Submitted by sadicarnot on
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I am applying for an internal position for a municipal power plant where they don't do behavioral interviews. In fact the last time I interviewed for a position the interviewer did not even have a copy of my resume with him and did not want the one I offered. He had a list of about 20 questions that were the what would you do if type. I think these come from HR and are pretty much the only topic discussed in interviews.
I tried to answer the questions with 'well in my past I did this' Unfortunately I was kind knocked off balance by the fact he did not want to look at my resume and really had no interest in my past accomplishments.
I think this time around it may be a group interview with the usual 20 questions. Any suggestions on how to prepare for this? I found that last time around I was getting stumped as to how to bring the answer around to include my past experience.
Preparing for Non Behavioral interview
They don't want to know about your background.
They don't want to hear about your experience.
...and why, exactly, would you want to work at this place? :lol:
Could you give any examples of these "non-behavioral questions"?
My advice is that you stick to behavioral answers, by "bridging" them into your answers to their questions. Start with as direct an answer as you can give to their non-behavioral question ("I would do...").
Don't appear that you're evading their question.
Then you "bridge" it with a phrase like "for example...", of "I say this based on my experience, specifically..."
The reason for doing this is because you will be naturally more confident and persuasive when you're covering stuff you know really well - your experience - than you will answering in hypotheticals.
And displaying well-grounded confidence is a HUGE part of doing well in any interview.
-Hugh
Preparing for Non Behavioral interview
[quote="HMac"]They don't want to know about your background.
They don't want to hear about your experience.
...and why, exactly, would you want to work at this place? :lol: [/quote]
Oy Vey, It's Dilbertville believe me. Originally they were going to build a Coal Gassification plant. Real leading edge kind of stuff. I was hoping to be involved with that. The national political climate changed and that got canceled, now it is just a gas fired plant. Hopefully this new plant will be an island of excellence in a sea of mediocrity.
[quote="HMac"]Could you give any examples of these "non-behavioral questions"?[/quote]
The last job I interviewed for was a construction coordinator for this new plant. The questions were: 'do you get along with people?', 'how would you handle a difficult person'. They did not ask for a significant accomplishment, though they did ask for a weakness.
[quote="HMac"]My advice is that you stick to behavioral answers, by "bridging" them into your answers to their questions. Start with as direct an answer as you can give to their non-behavioral question ("I would do...").
Don't appear that you're evading their question.
Then you "bridge" it with a phrase like "for example...", of "I say this based on my experience, specifically..."[/quote]
Man, I was trying to do that, I guess I got flustered and dwelled in my mind on the fact he did not want to look at my resume or talk about my background. I had practiced all of the questions that M&M talk about in the interview series. When only one of them got asked I guess I became unable to make those bridges.
[quote="HMac"]The reason for doing this is because you will be naturally more confident and persuasive when you're covering stuff you know really well - your experience - than you will answering in hypotheticals.
And displaying well-grounded confidence is a HUGE part of doing well in any interview.[/quote]
The construction coordinator was a stretch for me. I met the qualifications, but compared to the other candidates all I had was my interviewing skills, enthusiasm, and I closed the interview. I may have sabotaged myself going in because in my mind I knew/thought I was the least qualified candidate. This job is more of a lateral move so I think my confidence level will be much higher and I have proven by my performance that I am better than the competition for this position. I think now that I know what to expect I won't be taken by surprise. And since it is more up my alley it may be easier to make the bridge.
Preparing for Non Behavioral interview
Great de-brief sadicarnot.
Sounds like lots of lessons that you're building into your prep.
As far as praticing goes, NOTHING beats real interviews when they're using "live ammunition." So the net experience for you is a PLUS - and you'll be better on the next one.
Good luck.
Keep us posted!
-Hugh
Preparing for Non Behavioral interview
I just put my resume and internal application in. The manager that will be in charge of the plant was pleased to see that I was sticking it in the interoffice envelope on the first day the job was posted.
I don't work directly with him but he has told me that he is impressed by my work and encouraged me to apply for this position.
BUT as Mark says until you have an offer you have nothing and I do not want to leave anything to chance and as they say I am going to fight fight fight until I get something.
Preparing for Non Behavioral interview
I think you just need to stick to your guns in trying to bring your past accomplishments into focus. One way to do this is to answer the question initially in the abstract, and then use your past accomplishments as an example.
So, if they ask what you would do if you had a non-performing direct you could answer by describing the late stage coaching process, and then provide an example by talking about how you did that with a direct and the results that were achieved.
Don't get flustered. You need to be able to handle questions that aren't in the behavioural format so it might be worth preparing for the type ofquestions you are likely to get.