It’s not the 90’s so no one really asks behavioural based questions directly anymore. However questions will be asked for the same reason, to access if you will be the right fit for a, recruitment and b, their recruitment agency.
So it’s good to have an understanding of how to answer them. Below are 4 examples of character traits that agencies look for and ways to answer. Note these are examples I obviously have no idea what you’ll be asked on the day. Good time to note thinking on your feet and holding a conversation are very important in recruitment!
The Behaviour Competency questions they might cover four key areas (the article above has questions on all these areas I suggest reading over them and practicing some just to yourself using the STAR System just to practice). These are just key focus areas recruitment managers are more then likely going to cover, we never know what exactly they are going to ask!
1. Managing Ambiguity
2. Customer Service 3. Collaboration 4. Grit – Please watch this video because it descirbes the attitude all managers are looking for
So it’s good to have an understanding of how to answer them. Below are 4 examples of character traits that agencies look for and ways to answer. Note these are examples I obviously have no idea what you’ll be asked on the day. Good time to note thinking on your feet and holding a conversation are very important in recruitment!
The Behaviour Competency questions they might cover four key areas (the article above has questions on all these areas I suggest reading over them and practicing some just to yourself using the STAR System just to practice). These are just key focus areas recruitment managers are more then likely going to cover, we never know what exactly they are going to ask!
1. Managing Ambiguity
2. Customer Service 3. Collaboration 4. Grit – Please watch this video because it descirbes the attitude all managers are looking for
Keep it simple, they want someone who is going to:
1. Work Hard
2. Follow advice and directions (they have been doing this for years so know they’re stuff)
3. Will represent the agency professionally when talking with clients and candidates
4. Has a brain on them
Stick to that STAR system
Situation – Describe the situation/problem you were faced with (try and keep your examples recent)
Task – what did you have to do?
Action – what action did you take and why. Were there any challenges/obstacles and how did you overcome them?
Results – highlight the outcome
Managing Ambiguity
A lot of the time in recruitment you need to juggle a lot of different things going on at once, waiting for feedback on candidates you have submitted waiting for a meetings to get booked etc. So they want to see how you make decisions, cope with the stress of sometimes not knowing what’s going on and how you deal with risk.
Think of examples you could give at interview. You could be asked a direct question about this skill, such as, ‘Describe an occasion when you had to deal with confusion or uncertainty, or make a decision without having all the facts.’ Prepare for this by thinking in advance about times during your studies, work experience, or extracurricular activities when you found yourself having to act in an unclear situation. Note they may ask it in a more subtle way
I think you will be able to really show your strength twice here
1.Because you would have dealt with situations like this all the time across an array of various roles 2. You will be able to link it back to your skill set and sales skills
Think of examples you could give at interview. You could be asked a direct question about this skill, such as, ‘Describe an occasion when you had to deal with confusion or uncertainty, or make a decision without having all the facts.’ Prepare for this by thinking in advance about times during your studies, work experience, or extracurricular activities when you found yourself having to act in an unclear situation. Note they may ask it in a more subtle way
I think you will be able to really show your strength twice here
1.Because you would have dealt with situations like this all the time across an array of various roles 2. You will be able to link it back to your skill set and sales skills
What they want to know
You can make decisions on the basis of the information you have, even if that isn’t the whole picture.
You can cope with uncertainty and risk.
You can adapt to change.
You can spin multiple plates at once (multitask over various tasks that need to get done)
Customer Service
Here they want to make sure that you will represent their company in the most professional way. Putting it simply if you have a good experience in a restaurant you might tell a couple people who go there, good for business. However if you have a bad experience you’re more likely to tell A LOT of people, write a bad review etc and make sure people don’t go there. Exactly the same for recruitment if not more
Individuals who display this competency understand and believe in the importance of customer focus. They listen to and understand the needs of external and internal customers. They meet and exceed customer needs to ensure satisfaction.
Example Question
Individuals who display this competency understand and believe in the importance of customer focus. They listen to and understand the needs of external and internal customers. They meet and exceed customer needs to ensure satisfaction.
Example Question
Can you give us an example of when you have dealt with an upset or angry customer in the past?
They want to make sure that you really try and solve their client’s problems and deal with it in a professional way, not letting your own ego get in the way.
Understanding people and their expectations
Doing whatever it takes to for the delivery of products or services to meet those expectations.
Identifying and solving customer problems quickly and to the customer's satisfaction.
Developing and using ways to measure, keep track of, and maintain high levels of customer satisfaction.
The last bullet point here is a chance to excel. If you have dealt with customer complaints in the past and have tracked it or done anything to try and improve it for next time it will show a willingness to develop and a growth mind set (I’ll cover that in Grit)
Related Article: https://job-interview-answers.com/job-interview-tips/behavioral-interview-questions/answering-behavior-based-questions-about-your-customer-focus/
Related Article: https://job-interview-answers.com/job-interview-tips/behavioral-interview-questions/answering-behavior-based-questions-about-your-customer-focus/
Collaboration
In a recruitment collaboration is key. Be it with your manager or other team members, even if you manage people one day. Dealing with external clients and candidates is one thing but here they are going to want to test how you deal with team members.
Again link this back to different jobs or sport and how you worked with people from different departments or teams who may have had different ways of doing things to you and how you were able to overcome any obstacle that came up.
I know I mentioned it before but so that it doesn’t look like you’re whole life is work related here is a good time to throw in outside interests as well (still use your work experience because it’s super important just extras as well). Have you played any team sport? Worked on any team projects? Ran any events for charity or profit?
Some Example Questions may be:
Again link this back to different jobs or sport and how you worked with people from different departments or teams who may have had different ways of doing things to you and how you were able to overcome any obstacle that came up.
I know I mentioned it before but so that it doesn’t look like you’re whole life is work related here is a good time to throw in outside interests as well (still use your work experience because it’s super important just extras as well). Have you played any team sport? Worked on any team projects? Ran any events for charity or profit?
Some Example Questions may be:
Describe a time when your work was criticised. Why was it criticised and how did you react?
Tell me about a time when you had to communicate complex technical information to a client. What was the situation, what approach did you take and what was the result?
Tell me how have you communicated change to ensure that all affected staff were kept up to date?
Interpersonal and Team Skills
The desire to build and maintain relationships in and beyond the workplace is critical. Many workplaces function on the basis of project teams. Those who are highly collaborative and co-operative are most likely to thrive in this type of environment.
Example Questions:
Example Questions:
What skills and personal qualities have you contributed to the teams you have been part of?
Tell me about the most difficult person you have worked with.
Grit
Growth-orientated – constantly seeking ways to learn, grow and improve
Resilient – responding optimally every time adversity strikes Intense – able to consistently remain free from distractions and fully focused on the task at hand Tenacious – Refusing to give up, sticking to whatever you decide to peruse Full of grit – Demonstrating uncommon determination and strength in difficult times This is what will set you apart. Watch the video and I think you will be able to see what they are looking for. They are looking for an overall growth mindset. The below image is one the separates people not only in recruitment but in life:
Resilient – responding optimally every time adversity strikes Intense – able to consistently remain free from distractions and fully focused on the task at hand Tenacious – Refusing to give up, sticking to whatever you decide to peruse Full of grit – Demonstrating uncommon determination and strength in difficult times This is what will set you apart. Watch the video and I think you will be able to see what they are looking for. They are looking for an overall growth mindset. The below image is one the separates people not only in recruitment but in life:
Example questions
How have you dealt with failure and bounced back from it?
Tell me about a time you had an idea to improve a process at work and what was the result?
o This one will show initiative