Two Simple Rules of Behavioral Interviewing

Posted on by February 25, 2013

Clinical RecruitmentBehavioral Interviewing is an interviewing method used by Hiring Managers to learn more about your past behavior in certain situations. The theory behind digging into those past actions and reactions is the feeling that past conduct and performance is a great predictor of future performance.

Regardless of your tenure, the behavioral interview approach can be intimidating. If you research “behavioral interviewing” on the internet, you will find many recommendations on how to prepare for these types of engagements.  I will tell you, however, there are only two simple rules you should be aware of when preparing for these types of interviews.

Rule #1: Always use real examples

General answers are not what the Hiring Manager is looking for. She wants specific details about the event, the project, the team, or the experience and the particulars on how you dealt with the situation.

Additionally, always avoid using language such as “I would do…” as this only describes how you would behave…not how you actually have behaved in the past. Using the “I would do” terminology will leave the Hiring Manager believing you a) either haven’t experienced this type of situation and are therefore inexperienced or b) you didn’t believe your behavior was appropriate and therefore shouldn’t share it.

Here is an example:

A Behavioral Interview approach may be: “Tell me about a time where you had a team member who wasn’t carrying their fair share of the work load, and how you handled it”. This statement demands you articulate details on how you handled an employee who was not working at the same level of your other team members.  It is important you provide a real example, describing the situation in detail, so the Hiring Manager will be able to tell if your leadership experience and management style will be a good fit for her organization.

However, if you answer “I would take the individual to the side…” or some other similar hypothetical example, you have given the hiring manager no idea of how you would truly (or have truly) handled this situation in the past.

Rule #2: Always keep it positive

By the nature of the behavioral interviewing beast, some questions the Hiring Manager may ask you will not necessarily yield positive examples of your work history.

Such questions may include:

Tell me about a goal that you set that you did not reach. What steps did you take? What obstacles did you encounter? How did it make you feel?

Tell me about a time when you missed a deadline.

Tell me about a time where you took a risk and failed.

Clearly the answer to any of these questions will show where you perhaps made a mistake or failed in some way…so how do you keep it positive?

This is easy! Show how you took responsibility for your error or weakness. Speak to your lessons learned and talk about what you have personally put into place to ensure you never make the same mistake again. Now you are showing the Hiring Manager you are a professional who takes responsibility for his actions, learns from previous errors, and continually grows as an individual. What a great message to get across!

For information on how to prepare for a behavioral interview, please read the Preparing for a Behavioral Interview article I wrote. I hope you have found this information useful!

Investing in a Lifetime of Success

Angela Roberts
www.craresources.com
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Preparing for a Behavioral Interview

Posted on by February 25, 2013

Clinical RecruitmentMore employers are using behavioral interviewing in the hiring process. This type of interview is based on the idea that the best way to predict your future performance is to examine your past and present performance in a similar situation. It focuses on experiences, behaviors, knowledge, skills and abilities which are job related.

With the Behavioral Interview, Employers predetermine which skills are necessary for the position and then ask very pointed questions to determine if the candidate possesses those skills or have the needed experiences.

Currently, 30 percent of all organizations are using behavioral interviewing to some degree.

Why should you prepare for a behavioral interview?

  • Candidates who prepare for behavioral interviews are better prepared – even for traditional interviews.
  • Using behavioral style answers works well with inexperienced interviewers.
  • Companies who invest the time and energy in developing behavioral interviews often attract top candidates, and of course, top candidates make the company a more desirable place to work.

Before the interview:

  • One way to prepare for the interview is to first consider the job description.  What skills are listed as qualifications for the job? For example, does the organization say they need team players? Someone with a strong attention to detail? Keen problem solvers? Someone with superior customer service?
  • Once you have a greater understanding of the kinds of skills the company is seeking, you can begin to reflect upon experiences where you have demonstrated these skills.
  • If you don’t have a job description, think about the skills that might be necessary for the job or speak to an advisor in career services.

During the Interview, when answering the questions:

  • First, internally note what competency or skill the employer may be seeking (hint: it may be more than one) and then always make sure you:

1. Describe a specific, recent situation (if you can, try to keep it within two years)

2. Detail your behavior or the actions you took to resolve the situation. (Be sure that your role is clear and significant)

3. Share the outcome or the results of the situation.

4. NOTE:  Do not use Hypothetical Answers!  When a candidate states “I would handle xyz this way” this is a clear indication that the candidate does not have the experience required!!!  Always use clear, specific examples.

  • Always listen carefully to the question, ask for clarification if necessary, and make sure you answer the question completely.
  • Your interview preparation should include identifying examples of situations from your experiences on your resume where you have demonstrated the behaviors a given company seeks.
  • When answering behavioral questions use the STAR Method and convey specific situations, actions, and outcomes/results.

1. Situation: Use specific details about a situation or task.

2. Task: Tell what led to the situation or task.

3. Action Taken: Discuss what you did and who was involved.

4. Result or outcome: Communicate the outcome.

  • Before the interview process, identify two or three of your top selling points and determine how you will convey these points (with demonstrated STAR stories) during the interview.
  • Whenever you can, quantify your results. Numbers illustrate your level of authority and responsibility. For example: “I was a shift supervisor.” could be “As Shift Supervisor, I trained and evaluated 4 employees.”
  • Be prepared to provide examples of when results didn’t turn out as you planned. What did you do then? What did you learn? Your resume will serve as a good guide when answering these questions.
  • Refresh your memory regarding your achievements in the past couple of years. Demonstration of the desired behaviors may be proven in many ways. Use examples from past internships, classes, activities, team involvements, community service and work experience.

Behavioral questions can be difficult if you are not prepared. Always try to be conscious about what the recruiter is trying to find out about you by asking you a particular question.

Here are some examples:

Adaptability

Tell me about a time when you had to adjust to a colleague’s working style in order to complete a project or achieve your objectives.

Analytical Skills/Problem Solving

Tell me about a situation where you had to solve a difficult problem. What did you do? What was your thought process? What was the outcome? What do you wish you had done differently?

Tell me about a time where you realized your project was going to miss a milestone, deliverable or deadline.  How did you handle it?  How would you prevent this risk in the future?

Communication

What is your typical way of dealing with conflict? Give me an example.

Give me an example of a time when you were able to successfully communicate with another person even when that individual may not have personally liked you (or vice versa). How did you handle the situation? What obstacles or difficulties did you face? How did you deal with them?

Creativity

Tell me about a time when you had to use your presentation skills to influence someone’s opinion.

Tell me about a problem that you’ve solved in a unique or unusual way. What was the outcome? Were you happy or satisfied with it?

Decision Making

Tell me about a difficult decision you’ve made in the last year.

Describe a situation where you have had to overcome a problem or obstacle in order to move forward with something. What did you do?

Tell me about a time when you had to make a decision without all the information you needed. How did you handle it? Why? Were you happy with the outcome?

Flexibility

Give me a specific example of a time when you had to conform to a policy with which you did not agree.

Describe a time when you put your needs aside to help a co-worker understand a task. How did you assist him/her? What was the result?

Goal Setting

Give me an example of a time when you set a goal and were able to meet or achieve it.

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement so far and why?

Tell me about a goal that you set that you did not reach. What steps did you take? What obstacles did you encounter? How did it make you feel?

Initiative

Describe a time when you anticipated potential problems and developed preventive measures.

What tricks or techniques have you learned to make school or a job easier, or to make yourself more effective? How did you learn that?

Describe a situation where you have had to use your initiative to solve a problem. What did you do?

What was the best idea you came up with during your professional or college career? How did you apply it?

Give me an example of a time when something you tried to accomplish failed.

Give me an example of when you showed initiative and took the lead.

Integrity/Honesty

Tell me about a time when you missed an obvious solution to a problem.

Tell me about a time when you were forced to make an unpopular decision.

Tell me about a time you had to fire a friend.

Describe a time when you set your sights too high (or too low).

Tell of the most difficult customer service experience that you have ever had to handle-perhaps an angry or irate customer. Be specific and tell what you did and what was the outcome.

Tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond the call of duty in order to get a job done.

Give a specific example of a policy you conformed to with which you did not agree. Why?

Leadership

Give me an example of a time when you motivated others.

Tell me about a time when you delegated a project effectively.

Tell me about a time where you had a team member not carrying their full workload or not meeting their commitments.

What has been your experience in giving presentations to small or large groups? What has been your most successful experience in speech making?

Tell me about a team project when you had to take the lead or take charge of the project? What did you do? How did you do it? What was the result?

Interpersonal Skills

Give me an example of a time when you used your fact-finding skills to solve a problem.

Give me a specific example of a time when you used good judgment and logic in solving a problem.

Describe a situation in which you were able to use persuasion to successfully convince someone to see things your way.

Give an example of when you had to work with someone who was difficult to get along with. How/why was this person difficult? How did you handle it? How did the relationship progress?

Planning and Organization/Time Management

How do you determine priorities in scheduling your time? Give examples.

Describe a time when you had many projects or assignments due at the same time. What steps did you take to get them all done?

Tell me about a time when you had too many things to do and you were required to prioritize your tasks.

How do you prioritize projects and tasks when scheduling your time? Give me some examples.

Teamwork

Tell me about a time you were able to successfully deal with another person even when that individual may not have personally liked you (or vice versa).

Tell me about a recent situation in which you had to deal with a very upset customer or co-worker.

Describe a situation where you have had to work as part of a team to achieve a result. What was your role in this?

Describe a situation where others you were working with on a project disagreed with your ideas. What did you do?

Investing in a Lifetime of Success,

Angela Roberts
www.craresources.com
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The Importance of Good References

Posted on by February 25, 2013

Clinical RecruitmentSelecting good references is one of the most imperative recruiting tips for applicants. It is the applicant’s job to cultivate relationships worthy of a good reference. To an employer, the reference will show what your personality and work ethic are really like (not just when you are on your best behavior for the interview). To an applicant, a reference can be a great professional self-evaluation, and is an enormously positive way to emphasize your strengths and develop a strategy to minimize your weaknesses. Here is a list of the do’s and don’ts regarding good job references:

  • Do pick references who are well spoken, and practice interview questions with them if you want to be thorough.
  • Do discuss the job opportunity with your references, so that they know what context in which to convey your strengths and minimize weaknesses
  • Do remember to ask permission to use someone as a reference, and give him/her warning of when a potential employer may call.
  • Don’t pick a family member, girlfriend/boyfriend, or anyone who has not witnessed your work performance.
  • Do pick a reference who you have a positive professional relationship with and who you are absolutely sure will speak highly of you.
  • Don’t pick an employer/coworker with whom the relationship ended badly
  • Do select supervisory references as well as peer references.  If you are applying for a management position it is also recommended to supply references of past employees.
  • Do keep your references as current as possible.
  • Do provide references quickly upon request as any delay will have a negative impact.

Optimally, a reference will be someone who has an impressive position or reputation themselves. While this is not a requirement, it is a great way to expand and legitimize your professional network. Take advantage of your professional references! They are great resources for advice as well as potential mentorships. Having good references is among one of the strongest recruiting tips for both employers and applicants because of the opportunities for insight that they offer.

Written by Leah Brooks

Investing in a Lifetime of Success,

Angela Roberts
www.craresources.com
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How to Properly Address CRA Recruitment and Find Quality Candidates

Posted on by February 21, 2013

Clinical RecruitmentMany recruiting companies may believe recruiting professionals to work on your clinical trials and research is much like recruiting for any other position, but with a few minor differences.

However, we disagree.  Recruiting Clinical Research Professionals to work on your Clinical Trials is something take very seriously as we understand your trial may be put at risk if the Clinical Professionals are not at the right level of quality.  So what is our approach?

As with other industries, it’s important to adopt a plan or strategy in how you will go about your CRA recruitment. With this plan, one should address what is wanted in a CRA, where to look for quality candidates, how to look, prospecting and qualification, and a plan on how to actually entice the desired candidate(s) to join your team.

Evaluate your needs:  You should first start evaluating your needs for additional CRAs as you are determining what project, trial, or research is needing to be executed and what type of candidate is best suited for doing so. Draft a list or outline of characteristics and traits that are both necessary and desired for a candidate and apply weight of importance to each characteristic. This can be a “wish list” of sorts and one should not hesitate in listing every detail or desired trait. However, you should prioritize that list of desired traits. It is important to remember not to hold a candidate too strictly to the overall list of requirements, but should aim for satisfying all of the highly weighted qualifications.

Create a high-quality and well-defined Job Post.  It is important to make sure that one explicitly spells out the job function, tasks and activities involved with the position, skills required, skills desired, and applications of said skills. This will not only help the organization define what is wanted/needed and attract candidates who satisfy those stipulations, but will also allow the applicants and candidates to become more familiar with the position and have a better understanding of what is expected of them.

Strategize where to find your Candidates. After defining what you want in a candidate and drafting a job description, the next step in CRA recruitment, and possibly the most important, is knowing where to find suitable and qualified candidates. Three possible destinations one’s organization should thoroughly explore are: career fairs and industry-related events, databases, and social networks.

Career fairs and industry-related are great opportunities for companies to be exposed to promising talent and also to become a more familiar brand. Here, one is able to interact and socialize with possible candidates in a professional setting, while also being able to attain smaller amounts of one-on-one time. Furthermore, establishing contacts at such events can increase a company’s database size of candidates that may be better suited for other positions.

Company databases of candidates, both past and present, can prove to be useful when searching for the right fit. Just because one candidate wasn’t suited for a past position doesn’t mean that they may not be suited for the current one.

Social networks are fantastic resources for learning about candidates and also creating company profiles that enable one to not only network on an individual level, but also help candidates become more familiar with one’s organization.

Be aggressive in directly recruiting stars.  One possible idea that an organization may want to consider when searching for its ideal candidates is to simply handpick “dream” candidates and offer the opportunity to them. Obviously it’s a little more complicated than that, but it’s worth a shot. If a hiring manager or other company associate is aware of a candidate or candidates that would be exceptional fits for the specified positions, contact them. Don’t be afraid to reach outside of those who have applied for the position(s). Everyone loves flattery and being told they have wonderful qualifications and are exactly what a company is looking for is a great ice breaker. According to an article in BusinessWeek, video game company Red 5 Studios handpicked 100 ideal candidates for various positions. The startup then sent each one a personalized iPod equipped with a welcome from the CEO. “The flattery paid off: More than 90 recipients responded to the pitch, three left their jobs to come on board, and many more potential hires discovered the company through word-of-mouth buzz generated by the search,” BusinessWeek says. Now I’m not saying to necessarily go the iPod route, but let them know they are wanted.

Finally, go out there and get them. Do what it takes to get that candidate that you feel best fits the position and the culture and environment of your company. There is nothing worse than settling- so don’t.

Need assistance establishing a competitive clinical research salary or recruiting tips to improve your clinical recruitment results?  We offer complimentary consultation in these areas!

Written by Ryan Miller

Dedicated to Every Client’s Success,

Angela Roberts
www.craresources.com
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