faced.
2. Task: Explain what you needed to accomplish or the goal you set.
3. Action: Detail the steps you took to address the situation or problem.
4. Result: Discuss the outcome of your actions.
   
   

Using the STAR method will help you provide a clear and concise answer that demonstrates your problem-solving skills and decision-making abilities.

Examples of How to Answer Behavioural Interview Questions

Let's take a look at some examples of how to answer behavioural interview questions using the STAR method:

Question 1: Can you describe a situation where you had to take on a leadership role?

Situation:
During my last job, my manager was out of the office for two weeks, and I was responsible for leading our team in their absence.

Task:
My goal was to ensure that our team continued to meet their targets and deadlines while my manager was away.

Action:
I scheduled daily team meetings to discuss our goals and progress, delegated tasks to team members based on their strengths and skills and provided guidance and support when necessary.

Result:
Our team was able to meet all of our targets and deadlines during my manager's absence, and I received positive feedback from both my team members and my manager.

Question 2: Tell me about a time when you had to debug a complex issue in your code. How did you approach the problem, and what steps did you take to resolve it?

Situation:

In my previous job, I was working on a project where I had to develop a complex algorithm. When I tested the code, I noticed that it wasn't working as expected, and I had to spend several hours debugging the issue.

Task:
My task was to identify the root cause of the issue and fix it as quickly as possible.

Action:
To solve the problem, I first reviewed the code to see if I could find any obvious errors. When that didn't work, I used a debugger to step through the code and identify the exact line where the issue was occurring. I then traced the data flow through the code to see where the data was getting corrupted.

Result:
After several hours of debugging, I was finally able to identify the root cause of the issue. It turned out that there was a logical error in the algorithm that I had developed, which was causing the data to get corrupted. I fixed the error and tested the code thoroughly to ensure that the issue had been resolved.

What I learned from the experience (extra section if you want to add it in):
This experience taught me the importance of thorough testing and debugging. It also taught me the importance of paying close attention to detail when developing complex algorithms. Going forward, I've made it a priority to spend more time testing and debugging my code to ensure that it's working as intended.

Tips and advice for preparing for a behavioural interview

To prepare for a behavioural interview, here are some tips and advice:

1. Research the company and the job: Make sure you have a good understanding of the company and the job you're applying for. This will help you tailor your answers to the company's specific needs.
2. Practice with sample questions: There are many sample behavioural interview questions available online. Practice answering them using the STAR method.
3. Prepare examples: Think of examples from your past experiences that demonstrate your skills and abilities.
4. Be honest: It's important to be honest when answering behavioural interview questions. If you don't have an example that perfectly fits the question, it's okay to say so.
5. Be concise: Keep your answers concise and to the point. Don't ramble or go off-topic.

In conclusion, answering behavioural interview questions is a key part of the job interview process, and it's important to prepare for them in advance. By understanding what behavioural interview questions are, why employers ask them, and how to answer them using the STAR method, you can showcase your skills and abilities in the best possible light.

Remember to be honest, concise, and to use specific examples from your past experiences. With these tips and advice, you'll be well on your way to acing your next job interview and landing the job of your dreams.

Good luck 🍀

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