This document provides tips for behavioral interviews. It begins with an introduction explaining why the workshop on behavioral interviews is important. It then outlines 5 quick ways to improve an interview, including making eye contact, sitting up straight, and smiling. Next, it explains the differences between traditional and behavioral interviews, noting that behavioral interviews will involve storytelling answers about past situations. The document provides guidance on how to structure answers to behavioral interview questions using the STAR method of describing a situation, explaining the actions taken, and sharing the outcome. It also includes tips for role playing interview questions and dos and don'ts of interviews.

1. How to Have a Successful
Behavioral Interview
By Nikki Rennalls
wece@ece.gatech.edu

2. Today‟s Agenda
Introduction
5 Quick Ways to Improve Your Interview
Traditional vs Behavioral Interviews
How to Answer Behavior Based Questions
Role Playing
Do‟s and Don'ts of Interviews
WECE Reminders

3. Introduction
Why host a behavioral interview workshop
for the Women of ECE?
• Because your first job IS important
• Because of the economy
• Because you deserve the job of your
dreams
• Because giving a good interview is easy
with practice

4. 5 Quick Ways to Improve Your
Interview
• Give a Good Handshake
• Make Eye Contact
• Sit up Straight
• Speak up, speak clearly
• Smile!

5. Traditional Interviews
• Hypothetical Situations
• Interviewers may probe, they may not
• Interviewees may generalize or provide theoretical
answers
• Straight questions with straight forward answers
– Ex. “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”

6. Behavioral Interviews
• Past Situations
• Interviewers WILL probe
• Interviewers will ask for details
• Questions with story anwers
– Ex. “Describe a time you had to work on a
team?”

7. How to Answer Behavior Based
Questions
Describe Explain
Share the
Think the Your
Outcome
Situation Actions

8. Think
• What experience is most relevant to the
question?
• Does this story show me in a good light?
• Did my actions directly impact the result?
• Is this story appropriate to share with an
interviewer?
– Does this hurt anyone else?

9. Describe the Situation
• Give a brief back story
– Sometimes Unnecessary
– “Do not begin with „When dinosaurs roamed
the Earth‟” -Michael Laughter
• The Problem/Challenge

10. Explain Your Actions
• Be clear about what YOU did
• Be honest!
– Go ahead, brag about yourself
– Watch out for embellishments and untruths
– Never lie in an interview

11. Share the Outcome
• Be Honest
• Measurements of Success
– Rankings, Money, Grades, Stats, etc.
• What did you learn?
• How would you do things differently?

12. Role Playing
Question 1: Have you had to convince a
team to work on a project they weren't
thrilled about? How did you do it?
Question 2: Give me an example of when you
took a risk to achieve a goal. What was
the outcome?

13. Interview Do‟s and Don‟ts
Do talk about yourself
Do take advantages of silences
Do be honest
Do express your interest
Do write a thank-you
Don‟t leave without asking questions
Don‟t be too casual
Don‟t bad-mouth past bosses or colleagues
Don‟t bring anything but you‟re A game

14. Any Questions?
Thank You

15. WECE Reminders
• FIRST Robotics Competition
• Career Fair next week
• Harris Dinner Tuesday @ 6pm
• Northrup-Grunman Lunch Thurs. @ 11
• New Service Projects
– Local Women‟s Shelter
– Relay for Life
• Free Donut Fridays