The article describes sample behavioral job interview questions for the Project Team Lead and Senior Research Specialist positions.
Guidelines for the interviewer
All topics are divided into categories (types of questions).
Examples of good and bad answers
Good and bad sample answers from the intruded job candidate are described.
The material can be used as guidelines for interviewers and hiring managers not only for the mentioned sample professions but also for many others as the questions cover general professional topics. Reference: Behavioral Interview Questions with guidelines for the interviewer and example good and bad answers, brightonbot.com
Project Team Lead
Work under pressure
How do you deal with changes in already specified deadlines?
How do you deal with shorter deadlines than planned?
In your opinion, what do the sports competitions you have attended and the work under pressure have in common?
What mechanisms do you use to deal with live work?
Achievements
What are you most proud of what you have achieved so far?
Is there an achievement that sets you apart from everyone else?
Was there an achievement for you that was more significant than the others you have?
Challenging situations
What motivates you in challenging situations?
Can you give an example of a challenging situation?
How do you manage to find common ground with others in a challenging situation?
Making a decision
Please give an example of an easy and difficult decision made by you?
What is leading you to make a decision?
Do you respect other people’s opinions when making decisions?
Delegation
On what principle do you delegate tasks?
What do you mean when delegating tasks?
Can you give an example of well-delegated tasks?
Leadership
What do you think are the qualities that a leader should have?
Would you define yourself as a manager or as a leader?
Can you give an example of a leader you admire?
Motivation
If you have held this position for more than 2 years, what would motivate you to continue to hold it?
How would you motivate a new member of your team?
How would you motivate an experienced member of your team?
Solving problems
How would you define the word problem?
Which problems are a priority for you to solve?
Are there any problems that, in your opinion, cannot be solved?
Process improvement
What is the priority of process improvement?
In your opinion, who identifies the obstacles in the processes?
Can you give examples when you have identified the obstacles in the processes and suggested mechanisms for resolving them?
Supervision
How would you track the work of your colleagues?
Are there cases where supervision gives positive/negative results?
Would you supervise or would you prefer to have a certain aspect of the work process shared by a colleague?
Senior Research Specialist
Accepting constructive criticism
How can constructive criticism become a problem rather than a way to help?
Do you prefer to give or receive constructive criticism?
Can you give an example when constructive criticism was out of place?
Work under pressure
How do you deal with changes in already specified deadlines?
How do you deal with shorter deadlines than planned?
In your opinion, what do the sports competitions you have attended and the work under pressure have in common?
What mechanisms do you use to deal with live work?
Achievements
What are you most proud of what you have achieved so far?
Is there an achievement that sets you apart from everyone else?
Was there an achievement for you that was more significant than the others you have?
Challenging situations
What motivates you in challenging situations?
Can you give an example of a challenging situation?
How do you manage to find common ground with others in a challenging situation?
Communication skills
What are your strongest communication skills?
What do you think the communication skills/management ratio should be?
Many people point to communication as leading. If you had to communicate with someone who did not give in to the general methods, what would you do?
Dealing with difficult people
What does it mean for a person to be difficult?
Could you give an example of a situation in which you had to communicate with a difficult person?
Do you consider yourself a difficult or easy person?
Initiative
Would you prefer to leave the initiative to someone else or would you take it on a project?
Are there aspects of the initiative that would hinder the work?
Can you give an example when you showed initiative and it didn’t turn out what you expected?
Motivation
If you have held this position for more than 2 years, what would motivate you to continue to hold it?
How would you motivate a new member of your team?
How would you motivate an experienced member of your team? Reference: The Top 9 Things That Ultimately Motivate Employees to Achieve, forbes.com
Solving problems
How would you define the word problem?
Which problems are a priority for you to solve?
Are there any problems that, in your opinion, cannot be solved?
Teamwork
Do you prefer teamwork or individually assigned tasks?
What do you think can hinder teamwork?
What are the positives of teamwork?
A description of the best possible expected possible response from the candidate and the candidate’s behavior.
Work under pressure
How do you deal with changes in already specified deadlines? – Right now. The whole team is warned and ready.
How do you deal with shorter deadlines than planned? – If it is not possible to extend them, then we sit as a team and redistribute if necessary. We change the planning according to the deadlines and if there are new requirements related to them.
In your opinion, what do the sports competitions you have attended and the work under pressure have in common? – Both require focus and mobilization.
What mechanisms do you use to deal with live work? – The hobbies I practice in my free time and social contacts.
Achievements
What are you most proud of what you have achieved so far? – With the fact that I have reached the present moment and will continue to move forward.
Is there an achievement that sets you apart from everyone else? – No, because each one has built me in a certain way.
Was there an achievement for you that was more significant than the others you have? – Rather, there was recognition, which was more significant than the achievement itself.
Challenging situations
What motivates you in challenging situations? “Always find a solution.”
Can you give an example of a challenging situation? – When I had to convince my team of the rightness of the decision taken and the measures are taken.
How do you manage to find common ground with others in a challenging situation? – Listening to their opinion and paying attention to their fears.
Making a decision
Please give an example of an easy and difficult decision made by you? – Change in both cases, because then you have to convince the others to believe you.
What is leading you to make a decision? – I always weigh the positives and negatives.
Do you respect other people’s opinions when making decisions? – Yes always. Another point of view always enriches.
Delegation
On what principle do you delegate tasks? – Based on capacity and abilities.
What do you mean when delegating tasks? – There are many factors. I mean capacity, abilities, duration, desire.
Can you give an example of well-delegated tasks? – We had a colleague who did not believe much in his abilities. This changed after clarifications and a lot of guidance from me and the other colleagues.
Leadership
What do you think are the qualities that a leader should have? – To be fair and honest with yourself.
Would you define yourself as a manager or as a leader? – Definitely a leader with managerial qualities.
Can you give an example of a leader you admire? – Oprah Winfrey.
Motivation
If you have held this position for more than 2 years, what would motivate you to continue to hold it? – To improve it.
How would you motivate a new member of your team? – With a lot of guidance.
How would you motivate an experienced member of your team? – With the freedom of action.
Solving problems
How would you define the word problem? – Something on which more than one solution must be found.
Which problems are a priority for you to solve? – Emergencies and those whose resolution depends on many people.
Are there any problems that, in your opinion, cannot be solved? – No, there are none.
Process improvement
What is the priority of process improvement? – Significant if not changed with the change of business plan and nature of work.
In your opinion, who identifies the obstacles in the processes? – The employees.
Can you give examples when you have identified the obstacles in the processes and suggested mechanisms for resolving them? “They were picked up by the staff.” We sat down as a team and after discussing things, we found the best solution.
Supervision
How would you track the work of your colleagues? – Definitely made by a company would be useful, but in any case, I will have a weekly meeting with each of my team.
Are there cases where supervision gives positive/negative results? – Yes, if it is too strong it leads to pressure and anxiety on the part of the employee.
Would you supervise or would you prefer to have a certain aspect of the work process shared by a colleague? – Both.
Accepting constructive criticism
How can constructive criticism become a problem rather than a way to help? – When it is presented as a critique, without any building block.
Do you prefer to give or receive constructive criticism? – Both.
Can you give an example when constructive criticism was out of place? – When given by a person who has no contact with the field of activity or the nature of work.
Communication skills
What are your strongest communication skills? – Honesty and openness in communication, as well as feedback.
What do you think the communication skills/management ratio should be? – 60/40.
Many people point to communication as leading. If you had to communicate with someone who did not give in to the general methods, what would you do? – I will try to find a common language through the interests of man.
Dealing with difficult people
What does it mean for a person to be difficult? – Stubbornness, inability to overcome one’s own ego, disregard for other people’s, and different opinions.
Could you give an example of a situation in which you had to communicate with a difficult person? – One of the managers had commissioned a project without taking into account leading factors such as time, business environment, employment, expectations. I had to do my own research, which you presented supported by evidence. We then had long discussions until we came to clear and precise parameters.
Do you consider yourself a difficult or easy person? – Easy, but with requirements.
Initiative
Would you prefer to leave the initiative to someone else or would you take it on a project? – It depends on the project. If I do not have the necessary qualities, I prefer the initiative not to be mine.
Are there aspects of the initiative that would hinder the work? – When it is supported with a lot of enthusiasm, but there is no real element.
Can you give an example when you showed initiative and it didn’t turn out what you expected? – I took the initiative for a project whose initial dimension was local but then became international. The picture has definitely changed.
Teamwork
Do you prefer teamwork or individually assigned tasks? – Rather teamwork, unless the tasks can be performed alone.
What do you think can hinder teamwork? “It’s intensified.”
What are the positives of teamwork? – Sharing responsibilities, exchanging ideas, and different strengths of each member.
Possible sample answers due to which the candidates will not be accepted for the position
Work under pressure
How do you deal with changes in already specified deadlines? – I do not think much about such things.
How do you deal with shorter deadlines than planned? – I do what I have to do and I assign work to someone else if necessary.
In your opinion, what do the sports competitions you have attended and the work under pressure have in common? “They have nothing in common.”
What mechanisms do you use to deal with live work? “I don’t need them.”
Achievements
What are you most proud of what you have achieved so far? “With everything.”
Is there an achievement that sets you apart from everyone else? – No, each one is important in itself.
Was there an achievement for you that was more significant than the others you have? – No, they were all significant.
Challenging situations
What motivates you in challenging situations? – The challenge itself.
Can you give an example of a challenging situation? “I can’t remember now.”
How do you manage to find common ground with others in a challenging situation? – I’m just expressing my opinion.
Making a decision
Please give an example of an easy and difficult decision made by you? – There are no difficult solutions.
What is leading you to make a decision? “I need to know what the solution is.” I don’t usually think much. I am more of a man of action than of thinking.
Do you respect other people’s opinions when making decisions? – Rarely.
Delegation
On what principle do you delegate tasks? – As I decide at the moment.
What do you mean when delegating tasks? “I don’t mean anything.”
Can you give an example of well-delegated tasks? – I can not. As I said, I’m deciding right now.
Leadership
What do you think are the qualities that a leader should have? – To be able to lead and instill awe. Reference: Are you a good manager, managerspost.com
Would you define yourself as a manager or as a leader? – Leader.
Can you give an example of a leader you admire? – Myself.
Motivation
If you have held this position for more than 2 years, what would motivate you to continue to hold it? – I do not know. Maybe the money.
How would you motivate a new member of your team? “It’s none of my business.”
How would you motivate an experienced member of your team? “It’s none of my business.”
Solving problems
How would you define the word problem? “Something I have to decide.”
Which problems are a priority for you to solve? – All.
Are there any problems that, in your opinion, cannot be solved? – Yes, there are many.
Process improvement
What is the priority of process improvement? – It depends on the processes.
In your opinion, who identifies the obstacles in the processes? – They come to light after a while.
Can you give examples when you have identified the obstacles in the processes and suggested mechanisms for resolving them? “It didn’t happen to me.”
Supervision
How would you track the work of your colleagues? “In every way possible.”
Are there cases where supervision gives positive/negative results? – There are only positive ones. I can’t register negative results.
Would you supervise or would you prefer to have a certain aspect of the work process shared by a colleague? – I prefer to exercise supervision.
Accepting constructive criticism
How can constructive criticism become a problem rather than a way to help? “It can’t be a problem.” If someone can’t accept criticism, that’s his problem.
Do you prefer to give or receive constructive criticism? – To give. So far, I have rarely received constructive criticism.
Can you give an example when constructive criticism was out of place? “No, I don’t remember.”
Communication skills
What are your strongest communication skills? – To manipulate people to do what I want.
What do you think the communication skills/management ratio should be? – 10/90.
Many people point to communication as leading. If you had to communicate with someone who did not give in to the general methods, what would you do? – I will not make an effort.
Dealing with difficult people
What does it mean for a person to be difficult? – Everyone is difficult because they have their own characteristics.
Could you give an example of a situation in which you had to communicate with a difficult person? – I have not had such situations.
Do you consider yourself a difficult or easy person? – Easy.
Initiative
Would you prefer to leave the initiative to someone else or would you take it on a project? – I prefer someone else to initiate things. I prefer to lead.
Are there aspects of the initiative that would hinder the work? “Sure, but I can’t think of any now.”
Can you give an example when you showed initiative and it didn’t turn out what you expected? – I am not one of the most enterprising.
Teamwork
Do you prefer teamwork or individually assigned tasks? – I prefer individually set tasks. They are my strength.
What do you think can hinder teamwork? – In my opinion, teamwork is obsolete.
What are the positives of teamwork? “I don’t think there are any.”
The behavior of the candidates that you will accept as inappropriate
Project Team Lead: Inappropriate behavior
He is not interested in the company and the position. He behaves like a person with many qualities, but in fact, he does not have the necessary qualifications, experience, patience, and humanity. He cannot manage people and resolve conflicts, but on the contrary, provokes them. Reference: Conflict Management in Human Resources, BVOP.org A conflicting person who is only interested in the salary, but not in the opinion and success of the team.
Senior Research Specialist: Inappropriate behavior
He is not interested in the company and the position. He behaves like a person with many qualities, but in fact does not have the necessary qualifications, experience, patience, and humanity. A conflicting person who is only interested in the salary, but not in the opinion and success of the team. There is no motivation and innovation.