Behavioural Interviews - More Important Than You Think

An Australian Association of Graduate Employers survey found more than 80 per cent of employers use “behavioural interviewing” when selecting graduates. As such, most business and professional services employers tend to focus on finding out who you are, what you do, what you like/dislike - rather than focusing on your academic results, although it would be nice to have both.

What does this translate to in an interview? This means candidates will be asked how they’ have handled a situation rather than how they would handle it.

Drawing on all your experience including part time work, sports, hobbies and community work will tell the potential employer a lot more about you than focusing only on what you’ve done at university.

“If a grad was asked about teamwork what’s more interesting? The grad who talks about working on a group assignment at uni or the one that talks about what happened when the chemist shop he was working in was flooded and the team all had to pull together?” explained AAGE executive director Ben Reeves.

“I’ve done a lot of recruitment in different places, including the UK and Australia, and the candidates who get short-listed are the ones with interesting backgrounds,” he said.

Mr Reeves said grads could also be asked how they prepared for their job interview. The yawn candidate will answer “visited the company website” or “read your graduate recruitment brochure”.

The stand-out candidate will have used their family and personal networks to find someone who works at the company to chat to and or have read media clippings about the company.

My advice is to rehearse at least a few times before an interview. It’s ideal to rehearse with someone from the industry you wish to but if that’s not possible a family member will do. Rehearsing is great for nerves; ensuring you know your resume inside out; and practicing answers that draw on all areas of your life.

Source: CareerOne.com.au

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