| A good interviewer will ask questions that will draw out | | | | what they like and what they don't like and their |
| your personality traits, strengths and weaknesses. The | | | | responses tell me that this is a company that supports |
| recruiter or human resources director has asked these | | | | its employees, has a focused mission that I am |
| behavioral questions to a number of people and | | | | passionate about, and has great potential to reach the |
| knows the difference between an answer that is | | | | next level. |
| formulaic and safe and one that is engaging and | | | | 4) Describe a skill which you have developed? |
| forthright. I encourage you to step out of your comfort | | | | I take very seriously the skill of developing the people |
| zone and not play it safe. You can't stand out if you | | | | around me. I have worked hard and learned a lot that I |
| play it safe. I encourage you to prepare answers to | | | | want to share with the people who I lead so that they |
| the tough questions ahead of time so that you may | | | | may become more productive and fulfilled. I have |
| make a lasting impression that leads to the action of a | | | | mentored under many people, read and studied the art |
| second interview or a call with an offer. Before we | | | | of management. I have learned that you must |
| get into how to answer specific questions, you need to | | | | understand your employees to lead them. The |
| have a focused mindset. PREPARE! | | | | harmony of strong people, process and strategy is |
| Have you prepared your "Elevator Speech" describing | | | | what brings a successful business together. |
| in less than 30 seconds what you do and how you | | | | 5) Give an example where you and your boss were |
| bring value to an organization. Make sure you have | | | | not in agreement and your role in coming to a common |
| said your Elevator Speech out loud 20 times before | | | | ground. |
| you go on an interview. | | | | My board members felt that we needed to discontinue |
| Do you understand the purpose of the business for | | | | a particular service line of which I did not agree. I could |
| which you are interviewing? Study it on their web site. | | | | understand how they felt that way based on the short |
| Ask people who know the organization questions | | | | term cost and return on investment of the service. But |
| about the culture. Are you passionate about their | | | | I was able to demonstrate how longer term ROI would |
| mission and have defined your transferable skills from | | | | increase and how the people receiving the service |
| your education and experience that can be applied to | | | | then fed into other service lines of the organization |
| your work there. Can you easily state your | | | | where there was greater reimbursement. |
| accomplishments that apply to this industry? Are you a | | | | 6) Tell me how you've helped to support and achieve |
| problem solver and will you be able to offer solutions | | | | a corporate goal? |
| to their challenges? Do you have the right attire for an | | | | I contributed to and achieved a productivity goal of |
| interview, right tone of voice as well as open and | | | | increasing net revenue by 20%. We dramatically |
| engaging body language? Can you explain how your | | | | decreased direct mail costs, implemented an |
| hobbies, volunteer work and activities lend themselves | | | | e-marketing program, targeted phone solicitations, and |
| already to the work for which you are applying? Do | | | | scheduled more face-to-face meetings. |
| you have a portfolio to bring with letters of reference | | | | 7) Tell me about one of your projects that failed? |
| and measurable examples of your work? | | | | I have always believed that failure is part of good |
| Can you tell a story when you answer questions? | | | | business. If you are not failing at something you are |
| Show. Don't tell. Storytelling is an art and can be | | | | playing it too safe. I have tried to market audiences |
| learned. When you are asked a question on an | | | | that did not prove successful. To keep the cost at a |
| interview, answer it by giving an example of how you | | | | minimum, I target marketed a small segment first and |
| accomplished that challenge already in another position. | | | | judge whether or not to proceed. We have created |
| People remember stories because they identify with | | | | campaign materials that have not been effective. |
| the main character. Good stories contain a conflict that | | | | Instead of trying a different market with them we |
| is overcome by an endearing character. Endearing | | | | retire them and create focus groups to identify what is |
| characters are honest and driven. Every good fairytale | | | | of interest. |
| holds a conflict that was overcome by an endearing | | | | 8) What is your biggest weakness? |
| character. That is why we remember fairy tales from | | | | Probably that I am a perfectionist. I expect a lot of |
| our childhood when we forget some of your friends. | | | | myself and am my own worst critic. I expect a lot of |
| Below are examples of behavioral interview questions | | | | the people who work for me and have learned that to |
| and answer examples as well. Your answers will | | | | motivate them I have to get underneath them and |
| undoubtedly be more specific and longer. This is simply | | | | push them up. I surround myself with good people, |
| a guide to get you thinking. | | | | make sure they have the tools and structure they |
| 1) Tell me what's not in the resume? | | | | need to do their job and get out of their way. |
| A few years ago I had to recreate my life. I was | | | | 9) Why would you leave the position you are in? |
| coming out of a divorce and was faced with being the | | | | I am seeking a greater challenge with the potential to |
| primary caregiver for my children. In order to do that I | | | | make a greater difference. I have accomplished |
| mentored under key leaders, identified my transferable | | | | everything I set out to accomplish in my current |
| skills and taught myself new skills that I needed to | | | | position. The opportunity to take on bigger projects is |
| succeed in sales. | | | | limited where I am due to the market that we serve. |
| 2) Why do you think this industry would hold your | | | | 10) (You are asked a difficult question for which you |
| interest over the long run? | | | | do not have an answer. Often you are asked this so |
| The industry of marketing and public relations has | | | | that the interviewer or recruiter may see how you |
| changed greatly over the last three to five years. | | | | respond) |
| Even over the last two years. The continual evolving | | | | (If you don't know the answer, don't skirt around it.) I |
| environment provides a continual learning atmosphere | | | | don't know the answer to that but if I am hired, I would |
| whereby I can apply new strategies. | | | | certainly find it out. |
| 3) Since this will be your first job, how do you know | | | | Practice answering tough questions out loud in the car |
| you will like it? | | | | as you drive. The more familiar you are with |
| It is true that I have never worked in this industry but I | | | | answering tough questions, the more effective you will |
| have spoken with many friends and others who have | | | | be at doing it well. Start now! |
| and do work for XYZ Company. I have asked them | | | | |