The ground rule during a behavioral interview is to be polite, humble, be open to feedback and keeping your answers short and crisp. This should help you to get a fair idea on how to frame or format your answers for the most delicate and crucial questions( even the most stupid ones).
Some common questions asked in today's interviews:-
1) Why should I hire you. (Most common and the most stupid question asked nowadays).
The answer should be "you are the best person for the job". But this statement alone is not sufficient. You need to back it up with the outstanding and unique qualities in you.
Detailed answer: I realise that there are likely other candidates who also have the ability to do this job. Yet I bring an additional quality that makes me the best person for the job i.e. "My passion for excellence." I am passionately committed to to producing truly world class results.
Quote an example where you were bestowed with a job and you handled the same with excellence. You can talk about a project which you handled during your MBA course. You were asked to lead the project and how effectively you executed through unique means… Talk about the challenges and hurdles you faced while you worked on it and the steps you took to overcome it.
Common challenges in a project includes team building, collection of data from different sources, knowledge transfer (understanding the project- aims and objectives), co- ordination and completion within the specified time frame.
Another Answer would be : "Because I would be an asset to your organization. I'm loyal, tenacious, motivated, and I learn fast. I'm someone who could be very productive very quickly."
2) What are your strengths?
I am a kind of a person who is committed to work, open to constructive feedback, ability to foresee things, a good decision maker and above all a good TEAM PLAYER.
Immediately the next question would be to give examples for your team playing and decision making skills.
Answer: I strongly believe that Effective teams are an intermediary goal towards getting good, sustainable results .
Examples for Team playing skills: A very good example of team playing skills is knowledge sharing. (happens on a daily basis). When working on projects, different team members are prone to get different updates and information regarding the subject being researched upon. To ensure that every team member is in sync or aware of the latest updates and any new findings, knowledge sharing should happen on a daily basis. If member X finds a unique solution for an issue in question, then it is the duty of member X to share that solution to all other team members. When a similar issue reoccurs, all team members are well aware of the solution. This reduces the time and cost in finding the solution to a great extent.
Secondly, the performance of an individual is calculated based on the team's scores and not the individual scores. . A deeper understanding of each team member's strengths and weaknesses and helping them to overcome those weaknesses is also an example.
Its always WE and not ME
Examples for Decision making skills: A good decision maker is one who gathers input from his fellow team members and come out with the best decision after rigorous analysis. A decision is made after carefully analysing the pros and cons of the results. But there are times when a decision has to be taken individually. But even during those situations, a quick calculation of the possible outcomes is done and then a decision is made.
Quote an example where you took your team's help to take a decision. Aslo quote an example where you were asked to take an individual decision. ( no time available for discussion and things).
Ability to foresee things will help you a lot when working on projects. You are well aware of what is the outcome of a particular task being performed. This will help you to get rid of the chaos and mental traumas during the final stages of the project.
3) What is your greatest weakness? ( The most important one..)
Do not reveal any weaknesses even though if you have one. The interviewer is not looking at answers like I become nervous very often, I work too hard to meet dead lines, I am poor at public speaking, etc. A strength should actually be projected as a weakness.
The best answer would be : I have had trouble in the past with planning and prioritization. However, I'm now taking steps to correct this. Nowadays I prepare a to-do list of the tasks which I need to execute. This helps me in getting rid of issues that come up due to improper planning. I am able to execute my tasks effectively.
Another example would be : I am a kind of a person who expects 100% perfection in the tasks I undertake. However at times it happens that the job I undertook did not yield 100% results. These kind of results (anything less than 100%) make me disappointed and disheartened to some extent. However I do a detailed study of what went wrong, accept constructive feedbacks from my folks and then work on those gray areas. This had helped me a lot to achieve 100% results in all my undertakings.
Note : keep the answer to this question short and crisp. Lengthy answers to this question may prove fatal. First prepare the answer before you speak. Buy some time from the interviewer if he/she asks for an example. Whatever you speak should be in sequence and completely related to the previous line.
4) If I were to ask your managers/professors to describe you, what would they say?
My manager (professor) would say that I am one of the most flexible and dependant person in his team.
Answers like "I believe he would say I'm a very energetic person, that I'm results oriented and one of the best people he has ever worked with." is very well accepted in the interview.
5) What qualities you feel a successful manager should have?
Focus on two words: Leadership and vision.
Here is a sample of how to respond: "The key quality in a successful manager should be leadership--the ability to be the visionary for the people who are working under them. The person who can set the course and direction for subordinates. The highest calling of a true leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their abilities.
6) What are your goals and objectives in life.
Goals are broadly classified into two categories. Short term goals and Long term goals.
Short term goals: My short term goal is to join a Company like XYZ and become a successful business analyst within the shortest span.
Long term goals : The answer should be…... "I have learned that long-term goals are best achieved when I break them into shorter goals. My short-term goal is to find a position that will put me in a forward-moving company with solid performance and future projections. As part of a team, I want to add value and continue to grow the company. My long-term goal will depend on where the company goes. My plan is to move into a position of responsibility where I can lead a team."
If you want to be specific about a role which you would like to acquire…. Then find out to what extent a business analyst can grow… I mean the various growth options for a business analyst role.
7) Where would you like to see yourself 5 years down the line ?
: "Within five years, I would like to become the very best analyst your company has on staff. I want to work toward becoming the expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I'll be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities which might be presented in the long term.
Mention some steps you are currently taking to achieve that level. Examples would be interaction with various executives,reading books, media, attending expert lectures etc.
8) Why do you want to join xyz company and why not other companies.
I have done a lot of research on companies to find out which is the best and the right one for me to pursue my career. I shortlisted a few companies and xyz is my first choice or xyz tops my list.
Why xyz tops the list?
I request you to go thru the company site and collect some articles about the company's success stories, employee satisfaction, technical exposure and growth opportunities. This shows that you have done your homework and will create a positive impression.
9) What will you do if I don't hire you?
I will consider myself as unfortunate, however I will not lose heart. I will work on the constructive feedback provided and will give a defenite try during the next eligible attempt.
10) How long will you stay with us?
I will stay with your company as long as we (employee and the respective manager) both feel that I AM contributing, achieving and growing.
11) What motivates you?"
"A job well done." "A challenge." "Interesting work/technology." Any or all of these answers work
12) What are your salary expectations.
Salary is not my primary consideration. Of course, I have to pay the bills. I'd be open to any reasonable offer." Pause and maintain direct eye contact, even if it seems like forever. Do not be the first one to flinch. Do not over-talk. Be prepared for a long silence. Let the manager be the first to present a figure. It will give you power and control.
If forced to give a specific number, never give a broad range -- you will usually be offered the low end. Instead, be as precise as possible: "I'd be open to something in the low-fifties (or mid-forties, high-seventies, whatever)." Giving such a specific number presumes you've researched the local job market and know what people with your skills are making.
13) Can you work under pressure?"
Yes, I usually find it stimulating. However, I believe in planning and time management in order to reduce panic.
14) "What are your biggest accomplishments?"
Keep your answers job-related, a number of achievements should spring to mind. Do not exaggerate contributions to major projects. You might begin your reply with: "Although I feel my biggest accomplishments are ahead of me, I am proud of my involvement with…….I made my contribution as part of that team and learned a lot in the process. We did it with hard work, concentration, and an eye for the bottom line." Always remember to quantify your achievements.
You can use this as a reference to answer any kind of non- technical questions. Be prepared with relevant examples and cite them wherever possible
Some general tips.
Be confident.
Have eye to eye contact.
Do not Panic
Define your goals and objectives well in advance.
Do not get into arguments.
Have a set of questions for the interviewer. ( to be asked in the end)
Examples: How would you describe the responsibilities of the position? What are the prospects for growth and advancement.? What is the company's management style?
Thank the interviewer for his precious time.
All The Best !
Some common questions asked in today's interviews:-
1) Why should I hire you. (Most common and the most stupid question asked nowadays).
The answer should be "you are the best person for the job". But this statement alone is not sufficient. You need to back it up with the outstanding and unique qualities in you.
Detailed answer: I realise that there are likely other candidates who also have the ability to do this job. Yet I bring an additional quality that makes me the best person for the job i.e. "My passion for excellence." I am passionately committed to to producing truly world class results.
Quote an example where you were bestowed with a job and you handled the same with excellence. You can talk about a project which you handled during your MBA course. You were asked to lead the project and how effectively you executed through unique means… Talk about the challenges and hurdles you faced while you worked on it and the steps you took to overcome it.
Common challenges in a project includes team building, collection of data from different sources, knowledge transfer (understanding the project- aims and objectives), co- ordination and completion within the specified time frame.
Another Answer would be : "Because I would be an asset to your organization. I'm loyal, tenacious, motivated, and I learn fast. I'm someone who could be very productive very quickly."
2) What are your strengths?
I am a kind of a person who is committed to work, open to constructive feedback, ability to foresee things, a good decision maker and above all a good TEAM PLAYER.
Immediately the next question would be to give examples for your team playing and decision making skills.
Answer: I strongly believe that Effective teams are an intermediary goal towards getting good, sustainable results .
Examples for Team playing skills: A very good example of team playing skills is knowledge sharing. (happens on a daily basis). When working on projects, different team members are prone to get different updates and information regarding the subject being researched upon. To ensure that every team member is in sync or aware of the latest updates and any new findings, knowledge sharing should happen on a daily basis. If member X finds a unique solution for an issue in question, then it is the duty of member X to share that solution to all other team members. When a similar issue reoccurs, all team members are well aware of the solution. This reduces the time and cost in finding the solution to a great extent.
Secondly, the performance of an individual is calculated based on the team's scores and not the individual scores. . A deeper understanding of each team member's strengths and weaknesses and helping them to overcome those weaknesses is also an example.
Its always WE and not ME
Examples for Decision making skills: A good decision maker is one who gathers input from his fellow team members and come out with the best decision after rigorous analysis. A decision is made after carefully analysing the pros and cons of the results. But there are times when a decision has to be taken individually. But even during those situations, a quick calculation of the possible outcomes is done and then a decision is made.
Quote an example where you took your team's help to take a decision. Aslo quote an example where you were asked to take an individual decision. ( no time available for discussion and things).
Ability to foresee things will help you a lot when working on projects. You are well aware of what is the outcome of a particular task being performed. This will help you to get rid of the chaos and mental traumas during the final stages of the project.
3) What is your greatest weakness? ( The most important one..)
Do not reveal any weaknesses even though if you have one. The interviewer is not looking at answers like I become nervous very often, I work too hard to meet dead lines, I am poor at public speaking, etc. A strength should actually be projected as a weakness.
The best answer would be : I have had trouble in the past with planning and prioritization. However, I'm now taking steps to correct this. Nowadays I prepare a to-do list of the tasks which I need to execute. This helps me in getting rid of issues that come up due to improper planning. I am able to execute my tasks effectively.
Another example would be : I am a kind of a person who expects 100% perfection in the tasks I undertake. However at times it happens that the job I undertook did not yield 100% results. These kind of results (anything less than 100%) make me disappointed and disheartened to some extent. However I do a detailed study of what went wrong, accept constructive feedbacks from my folks and then work on those gray areas. This had helped me a lot to achieve 100% results in all my undertakings.
Note : keep the answer to this question short and crisp. Lengthy answers to this question may prove fatal. First prepare the answer before you speak. Buy some time from the interviewer if he/she asks for an example. Whatever you speak should be in sequence and completely related to the previous line.
4) If I were to ask your managers/professors to describe you, what would they say?
My manager (professor) would say that I am one of the most flexible and dependant person in his team.
Answers like "I believe he would say I'm a very energetic person, that I'm results oriented and one of the best people he has ever worked with." is very well accepted in the interview.
5) What qualities you feel a successful manager should have?
Focus on two words: Leadership and vision.
Here is a sample of how to respond: "The key quality in a successful manager should be leadership--the ability to be the visionary for the people who are working under them. The person who can set the course and direction for subordinates. The highest calling of a true leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their abilities.
6) What are your goals and objectives in life.
Goals are broadly classified into two categories. Short term goals and Long term goals.
Short term goals: My short term goal is to join a Company like XYZ and become a successful business analyst within the shortest span.
Long term goals : The answer should be…... "I have learned that long-term goals are best achieved when I break them into shorter goals. My short-term goal is to find a position that will put me in a forward-moving company with solid performance and future projections. As part of a team, I want to add value and continue to grow the company. My long-term goal will depend on where the company goes. My plan is to move into a position of responsibility where I can lead a team."
If you want to be specific about a role which you would like to acquire…. Then find out to what extent a business analyst can grow… I mean the various growth options for a business analyst role.
7) Where would you like to see yourself 5 years down the line ?
: "Within five years, I would like to become the very best analyst your company has on staff. I want to work toward becoming the expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I'll be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities which might be presented in the long term.
Mention some steps you are currently taking to achieve that level. Examples would be interaction with various executives,reading books, media, attending expert lectures etc.
8) Why do you want to join xyz company and why not other companies.
I have done a lot of research on companies to find out which is the best and the right one for me to pursue my career. I shortlisted a few companies and xyz is my first choice or xyz tops my list.
Why xyz tops the list?
I request you to go thru the company site and collect some articles about the company's success stories, employee satisfaction, technical exposure and growth opportunities. This shows that you have done your homework and will create a positive impression.
9) What will you do if I don't hire you?
I will consider myself as unfortunate, however I will not lose heart. I will work on the constructive feedback provided and will give a defenite try during the next eligible attempt.
10) How long will you stay with us?
I will stay with your company as long as we (employee and the respective manager) both feel that I AM contributing, achieving and growing.
11) What motivates you?"
"A job well done." "A challenge." "Interesting work/technology." Any or all of these answers work
12) What are your salary expectations.
Salary is not my primary consideration. Of course, I have to pay the bills. I'd be open to any reasonable offer." Pause and maintain direct eye contact, even if it seems like forever. Do not be the first one to flinch. Do not over-talk. Be prepared for a long silence. Let the manager be the first to present a figure. It will give you power and control.
If forced to give a specific number, never give a broad range -- you will usually be offered the low end. Instead, be as precise as possible: "I'd be open to something in the low-fifties (or mid-forties, high-seventies, whatever)." Giving such a specific number presumes you've researched the local job market and know what people with your skills are making.
13) Can you work under pressure?"
Yes, I usually find it stimulating. However, I believe in planning and time management in order to reduce panic.
14) "What are your biggest accomplishments?"
Keep your answers job-related, a number of achievements should spring to mind. Do not exaggerate contributions to major projects. You might begin your reply with: "Although I feel my biggest accomplishments are ahead of me, I am proud of my involvement with…….I made my contribution as part of that team and learned a lot in the process. We did it with hard work, concentration, and an eye for the bottom line." Always remember to quantify your achievements.
You can use this as a reference to answer any kind of non- technical questions. Be prepared with relevant examples and cite them wherever possible
Some general tips.
Be confident.
Have eye to eye contact.
Do not Panic
Define your goals and objectives well in advance.
Do not get into arguments.
Have a set of questions for the interviewer. ( to be asked in the end)
Examples: How would you describe the responsibilities of the position? What are the prospects for growth and advancement.? What is the company's management style?
Thank the interviewer for his precious time.
All The Best !
