Truth be told, an experience from the past is most likely to determine what the future could look like (maybe a tiny glimpse of it). Situational interview questions are no different when it comes to achieving this. These questions give an insight into what an employee’s past experience was like and could directly impact what the future could look like. An employer looking to choose the best of the best should get a glimpse into the past experiences of candidates before making a decision.
It’s time to stop being nervous about how to answer, “Tell me about yourself.”
Before we address the main topic, let’s look at a brief explanation of what situational interview questions are all about. And later, discuss some examples of situational interview questions.
What are experience-based interview questions?
Experience-based situational interview questions are questions used to understand the past experience of a job seeker. These questions highlight how a candidate handled a past situation, as this is inevitable in the workplace. Situations and challenges are bound to occur in the workplace, and tackling them can prove how competent an employee can be. Problem solving skills are a must-have for the workplace as they play a major role in the success of an organization. During situational interviews, employers are advised to ask questions that will shed more light on these sides of a job candidate. To assist you, we’ll discuss some helpful situational interview questions.
How can you determine the perfect answer to your situational interview question?
Getting an answer to your question is one thing during a situational interview. Determining if it is a great answer is another. Employers are often laid back as to what a good answer to a situational question looks like. However, we have a tip that could help.
We would advise that you use the STAR method when analyzing the answers. STAR is an acronym for situation, task, action, and result. This method will help you determine if the answer given by a candidate is impressive or not. To start with S, which stands for situation, the answer given should initially explain the situation where they found themselves. T should highlight the task they were expected to perform regarding the situation. A should discuss what action they took, including plans and strategies to solve the problem. R should describe the results that were achieved after the entire process. By using this method, you can have a better understanding of how a candidate handled a situation at their previous workplace.
What 3 questions will you ask in an interview to help you choose the best candidate?
During a situational interview, managers must ensure that they have their questions ready. So, as earlier promised, we’ll discuss three helpful situational interview questions you should use next time.
1.“Describe a problem you faced in your previous workplace. And how did you handle it?”
This is one of the most common yet effective questions every employer should ask. It is not specific, hence it gives room to the employee to describe any situation related to the job. The answer to this question will help you decide if such a person can handle future problems in your company or not. It will also describe how they handle such problems.
2.“Describe a situation when you had an issue with a colleague. How did you resolve it?”
Employee relationships can take a drastic turn sometimes, and that’s why you have to ensure that the people you employ are emotionally intelligent. This means that they can sit back and think of how to settle conflicts in the workplace. Employees that give good answers to this question are great assets for your company.
3.“What would you do if a customer was displeased with your services?”
This helpful situational interview question is mostly important for B2C companies since they interact closely with customers. You won’t want your employees fighting with customers on a regular basis, or even at all. An answer to this question will help determine what an employee can do when they are faced with such problems and what could result from it.
Situational interview questions are the basis for breaking down a candidate’s past experience. These questions help employers determine if a job seeker is the right fit for their company.
