Why should you use behavior-based questions as you assess job candidates?
The answer is simple and has been proven time and time again: The best way to predict future performance is to understand an individual’s past performance. These questions are a good way to gauge cultural fit, as you garner specific examples of a person’s best soft skills including teamwork, communications, problem solving and leadership.
Behavior-based questions are most effective when you already know exactly what you’re looking for in a new hire. Go through your job description and identify which competencies are “must-haves.” Then, have at least one behavioral question on hand for each. Here are three examples:
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Describe a situation where you had to work on a challenging team project.
Look for a candidate to provide project goals and metrics, describe how they communicated with other team members and achieved results, as well as other relevant facts.
- Can this individual deal with diverse, even difficult personalities? Have they succeeded in mediating, motivating and leading when necessary?
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Do you prefer to work alone or with others?
The ability to work well with others is a critical skill for most employees. Often, your ideal candidate is comfortable working independently or sharing responsibilities, depending on the situation. This question helps you assess an individual’s personality and preferred method of completing tasks.
- Will this person fit into your company culture or have trouble acclimating, based on their work style?
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What is the most difficult professional problem you’ve had to solve?
Problem-solving skills relate to a person’s ability to identify issues, obstacles and opportunities; then develop and implement the right solutions. Look for a proven track record in addressing the types of challenges common to the job.
- Does this candidate show initiative and take calculated risks to reach effective solutions? Or, do they run to their manager every time they reach an unexpected bump in the road? Are they creative and resourceful? Determined, logical and results-oriented?
Need help with hiring?
Frontline Source Group can partner with you to design interview questions and tailor your hiring strategy to meet your unique needs. Give us a call today to discuss how we can help you exceed your talent management goals in 2018 and beyond!
