If you read my article Why You Should Move Away, you will know that I am moving overseas in about 5-6 weeks. One of the challenges I will obviously face is finding a new job once I get there. Finding a new job means interviews. Interviews mean questions. And if there one particular type of question I hate it’s this: the behavioural question. Behavioural questions are basically questions that require you to give specific examples of past experiences. Examples of such questions are:

• Give me a specific example of a time when you had to address an angry customer. What was the problem and what was the outcome?
• Tell me about a particular time when you had to rely on a team to get things done.
• Give an example of an occasion when you used logic to solve a problem.

Interviews are often long and stressful. Therefore it can be extremely hard to recall specific examples on the spot. The key to answering these types of question well is preparation. One tool to help you prepare is a career journal. A career journal is basically a journal which you use to record examples of your achievements in the workplace. By recording your achievements as they happen you will ensure they are not forgotten. I suggest dividing the journal into different sections relating to different achievements. These achievements could relate to:

• Solving a problem using logic
• Reaching a goal
• Making and implementing an unpopular, but necessary, decision
• Going above the call of duty
• Being involved in a team
• Handling a difficult situation with a co-worker
• Working effectively under pressure
• Increasing profitability

The above are all common examples that interviewers ask about. When it does come time to prepare for a job interview, you can simply refer to your journal and practice some answers to typical interview questions. One benefit of this is that your examples will be true and genuine. The last thing you want to do when answering a behavioral question is appear as if you are making up the example as you go along. So far I have focused on how a career journal can help with preparing for job interviews. It’s not just job hunters though who can benefit. Anyone wanting to request a raise or promotion at work can use a career journal to ensure they have specific examples to justify these to the boss.

Tags: Career, Success //