Answering questions in a job interview using emotional intelligence will help you not just nail the interview, but will get you placed at the very top of the shortlist!
Listed below are 3 tips followed by over 10 scenario-based and standard questions to prepare for ahead of the interview.
Three tips
- Tailor your answers to situational scenarios that are relevant to the role you’re applying for. What would you likely encounter if you were in that role?
- Show the interviewer how you would behave, react and respond. Answering yes or no will leave the conversation flat and boring for both you and the interviewer.
- When describing an experience, give them the entire picture. Share what you felt was going on for both you and the other person. One perspective is just that – one perspective. Show them you are willing to consider others’ opinions and viewpoints.
Scenario-based Questions
Typically, these scenarios start with… “Tell me about a time when….” Consider the questions I’ve added as a way of helping the interviewer understand how you handled a situation/person and why a certain approach was used.
a) …a customer called with a complaint.
How did you handle it? Have you ever had to deal with a similar situation with a different client? Are there complaints when you would address the issue in a more discreet, appropriate way and why?
b) …you received negative feedback, or someone criticized your work.
What was it like to hear that? How did you respond? What did you do to improve because of the feedback or criticism you received? What did you learn about yourself?
c) …you resolved a dispute between you and a supervisor/or colleague. What was the disagreement about? How did you resolve it? What was the opinion or suggestion of the other person? Did you consider what they had to say? Why or why not? How did your relationship with them change?
d) …a staff member questioned your authority or instructions.
How did you respond and handle it? What did you consider when determining next steps? What was the outcome?
e) …you found yourself in a highly stressful situation.
What was your initial reaction? How did you get yourself to remain in a calm state? What assumptions or judgements did you have before you intervened? Did those change after things were resolved and settled down?
f) …you successfully collaborated in a team environment.
What does collaboration mean and look like to you? How have you neutralized team conflicts? What strategies did you use to resolve the conflict? What was the outcome? How do you work with people you may not like?
g) …you had to deliver bad or unsettling news to someone.
How did the other person react? How did you respond to them? What was said? What was not said and why not?
h) …you had to adjust your priorities despite competing demands from others.
How did you determine a new priority list? How was it received by others? How did you feel about having to make adjustments?
i) …you failed at something or made a mistake.
What happened? What was that like? How did you respond and/or bounce back? What role did you play in the failure? Who did you share the failure with and why? What would you do differently next time? What did you learn about yourself?
j) …you experienced a team achievement.
Why was this achievement important to you? How did you and the team achieve it? How did the team react to the achievement? What did you learn about your team? What did you learn about yourself?
Standard Questions.
Give the interviewer a sneak peak into your personal side by adding an emotional intelligence touch to these standard questions.
A. What do you consider to be your most significant strengths?
Think about: how your strengths benefit you personally or in the workplace
B. What do you consider to be your biggest weakness?
Think about: how your weakness impacts your success at achieving your personal or career goals
C. What do you do to decompress after a bad day at work?
Think about: why you choose that activity and how it helps you.
D. How would some of your closest friends describe you?
Think about: if a friend shared with you what they admire about you, how did you react/feel? Perhaps it was something they didn’t like about you. Again, how did you react/feel? Did you take it upon yourself to change “that thing” and why?
Using emotional intelligence will help showcase your level of self-awareness and to uncover potential areas for professional growth if you were to work for them.
In real estate it’s about location, location. For interviews, its PREPARE and ELABORATE! Showcase YOU!
If you need a hand preparing for an upcoming interview, reach out to me today! Contact | Celine Rose Training
