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We got several requests to share some sample behavior-based questions to uncover attitudes and beliefs when interviewing candidates. Here are some examples. If you have a specific attitude or belief you are wanting to uncover, give us a call and we’ll help you develop some questions.
Honest/Ethical
Give me an example of a time in your career when someone acted unethically or were dishonest. [Listen for their definition of unethical/dishonest. Follow-up with questions like … what is your definition of ethical behavior? In your mind, what would be dishonest behavior that would make you question a person’s or organization’s trustworthiness?]
Team Player
What makes a good team player? Give me an example of a time when you felt one of your co-workers was not a good team player? What expectations do you have of team members? Tell me about a situation when you were on a team and felt you were doing more than other team members?
[Listen carefully for the responses to answers about how other people behaved. This reveals an individual’s own preferences and actually tells you what is important to him/her.]
Takes Initiative
Give me an example of a time when you went above and beyond what was asked of you. [Follow up to explore why s/he went above and beyond? What was s/he thinking? What was the outcome? What did s/he learn as a result of doing that? Listen for the individual’s thought processes around what needed to be done and why s/he specifically took the action.]
Trainable/Interested and Willing to Learning
When you started your last position, what did the company do to train you? What worked? What didn’t? What is the best way for you to learn?
Tell me about a course or class you took recently and what you learned? What was the last book or article you read and what did you learn? What do you do to continue developing your skills and yourself?
