Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Interview Techniques for 2008
Background Specific Questions - These take aim and require direct explanations specific to the choices you have made. Why are you looking to leave your current employer? Why haven't you been promoted? Why didn't you finish your MBA? It is apparent that these are sometimes directed toward bringing up the most unflattering points in your background so you don't want to be caught off-guard. If you analyze your vulnerabilities and anticipate having to field questions about your decisions, you should be able to formulate responses. Two points to remember: don't lie and don't ever become defensive.
Behavioral Event Questions - Decades ago industrial psychologists developed the behavioral interview, an interviewing technique founded on the premise that a prospective employee's future performance can be most accurately predicted by past performance in similar circumstances. Behavioral event questions can be hypothetical, "What would you do if your boss wanted you to bend company policy?" or historical, "Give me an example of a time when you failed to meet expectations." As you can see many are traps meant to disclose an unflattering time while you are focused on impressing. Hypothetical behaviorals can be used to rehearse response strategies designed to turn negatives into positives. The STAR method (situation, task, action, results) while turning negatives into positive learning experiences is the best method of fielding these questions.
Behavioral Event Questions - Decades ago industrial psychologists developed the behavioral interview, an interviewing technique founded on the premise that a prospective employee's future performance can be most accurately predicted by past performance in similar circumstances. Behavioral event questions can be hypothetical, "What would you do if your boss wanted you to bend company policy?" or historical, "Give me an example of a time when you failed to meet expectations." As you can see many are traps meant to disclose an unflattering time while you are focused on impressing. Hypothetical behaviorals can be used to rehearse response strategies designed to turn negatives into positives. The STAR method (situation, task, action, results) while turning negatives into positive learning experiences is the best method of fielding these questions.
