7 min read

Behavioural Interviews - Make or Break

Behavioural Interviews - Make or Break

Applying for a new job, whether you're currently unemployed or looking to make a career change, can be challenging. The interview process, in particular, can feel especially daunting. Over the years, through my experiences with co-op positions, part-time jobs, and full-time roles after graduation, I've learned several valuable lessons. I’ve picked up on what has worked well for me and received feedback on areas where I could improve. Here are some tips based on those insights to help you navigate your next interview successfully.

Importance of Behavioural Interviews

Behavioural interviews are designed to assess not just your skills but also your personality and how you fit into the role and the company’s environment. They help employers understand how you would handle real-life situations at work, revealing your problem-solving abilities and how you might react under pressure. While technical skills are essential and can be learned over time, your behavioral fit is often evaluated early in the interview process to determine if you align with the company's culture and values.

The beauty about these interviews is that while this could be the thing that decides if you get the job or not, behavioural skills can be mastered and with practice, these rounds can be a breeze. Here are a few things that can help you excel in this part of the job interview process.

1. Confidence

Confidence plays a crucial role in interviews. It allows you to present your true self, which helps the interviewer gauge if you’re a good fit for the role and the company. When I first started giving co-op interviews, I was extremely nervous, even though I usually enjoy talking to people. The high-stakes environment of an interview made me anxious, which affected my performance. When you're nervous, it’s challenging for the interviewer to see the real you, making it harder for them to decide if you’re the right fit.

People often lack authenticity in interviews because they are focused on presenting a perfect image of themselves without knowing what the interviewer considers perfect. Perfect does not mean someone who never makes mistakes and knows everything — that's impossible since it's not human nature. Instead, being your authentic self can not only make you more confident but can also help you screen out employers. By not showing your true self, you won't know if a company matches your personality or if their values align with yours. An interview is a chance for both parties to assess if the match is good. Remember, a job is an exchange of your skills and time for compensation; both parties should benefit equally. The company is interviewing you because they believe you could be an asset and help achieve their goals.

To increase your confidence, approach interviews as conversations rather than high-stakes tests. If you feel anxious, try deep breathing and visualize the interview as a chat with a curious friend. This mindset can help alleviate pressure and allow you to perform at your best.

Confidence also helps you handle unexpected questions. If you don't know an answer, staying calm and composed can help you think on your feet and turn the situation in your favour. In real-life job scenarios, you're often faced with unexpected requests that require you to think outside the box — something you can do if you are confident in your abilities and understand your work. An interviewer might mimic such situations by asking challenging questions. If you train yourself to stay confident and view the interview as not a high-pressure situation, you'll be able to navigate these questions smoothly. And if you don't know the answer, you can demonstrate your ability to learn by giving examples, which is usually what the interviewer is looking for.

2. Think of Scenarios Based on the Job Description

Before the interview, read the job description carefully and think of scenarios that match what the company is looking for. For instance, if the job requires someone who can work independently, be prepared to discuss a time when you managed a task without supervision. Your examples don’t always have to come from professional experience; even group projects or personal experiences can demonstrate relevant skills like problem-solving or teamwork.

The job description can often times give you clues about what to expect in an interview. Thoroughly reading the description and noting down the qualities required in their ideal candidate will help you think of scenarios that you can bring up when asked about times in the past where you have dealt with certain scenarios. Making a mental or preferably physical note about all your past experiences can be helpful as it could be challenging to come up with stories at the last minute and often times you walk out of a job interview wishing you would have brought up certain situations where you had the perfect solution to a problem or dealt with a problem in an awesome manner.

For example, if in the job description, it is mentioned that they are looking for a candidate who can work with minimal supervision, you can expect them to ask you about a time where you were assigned a task with not that much background or details and how you went about solving it or your approach because it is very likely that a similar situation could arise at work and they are looking for candidates who have the right mindset. Another example is that maybe you will be working on multiple projects with different teams who may or may not agree with each other. If the job description talks about working with different stakeholders they can ask you to talk about a time where you had a conflict with a team member and how you dealt with it or they could ask you to talk about a time where you had multiple deadlines and how your prioritized your work. The answer is often not that you will work extra because that is not always feasible and can lead to burnout but to show how you prioritize your work and how you have maybe communicated in the past to understand what work is urgent so you can deliver accordingly. Reading through the description and noting down your particular experience can help you come up with the best response but will also help to respond to unexpected questions since you will have a solid understanding of what the interviewer could potentially be looking for.

3. Curiosity

Curiosity is a trait that can set you apart in interviews. Employers value candidates who show a genuine interest in understanding problems deeply rather than just checking tasks off a list. Demonstrating curiosity shows that you’re not just looking to complete a job but to learn and grow within the role.

Someone who is curious will more likely strive to get a good understanding of a problem or business rather than do exactly what they have been told or asked to do. When companies hire externally they not only are looking to bring people will specific skillsets but are looking to diversify the experience. When people come in to an organization they bring a fresh perspective and can apply that experience to the new role which is a huge benefit to the company. People who are curious are more likely to understand the company's structure and goals and apply their experience to the job. If you simply aim to follow orders and do exactly as you are told, you are not bringing anything to the table and will be easily replaceable. When employers see candidates who demonstrate curiosity they know those people will be the ones to ask questions and fully understand the goal and work towards building the best possible solution. Intellectual curiosity is often the catalyst for innovation and adaptability. People with this trait have a genuine desire to keep learning and applying that knowledge to their jobs. They are often preferred over those who simply complete tasks as instructed and leave

4. Understand the question before answering

It is common to give rushed answers when you are nervous or under pressure, such as during job interviews. Nervousness triggers anxiety, and your body may activate the fight-or-flight response. This creates a sense of urgency and a distorted perception of time, making you feel like you're taking too long to answer when, in fact, you’re speaking more quickly than normal and with less thought and structure to your answers.

I learned this the hard way because, under pressure, I often gave quick answers without fully understanding what the interviewer was asking. Sometimes, when you're too eager to talk, whether due to excitement or nervousness, you form an answer in your head and are just waiting for the interviewer to stop talking so you can blurt out your response. This can be a deal breaker in interviews, and I only realized this after making the mistake multiple times and insisting on getting feedback when I couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong.

When you're asked a question that you don't understand, it's important to clarify. The interviewer will respect you for it, and it will increase your chances of success since the conversation will likely address everything they are looking for. For more details on my experience and the exact response I received, you can check out my YouTube video @9:03

5. Communication Skills

Communication skills are the cornerstone of a successful interview. In my experience at Waterloo, technical students often lacked strong communication skills, which frustrated employers despite their technical proficiency. Effective communication is about clearly articulating your thoughts and ensuring your interviewer understands your experiences and the value you bring.

Technical skills are extremely beneficial to have; however, there is no point in knowing how to build complex models or solve complicated problems if you cannot share your work and help your team use your solutions. This is a problem many people face because when they have to look away from their screen and talk to an actual human, they often don't know what to say, which becomes a problem at work.

With the advent of AI, it is more important than ever to have skills that are hard to replicate, such as communication. While AI can perform many technical tasks, it cannot replicate the nuanced human ability to build relationships, understand team dynamics, and effectively convey ideas. Being able to build strong connections with your peers and present to management effectively will make you stand out.

Furthermore, strong communication skills can enhance collaboration and foster a positive work environment, which are crucial for success in any field. Whether you’re explaining a complex concept to a non-technical team member or persuading stakeholders to support a new initiative, the ability to communicate effectively is invaluable. Good communication can bridge gaps between different departments, improve project outcomes, and lead to more innovative solutions, ultimately contributing to both personal career growth and the overall success of the organization.

Investing in your communication skills can help you articulate your thoughts more clearly, understand others better, and navigate workplace challenges with confidence. This, in turn, will make you a more valuable and irreplaceable asset to any team or organization.

For specific examples of questions I’ve received in the past, check out my YouTube video here. I hope you found this post helpful!

❤️ Shermeen