Behavioral interviews have become a mainstay of many employers.  An interview technique mostly used by big firms now has many smaller employers are joining the ranks of behavioral interviewers. But how does a job candidate properly prepare to ace a behavioral interview? Below are a few tips:

1. Do your research on the company.  Find out from current and former employees what their experiences were during the behavioral interview process. Also research the company to find out which characteristics they’re looking for in a job candidate.  Most employers are looking for critical thinkers, self-starters, team players and people willing to learn new things, so that can be a starting point.
2. Formulate responses in advance.  Behavioral interviews are not something you can successfully do without some preparation.  Employers expect interviewees to provide specific and detailed answers to their questions.  And you can’t do that if you don’t at least consider the type of questions they may ask.  For example, a common question might be, “Tell us about a time when you were faced with a task you didn’t understand.”  The interviewee should already have a story available which explores their experience with learning something new or asking for help from a co-worker. 
3. Understand what employers are really asking.  Behavioral interviews are designed to find out how a job candidate responds to a problem and what type of results they have been able to get.  For example, in the question “Tell us about a time when you were faced with a task you didn’t understand,” the interviewee might talk about how there was some aspect of the litigation case they didn’t’ understand and how they went to a co-worker who helped them not only understand the problem but to get an even  better settlement.  The answer shows how the interviewee is a good team player and is willing to let others step in and compensate for any weakness they may have.  It’s important to note that the interviewer won’t directly ask for what they’re really looking for; they only present the problem or situation in their question.