University of Wisconsin - Stout

Behavioral Interview Questions

 

ADAPTABILITY

  1. How was your transition from high school to college? Did you face any particular problems?
  2. Tell of some situations in which you have had to adjust quickly to changes over which you had no control. What was the impact of the change on you?
  3. Describe a time when you were faced with a stressful situation that demonstrated your coping skills
  4. Give a specific example of a policy you conformed to with which you did not agree.

ANALYSIS

  1. We can sometimes identify a small problem and fix it before it becomes a major problem. Give an example(s) of how you have done this.
  2. Describe a situation in which you had to collect information by asking many questions of several people.
  3. In a supervisory or group leader role, have you ever had to discipline or counsel an employee or group member? What was the nature of the discipline? What steps did you take? How did that make you feel? How did you prepare yourself?
  4. Recall a time from your work experience when your manager or supervisor was unavailable and a problem arose. What was the nature of the problem? How did you handle that situation? How did that make you feel?
  5. Recall a time when you were assigned what you considered to be a complex project. Specifically, what steps did you take to prepare for and finish the project? Were you happy with the outcome? What one step would you have done differently if given the chance?
  6. What was the most complex assignment you have had? What was your role?

COMMUNICATION

  1. Tell of a time when your active listening skills really paid off for you-maybe a time when other people missed the key idea being expressed.
  2. What has been your most successful experience in speech making?
  3. Tell me about a situation when you had to speak up (be assertive) in order to get a point across that was important to you.
  4. Have you ever had to "sell" an idea to your co-workers or group? How did you do it? Did they "buy" it?
  5. Describe a recent unpopular decision you made and what the result was.
  6. Describe a situation in which you were able to use persuasion to successfully convince someone to see things your way
  7. Tell me about a time when you had to use your presentation skills to influence someone's opinion.
  8. Please discuss an important written document you were required to complete.

CUSTOMER SERVICE ORIENTATION

  1. Tell of the most difficult customer service experience that you have ever had to handle-perhaps an angry or irate customer. Be specific and tell what you did and what was the outcome?

DECISION MAKING AND PROBLEM SOLVING

  1. Give me an example of a time when you had to keep from speaking or making a decision because you did not have enough information.
  2. Give me an example of a time when you had to be quick in coming to a decision.
  3. Tell me about a difficult decision you've made in the last year.
  4. Give me an example of a time when you used your fact-finding skills to solve a problem.
  5. Describe an instance when you had to think on your feet to extricate yourself from a difficult situation.
  6. Give me a specific example of a time when you used good judgment and logic in solving a problem
  7. Give me an example of a time when you had to make a split second decision.

INITIATIVE

  1. Describe some projects or ideas (not necessarily your own) that were implemented, or carried out successfully primarily because of your efforts.
  2. Describe a situation that required a number of things to be done at the same time. How did you handle it? What was the result?
  3. Give me an example of when you showed initiative and took the lead

JOB MOTIVATION

  1. Give examples of your experiences at school or in a job that were satisfying. Give examples of your experiences that were dissatisfying.
  2. Give me an example of a time when you went above and beyond the call of duty.
  3. Describe a situation when you were able to have a positive influence on the action of others.

LEADERSHIP

  1. What is the toughest group that you have had to get cooperation from?
  2. Have you ever had difficulty getting others to accept your ideas? What was your approach? Did it work?
  3. Give me an example of a time when you motivated others.

PLANNING AND ORGANIZING

  1. Describe a time in school when you had many projects or assignments due at the same time. What steps did you take to get them all done?
  2. Give me an example of an important goal which you had set in the past and tell me about your success in reaching it.
  3. Describe a time when your schedule is suddenly interrupted? What did you do?
  4. Tell me about a time when you delegated a project effectively.

SENSITIVITY

  1. Give an example of when you had to work with someone who was difficult to get along with. Why was this person difficult? How did you handle that person?
  2. Describe a situation where you found yourself dealing with someone who didn't like you. How did you handle it?
  3. What is your typical way of dealing with conflict? Give me an example.
  4. 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

TEAMWORK

  1. Describe a situation where others you were working with on a project disagreed with your ideas. What did you do?
  2. Describe a situation in which you found that your results were not up to your professor's or supervisor's expectations. What happened? What action did you take?
  3. Tell of a time when you worked with a colleague who was not completing their share of the work. Who, if anyone, did you tell or talk to about it? Did the manager take any steps to correct your colleague? Did you agree or disagree with the manager's actions?
  4. Describe a situation in which you had to arrive at a compromise or guide others to a compromise.

TECHNICAL AND PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE

  1. Sometimes it's easy to get in "over your head". Describe a situation where you had to request help or assistance on a project or assignment.
  2. Give an example of how you applied knowledge from previous coursework to a project in another class.

WORK STANDARDS

  1. Compare and contrast the times when you did work which was above the standard with times your work was below the standard.
  2. Describe some times when you were not very satisfied or pleased with your performance. What did you do about it?
  3. What are your standards of success in school? What have you done to meet these standards?
  4. How have you differed from your professors in evaluating your performance? How did you handle the situation?