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Published - Mon, 05 Dec 2022

Top Most asked Amazon Interview Questions and Answers

Top Most asked Amazon Interview Questions and Answers

Once the CEO of Amazon, Jeff Bezos said, "I'd rather interview 50 people and not hire anyone than hire the wrong person."

You can understand the quality of the recruitment process of Amazon by the statement of their CEO. It doesn't mean Amazon wants you to fail. Instead, it simply means they only want to hire people who prove themselves worthy.

In this article, we will explain the interview process of Amazon, the technical topics you have to prepare for discussion, and how to answer the interview questions asked by the interviewer.

Amazon's Interview Process

There will be a total of 5 rounds (1 online coding test + 4 interview rounds) in the whole process.

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Round 1 (Online coding test Round)

This test contains two coding questions for which you have to be given 2 hours to solve. You also have to submit the approach used for solving in words and your algorithm's time and space complexity.

Round 2 (Technical Round)

You will get 2 to 4 coding questions that focus on basic problem solving and data structures in this round. The questions may vary according to your experience level. The less experienced you are, the more number of coding rounds you will face.

Round 3 (Design Interview Round)

In this round, the candidate may ask a question on high-level design architecture for real-life products and OOPS-based design of components. The company may skip this round for entry-level openings for the software engineering role.

Round 4 (Hiring Manager Round)

This hiring manager round is used to test for cultural fit based on attitude and previous work experience. In this round, the candidate is asked about the general HR questions and the previous company's experience. The interviewer may discuss your projects in the previous company and ask some behavioral questions based on those experiences.

Round 5 (Bar Raiser Round)

This is the last interview round called the optional bar raiser round, which combines all of the above. Here, a senior engineering manager can ask about your previous works and again ask some behavioral questions. The idea is to judge if you are technically better than an average person in a particular Amazon team.

Technical topics you must prepare for Amazon's Interview.

Programming Language

Amazon doesn't ask for specialization in any specific programming language before attending an interview for a tech position. But you must be familiar with the syntax of languages such as C/C++, Java, Python, C# or Ruby. You should also know how memory management works or the most commonly used collections, libraries, etc.

Data Structures

This is the most important technical topic you should prepare for. Most of the work Amazon do involve storing and providing access to data in efficient ways. So you must have a good knowledge and understanding of the inner workings of common data structures and compare and contrast their use in various applications.

Algorithms

You must have the knowledge and a good understanding of the most common algorithms such as traversals, divide and conquer, breadth-first search vs. depth-first search etc. and make sure you understand the trade-offs for each. Please focus on the learning of implementation strategies of different classes of algorithms rather than memorizing them.

Coding

You may be asked to write syntactically correct code rather than pseudocode. Try to write code without an IDE. It would be best if you practiced coding with a pen and paper. It will be helpful at the time of the interview. The company prefers the candidate who writes scalable, robust and well-tested code. These are the main evaluation criteria for your code.

Object-oriented Design

Object-oriented design is the best practice to write good software because good software design is critical to success. Your software needs to be extensible and maintainable. So, you should have a working knowledge of a few common and useful design patterns and know how to write software in an object-oriented way.

Databases

The company prefers candidates who have a good knowledge of the non-relational database. Amazon has developed Amazon Web Services such as DynamoDB so that their developer community can easily leverage the benefits of non-relational databases. So, it is good if you know relational and non-relational databases.

Operating Systems

The candidate must be familiar with some Operating System topics to enhance the performance of the code. (e.g. memory management, processes, threads, synchronization, paging and multithreading).

Internet Topics

You must know the fundamentals of the internet, such as how browsers function at a high level, from DNS lookups and TCP/IP to socket connections.

Basic Machine learning and Artificial Intelligence

You must have basic knowledge of machine learning and artificial intelligence such as data-driven modeling, train/test protocols, error analysis and statistical significance. It would help if you visited your Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence textbooks to prepare for these topics.

Some examples of technical Interview Questions

There are two integer arrays A and B, of size N given. There are N gas stations along a circular route, where the amount of gas at station i is A[i]. You have a car with an unlimited gas tank, and it costs B[i] of gas to travel from station i to its next station (i+1). You begin the journey with an empty tank at one of the gas stations.

Return the minimum starting gas station's index if you can travel around the circuit once, otherwise return -1.

You can only travel in one direction. i to i+1, i+2, … n-1, 0, 1, 2.. Completing the circuit means starting at i and ending up at i again.

The question says that we have two arrays of int. The first one is cost, and another one is gas. We have a car and need to travel to "n" places where n is the above two arrays' length.

Now, according to the question, we can start from a point. Let's say 3, so that means to reach the next point, we need gas greater than the cost at 3.

See the example:

Suppose the gas array is: {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}

And the cost arrays is: {3, 4, 5, 1, 2}

Here, we can see that the 3rd term from gas is: 4 (Index starts from 0).

And the same for the cost is 1, so to go for the 5th position our gas should be greater than the cost. As we can see in this case, it is as 4 > 1.

Here you see that this much gas is used to go to the next point. Even after reaching there, you will leave with 3 gas as 4-1=3.

So, at the next point, you will initially have 3 units of gas.

Now, the question is asking from which point we should start so that we can traverse all the points.

Now, let's take the gas array and cost array as following:

gas = {1,2}

cost= {2,1}

Now, let's start from the first element that is index 0.

So, the gas in our car after first travel will be = gas[0]-cost[0] = 1-2=-1.

Since it would be a negative number, that means we can't traverse using the 0 index.

Now, let's start from the second element, that is the index 1;

The gas in our car after first travel will be = gas[1]-cost[1]=2-1=1.

We have left with 1 unit of gas, after that we will come to the 0th index so we will be having = 1+gas[0]-cost[0]=1+1-2=0

So, that means we will be able to complete our journey from the 1 index.

So, there are two ways to solve this problem:

The first solution would be to use two loops and check whether the index exists but will take higher time and O(n²) time complexity.

Another way to solve this problem is to follow the steps given below:

  • Take a variable start and initialize it to 0, and another variable end and then initialize it to 1.
  • We will loop from start to end and keep increment end until it reaches the same value as the start. For example, if our array is of length 5 then: 1->2->3->4->0. In that case, we will know that start is the index from where the answer comes from.
  • For storing the current gas in our car, we will use another variable curr and then if at any point of time, if curr becomes negative, that means that index cannot be the starting point. In that case, we will increment the start by 1.
  • Here, the main problem is that we know how to move forward in an array. I mean, we know how to increment the current pointer. But how do we get back? Here, the pointer goes like this: 1->2->3->4->5->6……. and so on. It won't come back like: 1->2->3->4->1.
  • To solve this problem, we have to use a simple trick. Instead of increment the value like : n=n+1, we will use : n=(n+1)%length.
  • In that case, when the pointer gets to the end, it will again start from zero.

See the complete code for the solution of the above problem:

  1. public int canCompleteCircuit(int[] gas, int[] cost) {  
  2.         if(gas.length==0){  
  3.         return -1;  
  4.     }             
  5.     if(gas.length==1){  
  6.         return gas[0]-cost[0]<0?-1:0;  
  7.     }     
  8.     //First we will declare the variables which were start, end  
  9.     int start = 0;  
  10.     int end = 1;  
  11.     //Initially the first value of curr will be the cost incur to go to //the next location  
  12.     int curr= gas[0]-cost[0];  
  13.     //Running a loop till start meets end, meaning till our cycle gets //completed  
  14.     while(start!=end) {  
  15.     //If the curr value is negative, then keep incrementing the start //till it became positive  
  16.          while(curr<0 && start!=end) {  
  17.     //We need to remove the value of current start that we have added //before  
  18.          curr= curr- (gas[start]-cost[start]);  
  19.          start = (start+1)%gas.length;  
  20.     //If we again come back to start, that means no solution exist and //we return -1  
  21.          if(start==0)  
  22.             return -1;  
  23.           }  
  24.     //Adding the gas that we got after visiting the current index  
  25.          curr+= gas[end]-cost[end];  
  26.          end = (end+1)%gas.length;  
  27.      }  
  28.     //If in the end, curr became negative that means it was impossible //to traverse all the location and hence return -1  
  29.        if(curr<0)  
  30.           return -1;  
  31.     //If that's not the case, then we got the answer.  
  32.        return start;   
  33. }  

Find the K largest elements from a big file or array. / Write an efficient program for printing k largest elements in an array. Elements in the array can be in any order.

Suppose we have an array [10, 13, 2, 69, 40, 29, 70] and we have to retrieve the largest 3 elements, i.e., k = 3, then our program should print 70, 69 and 40.

There are several methods to solve this problem:

Method 1 (Using Sorting Method)

  • First, we sort the elements in descending order in O(nLogn)
  • Now, print the first k numbers of the sorted array O(k).

See the complete Java code for the solution of the above problem:

  1. import java.util.Arrays;  
  2. import java.util.Collections;  
  3. class GFG {  
  4.     public static void kLargest(Integer[] arr, int k)  
  5.     {  
  6.         // Sort the given array arr in reverse order  
  7.         // This method doesn't work with primitive data  
  8.         // types. So, instead of int, Integer type  
  9.         // array will be used  
  10.         Arrays.sort(arr, Collections.reverseOrder());  
  11.         // Print the first kth largest elements  
  12.         for (int i = 0; i < k; i++)  
  13.             System.out.print(arr[i] + " ");  
  14.     }  
  15.     public static void main(String[] args)  
  16.     {  
  17.         Integer arr[] = new Integer[] { 10, 13, 2, 69, 40, 29, 70};  
  18.         int k = 3;  
  19.         kLargest(arr, k);  
  20.     }  
  21. }  

Output:

70 69 40

Python code for the above problem:

  1. def kLargest(arr, k):  
  2.     # Sort the given array arr in reverse   
  3.     # order.  
  4.     arr.sort(reverse = True)  
  5.     # Print the first kth largest elements  
  6.     for i in range(k):  
  7.         print (arr[i], end =" ")   
  8. # Driver program  
  9. arr = [1, 23, 12, 9, 30, 2, 50]  
  10. # n = len(arr)  
  11. k = 3  
  12. kLargest(arr, k)  

Time complexity: O(nlogn)

Method 2 (Using Bubble sort k times)

  • Modify Bubble Sort to run the outer loop at most k times.
  • Print the last k elements of the array obtained in step 1.

Time Complexity: O(nk)

Note: Like Bubble sort, we can use other sorting algorithms like Selection Sort to get the k largest elements.

Method 3 (Using temporary array) K largest elements from arr[0..n-1]

  • Store the first k elements in a temporary array temp[0..k-1].
  • Find the smallest element in temp[], let the smallest element be min.
  • For each element x in arr[k] to arr[n-1]. O(n-k)
  • If x is greater than the min, then remove min from temp[] and insert x.
  • Then, determine the new min from temp[]. O(k)
  • Print final k elements of temp[]

Time Complexity: O((n-k)*k). For sorted output, it will be O((n-k)*k + klogk).

Method 4 (Using Max Heap)

  • Build a Max Heap tree in O(n).
  • Use Extract Max k times to get k maximum elements from the Max Heap O(klogn).

Time complexity: O(n + klogn)

Method 5 (Using Min Heap)

  • Build a Min Heap MH of the first k elements (arr[0] to arr[k-1]) of the given array. O(k)
  • For each element, after the kth element (arr[k] to arr[n-1]), compare it with the root of MH.
  • If the element is greater than the root, then make it root and call heapify for MH else ignore it. // The step 2 is O((n-k)*logk)
  • Finally, MH has k largest elements and root of the MH is the kth largest element.

Time Complexity: O(k + (n-k)Logk) without sorted output. If sorted output is needed then O(k + (n-k)Logk + kLogk)

Java code for the above problem:

  1. import java.io.*;  
  2. import java.util.*;  
  3. class GFG{  
  4. public static void FirstKelements(int arr[], int size, int k)  
  5. {  
  6.     // Creating Min Heap for given  
  7.     // array with only k elements  
  8.     // Create min heap with priority queue  
  9.     PriorityQueue minHeap = new PriorityQueue<>();  
  10.     for(int i = 0; i < k; i++)  
  11.     {  
  12.         minHeap.add(arr[i]);  
  13.     }     
  14.     // Loop For each element in array  
  15.     // after the kth element  
  16.     for(int i = k; i < size; i++)  
  17.     {  
  18.  // If current element is smaller   
  19. // than minimum ((top element of  
  20. // the minHeap) element, do nothing   
  21. // and continue to next element  
  22. if (minHeap.peek() > arr[i])  
  23. continue;         
  24. // Otherwise Change minimum element  
  25. // (top element of the minHeap) to   
  26. // current element by polling out   
  27. // the top element of the minHeap  
  28. else  
  29. {  
  30. minHeap.poll();  
  31. minHeap.add(arr[i]);  
  32. }}    
  33. // Now min heap contains k maximum  
  34. // elements, Iterate and print  
  35. Iterator iterator = minHeap.iterator();   
  36. while (iterator.hasNext())   
  37. {   
  38. System.out.print(iterator.next() + " ");   
  39. }   
  40. }  
  41. // Driver code  
  42. public static void main (String[] args)  
  43. {  
  44. int arr[] = {10, 13, 2, 69, 40, 29, 70};      
  45. int size = arr.length;  
  46. // Size of Min Heap  
  47. int k = 3;    
  48. FirstKelements(arr, size, k);  
  49. }}   

Output:

70 69 40

Most asked HR questions at Amazon

1) Why do you want to work at Amazon? / Why have you chosen Amazon?

This is one of the first standard questions you will be asked at the HR interview session. But most people don't have a great answer. We know that there is no right answer to this question, but the candidate must avoid general statements like "this is a great company." If you want to say that, it is okay, but first, you have a great explanation to prove your point.

Here, we are providing some standard answers according to different career perspectives. Following are some best possible answers:

An Engineer answer:

I would like to work at Amazon because I think I can help the company open a new business opportunity in the area of home automation. (Here, you can specify the more specific niche exactly what you want to apply in home automation). Since the Alexa division is working on home automation, I can extend my Master's research project regarding home automation, smart meters and Big Data. [Here, it would be better if you explain your specific area of work and the idea you have in this area.]

A Finance Manager's Answer:

I would like to work at Amazon because it is one of the leading global online retailing companies with 136 billion USD Net Sales and is 12th on the Fortune 500. It is a fast-growing company and a pioneer in the internet retail sector, which has doubled its sales in the past four years. This is a place I would like to work because I know I would have a chance to utilize my capabilities. [Here, you can specify the most challenging part of your previous job and something you know you will have to do in the new job.]

A Sales Manager's or Product Manager's Answer:

I want to work for Amazon for the following reasons:

  • The first and most important reason I want to work for Amazon is that I see the possibilities for creating and marketing products that have a huge impact on society. I have great experience in the consumer goods industry working in leadership roles in sales and marketing, so I can see that Amazon is a very interesting place to work where the product quality and the delivery speed is exceptional. They have a great chance of succeeding their competitors.
  • I always enjoy diving deep and staying connected to details at work. I see Amazon is a very data-driven company, so I could use data if I worked there.
  • In my previous FMCG organization, I have developed a passion and curiosity to learn and understand consumer behavior and creating marketing strategies to delight customers. It is really about putting yourself in the shoes of the consumer to win their trust and confidence. So I believe Amazon will provide me a great chance to apply my skills on a broad scale.

2) Do you know our CEO? How do you pronounce his name?

This question is asked to check whether you have researched this company well or not. Generally, people know about tech giants like Amazon and their CEOs, but this question is asked to check how the candidate pronounces the name. The CEO of Amazon is Jeff Bezos since 1996. It is pronounced as "Bay-zohs," not "Bee-zos".

3) How would you solve problems if you were from Mars?

This question is asked to check your creativity. The interviewer wants to see if you can think out-of-the-box. You can answer this fancy question interestingly, develop a creative solution to a customer problem, improve an internal process, or make a sale via an innovative strategy.

4) Tell the story of the last time you had to apologize to someone.

This question is asked to check whether you admit your mistakes? Are you a team player? This is a very important clue that a recruiter wants to know. Most of us have made several mistakes, but pick one where you apologized and managed to the right the wrong successfully, and let that be the focus of your story. Never say you have not had to apologize yet. This shows your highhanded attitude.

5) What is the most difficult situation you have ever faced in your life? How did you handle it?

By asking this question, the interviewer wants to know your inner views. Sometimes candidates open up and share their personal stories. This is a bad practice, indeed. You should stick to a professional anecdote and avoid sharing a personal story. Your positive attitude should be recognized during your narration. It tells the interviewer that you are resilient and willing to work around a problem. Seeing a project through on a tight budget, getting a project back on track when a deadline is missed, handling a difficult client, etc., are some situations you can talk about.

6) Who was your most difficult customer?

By asking this question, the interviewer wants to know your previous experience of dealing with customers. Here, you can share your story where you managed to successfully solve a highhanded customer. It would be best if you emphasized how you stayed calm and diffused the situation.

7) How do you handle a missed deadline/productivity target?

This question is asked to check the candidate's honesty and the skill of presenting things. Here, you have to straight forward and tell the interviewer what he or she wants to hear. The interviewer doesn't want to hear about the details of the project you were working on. They don't care. They want to know why you missed the deadline and how you handled the repercussions.

You have to very careful with the example you want to share. It would be best if you chose a relevant story with facts that allow you to present it positively. There is nothing good about missing a deadline, and if you try to justify it with any means, you will look foolish. To err is human. Everyone makes mistakes, and the interviewers also know this fact. So, you should accept your mistake and focus on explaining how you changed and learned from that mistake. People love honesty, and it is even more refreshing when employers hear that their employees are taking accountability for their mistakes and working to keep them from happening again.

The best practice is to be honest, and explain the situation. The STAR method is best for answering these behavioral interview questions. It can be explained as follows:

ST- situation or task

A- Action

R- Result

The STAR method emphasizes the following things:

  • The situation of the issue or the task you were given.
  • Describe the actions you took to resolve the situation or complete the task.
  • Explain what you learned from the experience.

Explain the Positive side: In some cases, missing a deadline is not in the employee's control. If that is true of your situation, you can use it as your advantage and emphasize that the only reason it happened was because of an outdoor event. However, that is not always possible. In these types of cases, you must highlight the result or what you learned and how you improved.

If you are solely responsible for the deadline and have described the mistake you made, don't leave your interviewer with a negative image. Instead, make your answer work for you by ending your response with a very positive, clear message about what steps you took to improve and where you are on reaching your goals.

Be Confident: If the interviewer asks you to share a story about your failure, don't lose your focus and confidence. Remember, everyone has made small or big mistakes. Explain how you move on from that incident by learning something new.

Example of a good sample answer:

Once I was given a deadline to write an article for a client on a short turnaround time. I believed I could handle the article in addition to the workload I already had, but I miscalculated how long it would take me to write it. The morning the article was due, I realized I would not make it in time and contacted my boss to explain the situation. I apologized, explained what happened and asked for an extension, which he granted. I learned that I need to be honest with myself about the workload I can handle each day. I also learned that when accepting assignments, I need to include a time buffer to ensure that even if unforeseen events arise, I can meet my deadlines.

8) What would you do if you found out that your closest friend at work was stealing?

This question is asked to check your loyalty towards the company as well as your friend. You should consider the nature of the offense before deciding how to proceed.

According to the question, your friend's act is unethical, so you should tell the company about your friend's act. You can give a chance to your friend and warn him earlier.

9) If your direct manager instructed you to do something you disagreed with, how would you handle it?

By asking this question, your interviewer wants to know how you handle disagreement. This is also helpful to check your negotiation skills. You can explain your communicational flexibility and convey to the interviewer that you aren't averse to speaking up. You believe in communicating till you find a solution.

10) What would you do if you saw someone being unsafe at work?

You can tell the interviewer that you have a duty of care to yourself and your colleagues. If you find these types of circumstances, you will warn the person that he is working can lead to an accident. If you know a safer way to do the job, you will suggest it. Otherwise, you will call your supervisor.


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Your chances of passing the exam increase as you practise more.Knowing everything there is to know about the test format beforehand is the second time-saving tip.If you take a practise test, which will help you identify your strong or time-consuming area, pay closer attention.In these tests, time management is crucial, so use caution.Prior to the exam, remain calm.Before the exam, eat well and get enough sleep.Spend as little time as possible on any one question. If you feel trapped, change to a different one.Exam guidelines should be carefully readPractice Questions on General AptitudeSince we went through an array of important topics for General Aptitude above, it is also important to practice these concepts as much as possible. To help you brush up your basics of General aptitude, we have created a diversified list of questions on this section that you must practice.Q1. For instance, if 20 workers are working on 8 hours to finish a particular work process in 21 days, then how many hours are going to take for 48 workers to finish the same task in 7 days?A.12B. 20C. 10D. 15Answer: 10 Q2. If a wholesaler is earning a profit amount of 12% in selling books with 10% of discount on the printed price. What would be the ratio of cost price which is printed in the book?A. 45:56B. 50: 61C. 99:125D. None of theseAnswers: 45:56Q3. Let’s say it takes 8 hours to finish 600 kilometers of the trip. Say we will complete 120 kilometers by train and the remaining journey by car. However, it will take an extra 20 minutes by train and the remaining by car. What would be the ratio of the speed of the train to that of the car?A. 3:5B. 3:4C. 4:3D. 4:5Answer: B Q4. What is the value of m3+n3 + 3mn if m+n is equal to 1?A. 0B. 1C. 2D. 3Answer: 1Q5. Let’s assume subject 1 and subject 2 can work on a project for 12 consecutive days. However, subject 1 can complete the work in 30 days. How long it will take for the subject 2 to finish the project?A:  18 daysB:  20 daysC: 15 daysD: 22 daysAnswer: 20 DaysExploring General Aptitude Questions? Check Out Our Exclusive GK Quiz!Q6. What is known as a point equidistant which is vertices of a triangle?A. IncentreB. CircumcentreC. OrthocentreD. CentroidAnswer: CircumcentreQ7. What is the sum of the factors of 4b2c2 – (b2 + c2 – a2) 2?A. a+b+cB. 2 (a+b+c)C. 0D. 1Answer: 2(a+b+c)While practising these General Aptitude questions, you must also explore Quantitative Aptitude!Q8: What is the role of boys in the school if 60% of the students in a particular school are boys and 812 girls?A. 1128B. 1218C. 1821D. 1281Answer: 1218 Q9. Suppose cos4θ – sin4θ = 1/3, then what is the value of tan2θ?A. 1/2B. 1/3C. 1/4D. 1/5Answer: 1/2 Q10:  What could be the value of tan80° tan10° + sin270° + sin20° is  tan80° tan10° + sin270° + sin20°?A. 0B. 1C. 2D. √3/2Answer: 2Recommended Read: Reasoning QuestionsFAQsIs the general aptitude test unbiased?Yes, these exams are created to provide each candidate taking them a fair advantage.How do I get ready for an all-purpose aptitude test?The most important thing is to obtain the exam’s syllabus and then study in accordance with it.Is it appropriate to take a practise exam to get ready for an aptitude test?Absolutely, practise is essential to ace the aptitude test. Several online study portals offer practise exams for a specific exam to assist you with the same.What are the types of aptitude?Some of the types of aptitude are mentioned belowLogical aptitude.Physical aptitude.Mechanical aptitude.Spatial aptitude.STEM aptitude.Linguistic aptitude.Organisational aptitude.What is an example of a general aptitude test?The Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) can be taken as a general aptitude test.Hence, we hope that this blog has helped you understand what general aptitude is about as well as some essential topics and questions under this section. If you are planning for a competitive exam like GMAT, SAT, GRE or IELTS, and need expert guidance, sign up for an e-meeting with our Leverage Edu mentors and we will assist you throughout your exam preparation, equipping you with study essentials as well as exam day tips to help you soar through your chosen test with flying colours!

Fri, 16 Jun 2023
LabCorp Interview Questions & Answers:
LabCorp Interview Questions & Answers:
1. What type of people do you not work well with?Be very careful answering this question as most organization employ professionals with an array of personalities and characteristics. You don't want to give the impression that you're going to have problems working with anyone currently employed at the organization. If you through out anything trivial you're going to look like a whiner. Only disloyalty to the organization or lawbreaking should be on your list of personal characteristics of people you can't work with.2. How did you hear about the position At LabCorp?Another seemingly innocuous interview question, this is actually a perfect opportunity to stand out and show your passion for and connection to the company and for job At LabCorp. For example, if you found out about the gig through a friend or professional contact, name drop that person, then share why you were so excited about it. If you discovered the company through an event or article, share that. Even if you found the listing through a random job board, share what, specifically, caught your eye about the role.3. Your client is upset with you for a mistake you made, how do you react?Acknowledge their pain - empathize with them. Then apologize and offer a solution to fix the mistake.4. How well do you know our company?Well, a developed company that is gradually building their reputation in the competitive world.5. Tell me why do you want this job At LabCorp?Bad Answer: No solid answer, answers that don't align with what the job actually offers, or uninspired answers that show your position is just another of the many jobs they're applying for.Good answer: The candidate has clear reasons for wanting the job that show enthusiasm for the work and the position, and knowledge about the company and job.6. 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?In this question the interviewer is basically looking for a real life example of how you used creativity to solve a problem.7. What can you offer me that another person can't?This is when you talk about your record of getting things done. Go into specifics from your resume and portfolio; show an employer your value and how you'd be an asset.You have to say, “I'm the best person for the job At LabCorp. I know there are other candidates who could fill this position, but my passion for excellence sets me apart from the pack. I am committed to always producing the best results. For example…”8. What education or training have you had that makes you fit for this profession At LabCorp?This would be the first question asked in any interview. Therefore, it is important that you give a proper reply to the question regarding your education. You should have all the documents and certificates pertaining to your education and/or training, although time may not allow the interviewer to review all of them.9. If you were given more initiatives than you could handle, what would you do?First prioritize the important activities that impact the business most. Then discuss the issue of having too many initiatives with the boss so that it can be offloaded. Work harder to get the initiatives done.10. What do you consider to be your greatest achievement so far and why?Be proud of your achievement, discuss the results, and explain why you feel most proud of this one. Was it the extra work? Was it the leadership you exhibited? Was it the impact it had?Download Interview PDF 11. What is your dream job?There is almost no good answer to this question, so don't be specific. If you tell the interviewer that the job you're applying for with his/her company is the perfect job you may loose credibility if you don't sound believable (which you probably won't if you're not telling the truth.) If you give the interviewer some other job the interviewer may get concerned that you'll get dissatisfied with the position if you're hired. Again, don't be specific. A good response could be, “A job where my work ethic and abilities are recognized and I can make a meaningful difference to the organization.”12. Are you currently looking at other job opportunities?Just answer this question honestly. Sometime an employer wants to know if there are other companies you're considering so that they can determine how serious you are about the industry, they're company and find out if you're in demand. Don't spend a lot of time on this question; just try to stay focused on the job you're interviewing for.13. Why do you want this job At LabCorp?This question typically follows on from the previous one. Here is where your research will come in handy. You may want to say that you want to work for a company that is Global Guideline, (market leader, innovator, provides a vital service, whatever it may be). Put some thought into this beforehand, be specific, and link the company's values and mission statement to your own goals and career plans.14. What did you dislike about your old job?Try to avoid any pin point , like never say “I did not like my manager or I did not like environment or I did not like team” Never use negative terminology. Try to keep focus on every thing was good At LabCorp , I just wanted to make change for proper growth.15. If you were hiring a person for this job At LabCorp, what would you look for?Discuss qualities you possess required to successfully complete the job duties.16. If the company you worked for was doing something unethical or illegal, what would you do?Report it to the leaders within the company. True leaders understand business ethics are important to the company's longevity17. Tell me a difficult situation you have overcome in the workplace?Conflict resolution, problem solving, communication and coping under pressure are transferable skills desired by many employers At LabCorp.Answering this question right can help you demonstrate all of these traits.☛ Use real-life examples from your previous roles that you are comfortable explaining☛ Choose an example that demonstrates the role you played in resolving the situation clearly☛ Remain professional at all times – you need to demonstrate that you can keep a cool head and know how to communicate with people18. Tell us something about yourself?Bad Answer: Candidates who ramble on about themselves without regard for information that will actually help the interviewer make a decision, or candidates who actually provide information showing they are unfit for the job.Good answer: An answer that gives the interviewer a glimpse of the candidate's personality, without veering away from providing information that relates to the job. Answers should be positive, and not generic.19. How do you handle confidentiality in your work?Often, interviewers will ask questions to find out the level of technical knowledge At LabCorp that a candidate has concerning the duties of a care assistant. In a question such as this, there is an opportunity to demonstrate professional knowledge and awareness. The confidentiality of a person's medical records is an important factor for a care assistant to bear in mind.20. What are you looking for in a new position At LabCorp?I've been honing my skills At LabCorp for a few years now and, first and foremost, I'm looking for a position where I can continue to exercise those skills. Ideally the same things that this position has to offer. Be specific.21. What motivates you at the work place?Keep your answer simple, direct and positive. Some good answers may be the ability to achieve, recognition or challenging assignments.22. Can you describe your ideal boss/supervisor?During the interview At LabCorp process employers will want to find out how you respond to supervision. They want to know whether you have any problems with authority, If you can work well as part of a group (see previous question) and if you take instructions well etc.Never ever ever, criticize a past supervisor or boss. This is a red flag for airlines and your prospective employer will likely assume you are a difficult employee, unable to work in a team or take intruction and side with your former employer.23. Why are you leaving last job?Although this would seem like a simple question, it can easily become tricky. You shouldn't mention salary being a factor at this point At LabCorp. If you're currently employed, your response can focus on developing and expanding your career and even yourself. If you're current employer is downsizing, remain positive and brief. If your employer fired you, prepare a solid reason. Under no circumstance should you discuss any drama or negativity, always remain positive.24. What motivates you?I've always been motivated by the challenge – in my last role, I was responsible for training our new recruits and having a 100% success rate in passing scores. I know that this job is very fast-paced and I'm more than up for the challenge. In fact, I thrive on it.25. Tell me about a time when you had to use your presentation skills to influence someone's opinion At LabCorp?Example stories could be a class project, an internal meeting presentation, or a customer facing presentation.Download Interview PDF 26. How do you handle conflicts with people you supervise?At first place, you try to avoid conflicts if you can. But once it happens and there's no way to avoid it, you try to understand the point of view of the other person and find the solution good for everyone. But you always keep the authority of your position.27. Why should I hire you At LabCorp?To close the deal on a job offer, you MUST be prepared with a concise summary of the top reasons to choose you. Even if your interviewer doesn't ask one of these question in so many words, you should have an answer prepared and be looking for ways to communicate your top reasons throughout the interview process.28. How have you shown yourself to be a leader?Think about a time where you've rallied a group of people around a cause / idea / initiative and successfully implemented it. It could be a small or large project but the key is you want to demonstrate how you were able to lead others to work for a common cause.29. How do you deal with conflict in the workplace At LabCorp?When people work together, conflict is often unavoidable because of differences in work goals and personal styles. Follow these guidelines for handling conflict in the workplace.☛ 1. Talk with the other person.☛ 2. Focus on behavior and events, not on personalities.☛ 3. Listen carefully.☛ 4. Identify points of agreement and disagreement.☛ 5. Prioritize the areas of conflict.☛ 6. Develop a plan to work on each conflict.☛ 7. Follow through on your plan.☛ 8. Build on your success.30. What have you done to reduce costs, increase revenue, or save time?Even if your only experience is an internship, you have likely created or streamlined a process that has contributed to the earning potential or efficiency of the practice. Choose at least one suitable example and explain how you got the idea, how you implemented the plan, and the benefits to the practice.31. How do you feel about giving back to the community?Describe your charitable activities to showcase that community work is important to you. If you haven't done one yet, go to www.globalguideline.com - charitable work is a great way to learn about other people and it's an important part of society - GET INVOLVED!32. What can you tell me about team work as part of the job At LabCorp?There is usually a team of staff nurses working in cooperation with each other. A team of nurses has to get along well and coordinate their actions, usually by dividing their responsibilities into sectors or specific activities. They help each other perform tasks requiring more than one person.33. What is your perception of taking on risk?You answer depends on the type of company you're interviewing for. If it's a start up, you need to be much more open to taking on risk. If it's a more established company, calculated risks to increase / improve the business or minimal risks would typically be more in line.34. How would your former employer describe you?In all likelihood, the interviewer will actually speak with your former employer so honesty is key. Answer as confidently and positively as possible and list all of the positive things your past employer would recognize about you. Do not make the mistake of simply saying you are responsible, organized, and dependable. Instead, include traits that are directly related to your work as a medical assistant, such as the ability to handle stressful situations and difficult patients, the way you kept meticulous records, and more.35. Describe your academic achievements?Think of a time where you really stood out and shined within college. It could be a leadership role in a project, it could be your great grades that demonstrate your intelligence and discipline, it could be the fact that you double majored. Where have you shined?36. What do you consider to be your weaknesses?What your interviewer is really trying to do with this question-beyond identifying any major red flags-is to gauge your self-awareness and honesty. So, “I can't meet a deadline to save my life At LabCorp” is not an option-but neither is “Nothing! I'm perfect!” Strike a balance by thinking of something that you struggle with but that you're working to improve. For example, maybe you've never been strong at public speaking, but you've recently volunteered to run meetings to help you be more comfortable when addressing a crowd.37. What do you feel you deserve to be paid?Do your research before answering this question - first, consider what the market average is for this job. You can find that by searching on Google (title followed by salary) and globalguideline.com and other websites. Then, consider this - based on your work experience and previous results, are you above average, if yes, by what % increase from your pay today from your perspective? Also - make sure if you aim high you can back it up with facts and your previous results so that you can make a strong case.38. Did you get on well with your last manager?A dreaded question for many! When answering this question never give a negative answer. “I did not get on with my manager” or “The management did not run the business well” will show you in a negative light and reduce your chance of a job offer. Answer the question positively, emphasizing that you have been looking for a career progression. Start by telling the interviewer what you gained from your last job At LabCorp39. Do you have the ability to articulate a vision and to get others involved to carry it out?If yes, then share an example of how you've done so at work or college. If not, then discuss how you would do so. Example: "I would first understand the goals of the staff members and then I would align those to the goals of the project / company. Then I would articulate the vision of that alignment and ask them to participate. From there, we would delegate tasks among the team and then follow up on a date and time to ensure follow through on the tasks. Lastly, we would review the results together."40. What differentiates this company from other competitors?Be positive and nice about their competitors but also discuss how they are better than them and why they are the best choice for the customer. For example: "Company XYZ has a good product, but I truly believe your company has a 3-5 year vision for your customer that aligns to their business needs."Download Interview PDF 41. Tell me an occasion when you needed to persuade someone to do something?Interpersonal relationships are a very important part of being a successful care assistant. This question is seeking a solid example of how you have used powers of persuasion to achieve a positive outcome in a professional task or situation. The answer should include specific details.42. What is your greatest strength? How does it help you At LabCorp?One of my greatest strengths, and that I am a diligent worker... I care about the work getting done.. I am always willing to help others in the team.. Being patient helps me not jump to conclusions... Patience helps me stay calm when I have to work under pressure.. Being a diligent worker.. It ensures that the team has the same goals in accomplishing certain things.43. Explain me about a challenge or conflict you've faced at work At LabCorp, and how you dealt with it?In asking this interview question, your interviewer wants to get a sense of how you will respond to conflict. Anyone can seem nice and pleasant in a job interview, but what will happen if you're hired?. Again, you'll want to use the S-T-A-R method, being sure to focus on how you handled the situation professionally and productively, and ideally closing with a happy ending, like how you came to a resolution or compromise.44. Why are you interested in this type of job At LabCorp?You're looking for someone who enjoys working with the elderly, or a caring, sociable, and nurturing person.45. What is the most important lesson / skill you've learned from school?Think of lessons learned in extra curricular activities, in clubs, in classes that had a profound impact on your personal development. For example, I had to lead a team of 5 people on a school project and learned to get people with drastically different personalities to work together as a team to achieve our objective.46. What is it about this position At LabCorp that attracts you the most?Use your knowledge of the job description to demonstrate how you are a suitable match for the role.47. How important is a positive attitude to you?Incredibly important. I believe a positive attitude is the foundation of being successful - it's contagious in the workplace, with our customers, and ultimately it's the difference maker.48. Why should we select you not others?Here you need to give strong reasons to your interviewer to select you not others. Sell yourself to your interviewer in interview in every possible best way. You may say like I think I am really qualified for the position. I am a hard worker and a fast learner, and though I may not have all of the qualifications that you need, I know I can learn the job and do it well.”49. If you were an animal, which one would you want to be?Seemingly random personality-test type questions like these come up in interviews generally because hiring managers want to see how you can think on your feet. There's no wrong answer here, but you'll immediately gain bonus points if your answer helps you share your strengths or personality or connect with the hiring manager. Pro tip: Come up with a stalling tactic to buy yourself some thinking time, such as saying, “Now, that is a great question. I think I would have to say… ”50. What is your biggest regret to date and why?Describe honestly the regretful action / situation you were in but then discuss how you proactively fixed / improved it and how that helped you to improve as a person/worker.51. Describe to me the position At LabCorp you're applying for?This is a “homework” question, too, but it also gives some clues as to the perspective the person brings to the table. The best preparation you can do is to read the job description and repeat it to yourself in your own words so that you can do this smoothly at the interview.52. What was the most important task you ever had?There are two common answers to this question that do little to impress recruiters:☛ ‘I got a 2.1'☛ ‘I passed my driving test'No matter how proud you are of these achievements, they don't say anything exciting about you. When you're going for a graduate job, having a degree is hardly going to make you stand out from the crowd and neither is having a driving licence, which is a requirement of many jobs.53. How would you observe the level of motivation of your subordinates?Choosing the right metrics and comparing productivity of everyone on daily basis is a good answer, doesn't matter in which company you apply for a supervisory role.54. Do you have good computer skills?It is becoming increasingly important for medical assistants to be knowledgeable about computers. If you are a long-time computer user with experience with different software applications, mention it. It is also a good idea to mention any other computer skills you have, such as a high typing rate, website creation, and more.55. Where do you see yourself professionally five years from now At LabCorp?Demonstrate both loyalty and ambition in the answer to this question. After sharing your personal ambition, it may be a good time to ask the interviewer if your ambitions match those of the company.Download Interview PDF 56. Give me an example of an emergency situation that you faced. How did you handle it?There was a time when one of my employers faced the quitting of a manager in another country. I was asked to go fill in for him while they found a replacement and stay to train that person. I would be at least 30 days. I quickly accepted because I knew that my department couldn't function without me.57. How have you changed in the last five years?All in a nutshell. But I think I've attained a level of personal comfort in many ways and although I will change even more in the next 5-6 years I'm content with the past 6 and what has come of them.58. Explain an idea that you have had and have then implemented in practice?Often an interview guide will outline the so-called ‘STAR' approach for answering such questions; Structure the answer as a situation, task, action, and result: what the context was, what you needed to achieve, what you did, and what the outcome was as a result of your actions.59. Why should the we hire you as this position At LabCorp?This is the part where you link your skills, experience, education and your personality to the job itself. This is why you need to be utterly familiar with the job description as well as the company culture. Remember though, it's best to back them up with actual examples of say, how you are a good team player.60. What is your desired salary At LabCorp?Bad Answer: Candidates who are unable to answer the question, or give an answer that is far above market. Shows that they have not done research on the market rate, or have unreasonable expectations.Good answer: A number or range that falls within the market rate and matches their level of mastery of skills required to do the job.61. Why do you want to work At LabCorp for this organisation?Being unfamiliar with the organisation will spoil your chances with 75% of interviewers, according to one survey, so take this chance to show you have done your preparation and know the company inside and out. You will now have the chance to demonstrate that you've done your research, so reply mentioning all the positive things you have found out about the organisation and its sector etc. This means you'll have an enjoyable work environment and stability of employment etc – everything that brings out the best in you.62. Explain me about your experience working in this field At LabCorp?I am dedicated, hardworking and great team player for the common goal of the company I work with. I am fast learner and quickly adopt to fast pace and dynamic area. I am well organized, detail oriented and punctual person.63. What would your first 30, 60, or 90 days look like in this role At LabCorp?Start by explaining what you'd need to do to get ramped up. What information would you need? What parts of the company would you need to familiarize yourself with? What other employees would you want to sit down with? Next, choose a couple of areas where you think you can make meaningful contributions right away. (e.g., “I think a great starter project would be diving into your email marketing campaigns and setting up a tracking system for them.”) Sure, if you get the job, you (or your new employer) might decide there's a better starting place, but having an answer prepared will show the interviewer where you can add immediate impact-and that you're excited to get started.64. What do you think is your greatest weakness?Don't say anything that could eliminate you from consideration for the job. For instance, "I'm slow in adapting to change" is not a wise answer, since change is par for the course in most work environments. Avoid calling attention to any weakness that's one of the critical qualities the hiring manager is looking for. And don't try the old "I'm a workaholic," or "I'm a perfectionist.65. Tell me something about your family background?First, always feel proud while discussing about your family background. Just simple share the details with the things that how they influenced you to work in an airline field.66. Are you planning to continue your studies and training At LabCorp?If asked about plans for continued education, companies typically look for applicants to tie independent goals with the aims of the employer. Interviewers consistently want to see motivation to learn and improve. Continuing education shows such desires, especially when potentials display interests in academia potentially benefiting the company.Answering in terms of “I plan on continuing my studies in the technology field,” when offered a question from a technology firm makes sense. Tailor answers about continued studies specific to desired job fields. Show interest in the industry and a desire to work long-term in said industry. Keep answers short and to the point, avoiding diatribes causing candidates to appear insincere.67. Describe a typical work week for this position At LabCorp?Interviewers expect a candidate for employment to discuss what they do while they are working in detail. Before you answer, consider the position At LabCorp you are applying for and how your current or past positions relate to it. The more you can connect your past experience with the job opening, the more successful you will be at answering the questions.68. What type of work environment do you prefer?Ideally one that's similar to the environment of the company you're applying to. Be specific.69. How would you rate your communication and interpersonal skills for this job At LabCorp?These are important for support workers. But they differ from the communication skills of a CEO or a desktop support technician. Communication must be adapted to the special ways and needs of the clients. Workers must be able to not only understand and help their clients, but must project empathy and be a warm, humane presence in their lives.70. Do you have any questions for me?Good interview questions to ask interviewers at the end of the job interview include questions on the company growth or expansion, questions on personal development and training and questions on company values, staff retention and company achievements.Download Interview PDF 71. How would you motivate your team members to produce the best possible results?Trying to create competitive atmosphere, trying to motivate the team as a whole, organizing team building activities, building good relationships amongst people.72. How do you act when you encounter competition?This question is designed to see if you can rise the occasion. You want to discuss how you are the type to battle competition strongly and then you need to cite an example if possible of your past work experience where you were able to do so.73. What would you like to have accomplished by the end of your career?Think of 3 major achievements that you'd like to accomplish in your job when all is said and done - and think BIG. You want to show you expect to be a major contributor at the company. It could be creating a revolutionary new product, it could be implementing a new effective way of marketing, etc.74. What do you think we could do better or differently?This is a common one at startups. Hiring managers want to know that you not only have some background on the company, but that you're able to think critically about it and come to the table with new ideas. So, come with new ideas! What new features would you love to see? How could the company increase conversions? How could customer service be improved? You don't need to have the company's four-year strategy figured out, but do share your thoughts, and more importantly, show how your interests and expertise would lend themselves to the job.75. What features of your previous jobs have you disliked?It's easy to talk about what you liked about your job in an interview, but you need to be careful when responding to questions about the downsides of your last position. When you're asked at a job interview about what you didn't like about your previous job, try not to be too negative. You don't want the interviewer to think that you'll speak negatively about this job or the company should you eventually decide to move on after they have hired you.76. How would your friends describe you?My friends would probably say that I'm extremely persistent – I've never been afraid to keep going back until I get what I want. When I worked as a program developer, recruiting keynote speakers for a major tech conference, I got one rejection after another – this was just the nature of the job. But I really wanted the big players – so I wouldn't take no for an answer. I kept going back to them every time there was a new company on board, or some new value proposition. Eventually, many of them actually said "yes" – the program turned out to be so great that we doubled our attendees from the year before. A lot of people might have given up after the first rejection, but it's just not in my nature. If I know something is possible, I have to keep trying until I get it.77. Do you think you have enough experience At LabCorp?If you do not have the experience they need, you need to show the employer that you have the skills, qualities and knowledge that will make you equal to people with experience but not necessary the skills. It is also good to add how quick you can pick up the routine of a new job role.

Fri, 16 Jun 2023
HOW TO RESPOND TO BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS?
HOW TO RESPOND TO BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS?
A large part of what makes job interviews nerve-wracking is that you don’t know what you’re going to be asked. While you can’t know the exact question list before an interview, there are some common types of questions that interviewers often ask that you can prepare to answer, and one of these is behavioral interview questions.We’ll cover how to answer behavioral interview questions and give you some example questions and answers as well as explain what behavioral interview questions are and why interviewers ask them.HOW TO ANSWER BEHAVIORAL JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONSLike with all interview questions, there is a right and a wrong answer — the issue with behavioral questions is that this answer can be much more difficult to figure out than with traditional interviews.While it is, as we said before, more difficult to game behavioral interview questions than traditional ones, there is still a chance that you can figure out how to answer a question correctly based on the way it’s asked.The interviewer isn’t trying to trick good people into giving “bad answers” — but they are trying to trick people with poor judgment into revealing themselves early on.In this vein, here are some big things to keep in mind if you find yourself in a behavioral job interview:Highlight your skills. Think about the sort of skills you need to demonstrate in order to be successful at the job you hope to do. These skills are typically more general than they are specific — things like leadership skills, the ability to work with a team, brilliant decision-making, the advanced use of an industry technique etc.When you’re constructing your answer, think about how to portray your actions in such a way that shows off those skills.Tell a story. Remember that you’re telling a story and that ultimately, how you tell that story matters most of all. Try to make your story flow as naturally as possible — don’t overload the interviewer with unnecessary details, or alternately, forget too many details for the story to make sense.They need to understand your answer in order to parse out your behavior. They can’t do that if they can’t understand the story you just told them — in addition to which, they might just find that a person who can’t tell a simple story is just too annoying to work with.Use the STAR method. If you’re really having trouble telling your story, remember that good old STAR method:Situation. Start by giving context. Briefly explain the time, place, and relevant characters in your story.Task. Next, tell the interviewer your role in the story, whether it was a task assigned to you or some initiative you took on your own.Action. Now comes the juicy stuff; let the hiring manager know what actions you took in response to the situation and your task. Interviewers are interested in how and why you did something just as much as what you did, so spell out your thought process when possible.This is where you showcase your skills, so try to think of actions that align well with the job you’re applying for.Result. Finally, explain the end result of your actions. Your focus should always be on what value you contributed to the company, not bragging about your personal accomplishments.Note that while the result should always be positive, some behavioral interview questions specifically ask about negative situations. In these cases, finish by discussing what you learned from the experience or how the project could have been improved.EXAMPLE BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERSEssentially, a behavioral interview means being asked a bunch of open-ended questions which all have the built-in expectation that your answer will be in the form of a story.These questions are difficult to answer correctly specifically because the so-called “correct” answers are much more likely to vary compared to traditional interview questions, whose correct answers are typically more obvious and are often implied.Behavioral interviewers are likely to ask more follow-up questions than normal, while giving less of themselves away. They want to hear you talk and react to every opportunity they give you, because the more you talk, the more you reveal about yourself and your work habits.And that’s okay. The takeaway here shouldn’t be that “the hiring manager wants to trick me into talking, so I should say as little as possible.”The real trick with this kind of question is to use the opportunities you’re given to speak very carefully — don’t waste time on details that make you look bad, for example, unless those details are necessary to show how you later improved.In addition to these general techniques interviewers might use on you, here are some common questions you might be asked during a behavioral interview:Q: Tell me about a time when you had to take a leadership role on a team project.A: As a consultant at XYZ Inc., I worked with both the product and marketing teams. When the head of the marketing team suddenly quit, I was asked to step up and manage that deparment while they looked for her replacement. We were in the midst of a big social media campaign, so I quickly called toghether the marketing team and was updated on the specifics of the project.By delegating appropriately and taking over the high-level communications with affiliates, we were able to get the project out on time and under budget. After that, my boss stopped looking for a replacement and asked if I’d like to head the marketing team full time.Q: Can you share an example of a time when you disagreed with a superior?A: In my last role at ABC Corp., my manager wanted to cut costs by outsourcing some of our projects to remote contractors. I understood that it saved money, but some of those projects were client-facing, and we hadn’t developed a robust vetting process to make sure that the contractors’ work was consistent and high-quality. I brought my concerns to him, and he understood why I was worried.He explained that cost-cutting was still important, but was willing to compromise by keeping some important projects in-house. Additionally, he accepted my suggestion of using a system of checks to ensure quality and rapidly remove contractors who weren’t performing as well. Ultimately, costs were cut by over 15% and the quality of those projects didn’t suffer as a result.Q: Tell me about a time when you had to work under pressure.A: My job as lead editor for The Daily Scratch was always fast-paced, but when we upgraded our software and printing hardware nearly simultaneously, the pressure got turned up to 11. I was assigned with training staff on the new software in addition to my normal responsibilities. When we were unable to print over a long weekend while the new printing hardware was being set up, I wrote and recorded a full tutorial that answered the most frequently asked questions I’d been receiving over the previous week.With a staff of 20 writers, this really cut down on the need for one-on-one conversations and tutorials. While management was worried we wouldn’t be able to have the writers working at full capacity the following week, the tutorial was so effective that everyone got right on track without skipping a beat.Q: Can you describe a time when you had to motivate an employee?A: When I was the sales manager at Nice Company, we had a big hiring push that added six sales reps to my team in a matter of weeks. One worker in that bunch was working a sales job for the first time ever, and she had an aversion to cold calls. While her email correspondence had fantastic results, her overall numbers were suffering because she was neglecting her call targets.I sat down with her and explained that she should try to incorporate her winning writing skills into her cold calls. I suggested following her normal process for writing an email to cold calls; research the company and target and craft a message that suits them perfectly. She jumped at the idea and starting writing scripts that day. Within a couple of weeks, she was confidently making cold calls and had above-average numbers across the board.Q: Tell me about a time you made a mistake at work.A: When I landed my first internship, I was eager to stand out by going the extra mile. I was a little too ambitious, though — I took on too many assignments and offered help to too many coworkers to possibly juggle everything. When I was late with at least one task every week, my coworkers were understandably upset with me.After that experience, I created a tracking system that took into account how long each task would realistically take. This method really helped me never make promises I couldn’t keep. After that first month, I never handed in an assignment late again.MORE BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONSWhat have you done in the past to prevent a situation from becoming too stressful for you or your colleagues to handle?Tell me about a situation in which you have had to adjust to changes over which you had no control. How did you handle it?What steps do you follow to study a problem before making a decision? Why?When have you had to deal with an irate customer? What did you do? How did the situation end up?Have you ever had to “sell” an idea to your co-workers? How did you do it?When have you brought an innovative idea into your team? How was it received?Tell me about a time when you had to make a decision without all the information you needed. How did you handle it?Tell me about a professional goal that you set that you did not reach. How did it make you feel?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?Tell me about a project that you planned. How did your organize and schedule the tasks? Tell me about your action plan.WHAT ARE BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS?Behavioral interview questions are questions about how you’ve dealt with work situations in the past and seek to understand your character, motivations, and skills. The idea behind behavioral interview questions is that you’ll reveal how you’ll behave in the future based on your actions in the past.Unlike traditional interview questions, a hiring manager or recruiter is looking for concrete examples of various situations you’ve been in at work. As such, the best way to prepare for any and all behavioral interview questions is to have an expansive set of stories ready for your interview.A hiring manager is never going to come right out and tell you — before, during, or after the fact — whether or not your interview with them is traditional or behavioral.That’s because the difference between the two is more related to philosophy than it is necessarily technique.Often, an employer won’t even know themselves that the interview they’re conducting is behavioral rather than traditional — the deciding factors are the questions that they decide to ask, and where the interview’s focus settles on.In a nutshell, traditional interviews are focused on the future, while behavioral interviews are focused on the past.In a traditional interview, you’re asked a series of questions where you’re expected to talk about yourself and your personal qualities.Interviews in this vein tend to ask questions that are sort of psychological traps — oftentimes the facts of your answer matter less than the way you refer to and frame those facts.Moreover, if you find that you’re able to understand the underlying thing an interviewer is trying to learn about you by asking you a certain question, you might even find you’re able to game the system of the traditional interview a little bit by framing your answer in a particular way.Behavioral interviews are harder to game, because instead of asking about how you might deal with a particular situation, they focus on situations you’ve already encountered.In a behavioral interview, you probably won’t find yourself being asked about your strengths. Instead, you’ll be asked about specific problems you encountered, and you’ll have to give detailed answers about how you dealt with that problem, your thought process for coming up with your solution, and the results of implementing that solution

Fri, 16 Jun 2023

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