BEHAVIOR-BASED INTERVIEWS

Introduction
If you interview for a different job with the State of Michigan, you might experience a behavior-based interview instead of the traditional interview process you are accustomed to. More and more employers are using the behavior-based method of interviewing in order to find the ideal employee, including the State of Michigan. Consequently, the Department of Civil Service is developing a video on behavior-based interviews to educate state employees and individuals seeking employment with the State of Michigan. We will let you know when the video is released.

What is a Behavior-Based Interview?
Unlike the traditional method of interviewing, the behavior-based method of interviewing is based on the premise that past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior. In a traditional interview, for example, the applicant can describe how they would likely handle a given situation. In a behavior-based interview, the applicant is asked to describe in detail an actual situation they encountered in the past, how they handled it, and what the outcome was. This is commonly referred to as the STAR approach: Situation/Task, Action, and Result.

The behavior-based interview method asks probing questions and prevents applicants from embellishing or being vague about their experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities. The interviewer might ask questions like, “Have you ever encountered a hostile customer? If so, what did you do to defuse the situation? Walk me through what you thought, what you did, and what the outcome was.”

How to Prepare for the Interview
Whether you are going through a behavior-based or traditional interview, the average applicant experiences some level of anxiety before the interview. The importance of the interview may weigh heavier and heavier on your mind as the appointed date and hour grows closer. A way to overcome this anxiety is to first think of the interview as a meeting and not an interrogation. It is a meeting because you are participating in the process not only in hopes of landing the job, but to find out if that particular job is the right match for you. Are you a good fit in that work setting, doing those tasks, in that work environment? Prepare for the interview through research:

	Research the employer; i.e., visit their web site, read publications about the employer, and talk with individuals familiar with the organization.
	Talk with the human resource representative to find out if they are conducting a traditional or behavior-based interview.
	Research the competencies for the job. If the competencies are not available on the employer’s website, ask the human resource representative to provide them.
	Using the competencies, correlate your job-related experience to the individual categories; e.g., for ”communication,” think of a time when you dealt with a situation that required you to take action to communicate an unpleasant message, think of what action you took, why you took that action, and what the result was.
	Finally, as silly as it sounds, research YOURSELF! The pressure of an interview can dim your recollection, so refresh your memory about your accomplishments by reviewing where you have been and what you have done.

The Interview
Interview panels generally consist of 2 to 4 people. The same job-related selection criteria are used to assess every applicant, and the same job-related questions are asked of every applicant. This promotes equity and fairness in the selection process. During the interview, you will probably notice panel members frequently writing while you are talking. This should not be interpreted negatively. Considering how many interviews might be conducted, it is to your advantage for panel members to make notes about your answers.

Finally, avoid being prepared to present only positive experiences. Behavior-based questions also probe how you handled negative situations, so be prepared to share negative situations in which you triumphed or where you at least made the best of a bad situation and learned something in the process.

Need more information?
For more information on employment opportunities and available career planning services, please visit the Michigan Department of Civil Service website at www.michigan.gov/mdcs.