31 DJFJS Day:28 Interview Questions

A couple weeks ago, I had a meeting at the local re-employment office regarding my job search plan.  I met with a representative and watched a video.  My meeting was a quickie – about 3.5 hours.

It flew by, except for time spent watching the video.

One of the handouts she gave me was a list of behavioral questions potential employers ask. Behavioral questions are asked because it gives your potential employer an idea of how you will perform for them based on your past behavior.

Sample Questions

Here are some interview questions that were on the list:

Describe a situation in which you were able to use persuasion to successfully convince someone to see things your way.

Give me a specific example of a time when you had to conform to a policy with which you did not agree.

What is your typical way of dealing with conflict? Give me an example.

Describe a time when you set your sights too high (or too low)

Tell me about yourself (this is every job seeker’s favorite question.)           😉

My Problem

The issue I have with these questions in remembering a situation that fits the question. There is not a lot of time in an interview to search your memory banks.

So my counselor suggested I review the list and write down a situation and work on memorizing it using a few key words.

My Solution

The solution I came up with was to write a few key words on Post-It Notes and stick them on the wall in my hallway. Every time I pass them, I look at one and try to come up with a situation that fits the question. Then I write it down in a notebook and refer to it occasionally.

Here is my hallway (I can get away with this because I am single.) This was taken right after I put the notes on the wall.

Here is what the Post-It Note looks like for the question:

Please tell me about a time you had to fire a friend. 

That was an easy question. Although I wonder if that would include deciding to defriend people on Facebook?

Hopefully this idea will help those of you who are job seeking prepare for interviews. There are numerous questions a potential employer could ask. Just google interview questions and your mind will be boggled by all you discover.

Countdown! 

The countdown is on. Today is Friday and this years Write31Days Challenge ends on Monday. Hallelujah!  (I love the challenge but my series this year was a disaster of Titanic proportions.)

Bio: Michele Kearns is the founder and HUG© (Hope Unites Globally) Award-Winner of JoyReturns. She encourages widows and educates society by sharing her widowhood adventures. A graduate of Kent State University with a degree in communications, she has used her skills in the banking, collections, insurance, outdoor products and social media industries. Michele is a bookworm, lover of golden retrievers and an amateur photographer. You can view her photographs at OgleOhio.com, her photography blog, because one blog is not enough.