Behavioral Interviewing
Preparing for a Behavioral Interview
Review notes from networking meetings or information sessions with the employer. Reach out to anyone you connected with at the company and let them know you are interviewing.
Review the position description and identify the key skills (i.e. verbs) and experiences the employer is looking for.
Identify a STAR story (see below) that can be used for each of the core skills/experiences the role requires
Have your “Walk me through your resume OR Tell me about yourself” story ready (see below)
Have answers for "Why are you interested this role?" and "Why are you interested in this organization?" perfected
If you are seeking a job or internship, chances are that you will participate in at least one interview during the overall selection process. This is perhaps the single most critical component of the entire job search process; where you have the chance to promote and position yourself as the best candidate for the job, and demonstrate your fit with the company and the position. Use the resources provided here to address some of the most frequently asked questions related to interview preparation, and to access tools and resources that can assist you in your practice.
Interviews - Chapter from Carlson CBCC's Career Guide on Interviews and Interview Preparation, include information on:
What to expect during different rounds of interviews
Types of questions commonly asked
Overview of Behavioral Interviews and the STAR format
Overview of Case Interviews
Resources for Interview Preparation and Interview Checklist
Behavioral Interview Instructional video
14 minute video that covers the basics of behavioral interviewing
Behavioral Interview Examples
Behavioral Interview Preparation
Interview Preparation Workbook - A workbook to help you prepare for upcoming interviews.
Sample Behavioral Interview Questions - A list of commonly asked behavioral interview questions, organized by key competencies that many employers are looking for.
Use of Storytelling in Interviews - A presentation that explains how you can leverage some of the key concepts of storytelling to help you prepare for behavioral interviews.
General Interview Advice
What Do Employers REALLY Want? - Presents some of the key leadership competencies that recruiters are looking for in qualified graduate-level candidates.
Interviewing In Business School - A presentation that gives an overview of the different types of interviews often experienced by Carlson graduate students.
Second-Round Interviews - A presentation that will help you learn what to expect from a second-round interview, and share some practical advice and tips for getting prepared.
An online tool that uses your computer's webcam in order to video/audio record your responses to commonly asked interview questions. Great for practicing on your own!
Tell Me About Yourself
Most interviews begin with some version of "tell me about yourself" or "walk me through your resume". You will want to prepare to have a 2 minute introduction that touches on your educational and professional experience paired with your skills, achievements and aspirations.
This is a great guide and here is a more detailed example. Use this worksheet to build your story.