Now that you have an idea of what kinds of questions to expect, the next step is how to answer them. To give a complete answer to a behavior-based question, you must, first, reflect on specific situations that you faced while working (include any volunteering or internships), then, describe the specific action you took, and, finally, the outcome as a result of your actions. The interviewer will be looking for concrete examples not generalities. A helpful hint would be to remember the initials “PAR” for “Problem, Action, and Results” such as “PAR for the Course.” Heres an example: Problem: Local newspaper subscriptions were declining for the area residents and large numbers of long-term subscribers were not renewing contracts. With the majority of the newspapers revenue generated from subscriptions, this reduction in renewals would have an enormous affect on the future of the paper, especially employment.
Action: Evaluated original subscription rates and designed a new promotional package that offered special rates for all renewal subscriptions. Results: Increased renewal subscription by 25 percent over the same period last year. This promotional package not only increased renewal subscriptions and maintains job security for the staff, but also enabled the office to replace a badly needed piece of equipment that could no longer be serviced.
Example: “The biggest challenge facing Arizona is its growing population. With more people moving into the state every year, there are many new residents who need access to emergency services. I believe that as an EMT, my job would be to educate these new residents about what they can do in an emergency situation. For example, if someone has a heart attack, they should call 911 immediately. This way, we can ensure everyone has the information they need to stay safe.”
Example: “In my last position, I had to decide whether or not to approve an emergency request for supplies from one of our local fire departments. The department was requesting additional resources because they were overwhelmed with calls and needed more firefighters on duty. While it’s important to provide support when we can, there are only so many resources available. In this case, I decided to approve the request but told the department that if they couldn’t handle the extra call volume after receiving the new resources, they would need to find another solution.”
Example: “I have worked in a fast-paced environment before, and I really enjoyed it. In my last position as an emergency dispatcher, we had to work quickly to get information from callers and relay it to first responders. It was important for us to stay calm and focused on our tasks so we could provide accurate information to those who needed it.”
Example: “In my last position as a state emergency manager, I was responsible for making sure all paperwork and documents were filed correctly. This included ensuring that all reports were submitted on time and that they contained all necessary information. If I had missed something or made a mistake, it could have caused problems with our department’s ability to complete its work.”
Example: “In my current role as an emergency management specialist, I have led several teams of professionals who are responsible for responding to natural disasters in their communities. In this position, I am responsible for delegating tasks among my team members so that we can respond quickly to emergencies. For example, during Hurricane Harvey last year, I was able to coordinate with other state agencies to deploy our resources to Texas where they were needed most.”
Give us an example of a time when you helped a staff member accept change and make the necessary adjustments to move forward.
Can you describe a situation where you have tried to prevent errors? What did you do? What was the outcome?
Tell us about a time when you felt that your team did not agree with your decisions. What did you do?
Discuss the highlights of your most recent educational experience. Did you accomplish any special achievements? What were your most difficult challenges?
How would you develop a course to be taught in a large setting of 800 students?