Performance Based Interview Questions

Research shows that the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. With PBI the interviewer defines the skills needed for the job and structures the interview process to elicit behavioral examples of past performance.

Here is a rather long list of questions that map to various behavioral competencies relevant for a position. This list is not for the faint hearted and some Q’s may be repeated / re-phrased. I will continue to refine and update this list and would welcome any inputs.

Due to the sheer number of Q’s, it may not be wise to try and prepare for all these possible scenarios. I described a technique to tackle performance based interviews here.

Communication

1. Tell me about a time when you had to use your presentation skills to influence someone’s opinion
2. Give me an example of a time when you were able to successfully communicate with another person even when that individual may not have agreed with your perspective.
3. Give me a specific example of a time when you had to handle an angry customer. What was the problem and what was the outcome?
4. Tell me about a time when you and your current/previous supervisor disagreed but you still found a way to get your point across.
5. Tell me about your efforts to “sell” a new idea to your supervisor.
6. How do you make your feelings known when you disagree with the views of your staff?
7. Tell me how you kept your supervisor advised of the status on projects.
8. How have you assessed your behavioral messages and what have you learned about yourself as a result?

Listening

1. What do you do to show people that you are listening to them?
2. How often do you have to rely on information you have gathered from others when talking to them?
3. What kinds of problems have you had? What happened?
4. Give an example of a time when you made a mistake because you did not listen well to what someone had to say.
5. When is listening important on your job? When is listening difficult?
6. What have you done to improve your listening skills?

Written Communication

1. What kinds of writing have you done? How do you prepare written communications?
2. What are the most challenging documents have you done? What kinds of proposals have you written?
3. How have you persuaded people through a document you prepared?
4. Tell me about a time in which you had to use your written communication skills in order to get an important point across.

Oral Communication

1. What have you done to improve your verbal communication skills?

Presentation

1. What kinds of oral presentations have you made? How did you prepare for them? What challenges did you have?
2. How do you prepare for a presentation to a group of technical experts in your field?
3. Tell me about the most effective presentation you have made. What was the topic? What made it difficult? How did you handle it?
4. How would you describe your presentation style?