When an Interviewer Says: ‘Tell Me About a Time When You…’

Behavior-based interviews have been around for more than a decade, but if you aren’t prepared for them, they can throw you for a loop. You know that you’re in a behavior-based interview when most of the questions begin with statements like, "Tell me about a time when…" and "Describe a situation where…."

The premise behind behavior-based interview questions is that past performance is the best predictor of future success. To determine past performance, candidates are asked to provide specific examples that show interviewers whether they have key skills and experiences needed in the job. Usually, these questions are framed around the specific job description.

Michael Rosenband, president of jobgob! LLC, a career-management firm in Chicago, coaches job hunters on how to prepare for these interviews. The key, he says, is to identify the examples that you want to use beforehand and learn to recount them as stories so that you don’t get caught flat-footed during the interview.

By Arlene S. Hirsch

Full Story: http://www.careerjournal.com/jobhunting/interviewing/20050201-hirsch.html?cjcontent=mail