Any interview is a nerve-wracking experience, but the pressure intensifies when it’s for a prime position like company director. This is your chance to prove yourself after years of hard work and get your dream job. The magnitude of the role means that interviewers won’t hold back with their questions for directors. This includes asking a series of behavioral interview questions to get to know you better. So, what are behavioral interview questions, and what should you prepare for?
What Are Behavioral Interview Questions?
Interview questions tend to be separated into different categories based on their form or intention. For example, you can get situational questions where you have to talk about a situation you were in and highlight real-world experience. Then there are the more general questions regarding your skills and qualifications. A thorough interviewer will take their time to cover a wide variety. This isn’t necessarily an attempt to catch you out with something tough. It’s more likely a way to gain a deeper understanding of who you are as a person.
There is no better example of this than the behavioral interview question. This is where interviewers get to understand how their candidates behave in important situations. It isn’t so much about the work experience and the duties performed as the specific actions taken in situations. They can get an idea of how well you respond to events and use that to predict future scenarios. The questions are often phrased in ways such as “describe a time when you…”. These are different from the hypothetical questions, where you’re in situations you haven’t experienced yet. This is about a lived experience that got you to the position you have today.
Why Are Behavioral Interview Questions So Important?
These questions are important for interviewers because they tell them what to expect and help them understand the achievements on your resume. They can see if you are a good fit within the company culture, based on your instinctive responses to challenging and emotive situations. For instance, you might be asked how you handled tough expectations from stakeholders. The actions taken to manage those expectations, appease those involved, and adapt a project say a lot. If it doesn’t align with company values, they may look for someone else.
These behavioral interview questions are also important for candidates because you get to show off without bragging. The answers could make or break your chances moving forward. If you can prove you are someone able to lead comfortably and get results, you might be the director they are after. If you can’t answer or give a weak example, they may go for someone else. There must be moments in your career as a manager or project leader that elevated your position and reputation. Something you did to save a project, get a brand seen by more people, or increase investment worked.
This is why it is so important to practice these behavioral interview questions for directors ahead of time. Take some time to go through your career history and accomplishments and write down the stories attached. Your resume may say you were the project manager on a new product line that made X amount of dollars. That’s not enough on its own. What are the specifics? What challenges did you overcome, and what did you do to go the extra mile to accomplish that? If you can memorize a few of these stories ahead of time, you can answer these interview questions with the confidence and detail interviewers need.
What Are Some Behavioral Situations To Expect?
1) Conflict resolution
This is a common theme in interview questions, whether behavioral, situational, or hypothetical. Companies want to be sure their prospective director is a people person who works well with others. That phrase is cliched and something you see often with entry-level roles, but it applies here too. If two key members of your team, or two departments, aren’t on the same page, how do you resolve that? What examples can you give from previous experience?
2) Decision-making
This one is quite broad, so you will have to think about a few times you made important decisions for your company and any important projects. There may have been a time when you had to take a risk or make a sacrifice to help secure a better result down the line. How did you go about doing this? Why did you make the decision you did, and were you willing to take accountability for any negative repercussions?
3) Dealing with high demands
This goes back to the idea of dealing with stakeholders and upper management in previous roles. As a company director, you may finally get to be at the top of the managerial trees for big projects. However, there are still going to be company owners, shareholders, investors, and other individuals with tough demands. Can you still compromise and negotiate your plans to keep them happy? Also, what about dealing with high public demand? Was there ever a time in your career when you struggled with public backlash? How did you handle that?
4) Exceeding expectations
Then there are questions about exceeding expectations. These are great for showcasing achievements where you provided better results than projected. It’s a great way to highlight your commitment to a company and desire to succeed. However, you have to be careful with your answers. There is a fine line between showing off and showcasing talent. Explain the situation, emphasize challenges, and give credit to other team members where it is due.
The More You Prepare, The Better Your Chances
Behavioral interview questions can be challenging and a tough part of any interview. However, they are essential for separating the best candidates for company directors from those who are a poor fit. So, take some time to go over examples of these interview questions online. Write answers that highlight your strengths and are honest about your challenges. You should then have a better chance of impressing the interviewers on the big day.
