Play with Behavioral Interview Question “Madlibs”!
Behavioral Interview Questions can sound intimidating, but they're simply asking a candidate about a specific situation. I find that many folks rely on their own personal interview question bank, sticking to those that have worked well for them. Similarly, job seekers are often asking "what are the most commonly asked behavioral interview questions?" and only preparing to answer those.
I challenge you to come up with some of your own questions that are more specific to a particular part of the role or value that is important to the company. Let's play Behavioral Interview Question Madlibs! Fill in the blank and you'll have unique questions to use for your interview preparation.
Tell me about a time you had to [verb] [adverb] in a [adjective] situation. What was the [noun]?
Tell me about a time you had to move quickly in a high stakes situation. What was the result?
Give me an example of when you [adverb] [verb-ed]. Were you [adjective] and/or What was the [noun]?
Give me an example of when you successfully launched a product. Were you profitable and/or what was the biggest challenge?
Tell me about a time where you [adverb] [verb-ed] a [noun].
Tell me about a time where you efficiently improved an existing process.
These examples are all measuring execution, but the templates can be modified to evaluate other functional or soft skills. Follow up questions should also be used by the interviewer to learn more about the situation during the interview.
If you're a job seeker, look for keywords that consistently come up in the job description or company's website to get inspiration for the kinds of questions you may be asked. Challenge yourself to think of 5 variations and specific examples you could use for each using the STAR Method.
If you're a recruiter, hiring manager or small business owner, consider the values that are most important to your company and how you can address them through behavioral interview questions using these templates.
As always, if you have any questions or are looking for some support, reach out anytime!