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How to use ChatGPT to Prepare for Behavioral interviews

Careerflow Team

From explaining quantum theory through poetry to rewriting tweets in Elon Musk’s style, from writing scripts for videos to breaking down complex topics into simple words, ChatGPT is doing it all. 

ChatGPT is a chatbot released by OpenAI in late November 2022. One of the key features of ChatGPT is its real-time interactive interface. This allows users to engage in conversations with the chatbot in real-time, just as they would with a human being. Besides remembering what the user said earlier in the conversation, it also allows follow-up corrections. There is much more it can do, but you can only gauge its true potential once you try it. Interestingly, some people are claiming it is the new Google, which is still debatable.

App Brewery's founder, Angela Yu, tweeted about ChatGPT

And you will be surprised to know that ChatGPT can also help you ace your next behavioral interview.  

Wondering how? This guide covers it all:

  • How to access ChatGPT?
  • What is an effective way to ask questions in ChatGPT?
  • How to prepare for a behavioral interview using ChatGPT?
  • How to simulate a behavioral interview using ChatGPT?
  • Conclusion

Setting up ChatGPT - How to Access it? 

Before you actually start preparing for your next behavioral interview using ChatGPT, you should know the basics of it! 

The process of accessing ChatGPT is fairly straightforward. Just follow these simple steps: 

  • Browse to https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt/
  • Scroll down the page and click on “Try ChatGPT”. 
  • Log in with your OpenAI account. If you don't already have an OpenAI account, you can create one or log in using a Google or Microsoft account. 
Try ChatGPT by clicking this button.
Also read: Google Product Manager Interview Guide 2023 with Questions

How to Ask Questions Effectively in Chatgpt?

Puneet Kohli, co-founder at Careerflow and ex-Senior ML Engineer at Apple says- 

“While asking questions to ChatGPT, think of it as a very smart but very stupid machine. Despite being smart enough to know everything, it won't give you an accurate answer unless you tell it exactly what you need.”

At the end of the day, ChatGPT is an AI model trained using data. It can’t read your expressions or your mind. The only way it can provide you with correct answers is if you can tell it what exactly you want. The following hacks will help you ask ChatGPT questions more effectively:

1. Be specific and clear in your question: ChatGPT is a large language model, so it's critical to be as specific and clear as possible to help it understand what you're asking.

For example, 

❌Instead of asking: What are some common behavioral interview questions?

✅Ask: What are some examples of behavioral interview questions that employers might ask to assess a job seeker's leadership skills?

❌Instead of asking "What should I expect during a behavioral interview?" 

✅Ask: "What is the typical structure of a behavioral interview, and how many questions can I expect to be asked?"

2. Use proper grammar and punctuation: You must ask your question using proper grammar and punctuation to make ChatGPT understand it properly. 

3. Ask follow-up questions: ChatGPT may not always provide the most comprehensive response to your first question. If you feel like the initial response didn't fully answer your question, you can ask follow-up questions to expand on the initial response.

For example, if you ask ChatGPT–"What are some common behavioral interview questions that employers might ask to assess a job candidate's leadership skills?" and its response doesn't include a specific example, you could follow up with a question like– "Can you provide an example of a behavioral interview question that employers might ask to assess a job candidate's leadership skills?" This can help you get the most detailed and accurate response from ChatGPT.

4. Summarize ChatGPT's previous answers and follow-up questions: After asking ChatGPT a series of questions and receiving its responses, it can be helpful to summarize its previous answers and follow-up questions to get a clear and concise final answer. 

For example, if you asked ChatGPT a series of questions about behavioral interviews and received detailed responses, you could ask it to summarize all previous responses by saying –“Can you summarize previous answers and follow-up questions into a single paragraph or bullet point list?" This will help you organize and synthesize the information you received from ChatGPT and make it easier to understand and remember.

Conversation between a job seeker and ChatGPT
Real-time conversation example with ChatGPT - https://gpt.best/AVQQ52hE

Bonus Tip 🔉: ChatGPT may take some time and experimentation to give the most accurate answer to your question. So don't be afraid to try asking your questions in different ways. Keep experimenting until you get the most accurate answer from it.

Also read: Technical Program Manager Interview Questions (TPM Interview)

How to Prepare for a Behavioral Interview Using Chatgpt: A Step-by-step Guide

Explore Common Behavioral Interview Questions with ChatGPT.

You can ask ChatGPT to generate behavioral interview questions. Mention all the necessary things in your query:

  • If you want questions focused on behavioral interviews for particular roles, mention them.
  • If you want questions related to particular soft skills, mention them. 
  • If you are targeting specific industries, mention them.

Prompts that you can use to generate common behavioral interview questions through ChatGPT 👇

  • I'm preparing for a behavioral interview for a marketing manager position in the tech industry. Can you generate some potential questions that might be asked in this type of interview?
  • I'm looking for questions that might be asked in a behavioral interview for a customer service role. Can you generate questions about handling difficult customers, problem-solving, and conflict resolution?
  • I am seeking a leadership role and would like to highlight my skills in motivating and inspiring team members, handling conflict, and making difficult decisions during my interview. Can you generate a list of behavioral interview questions that focus on these areas?
  • I'm preparing for a behavioral interview for a project management position. Can you generate questions that might be asked about managing a team through the development and launch of a new product?
  • I am preparing for a behavioral interview for a marketing role. Can you generate some sample questions about my ability to create and execute successful marketing campaigns?  I am experienced in conducting market research, developing marketing strategies, and analyzing the results of campaigns. Can you also include questions about my creativity and ability to come up with original ideas?
Conversation between a job seeker and ChatGPT
Real-time conversation example with ChatGPT: https://gpt.best/Zt5UYEYY

Bonus Tip 🔉: Include relevant keywords and provide a specific scenario in your prompt to get more specific and filtered answers.

Find Sample Answers with ChatGPT.

Ask ChatGPT to generate sample answers to behavioral interview questions. If you have any specific requirements, please mention them explicitly.

  • If you want an answer that follows the STAR method, mention it. 
  • If you want an answer based on your resume, mention it.
  • If you want an answer tailored to your experience, mention it. 
  • If you need an answer in brief and simple words, mention it.

Remember 👉: ChatGPT does not have access to your resume or any other information. So you should provide your resume and details about your experience for ChatGPT to generate personalized answers. You can do this by including specific details in your questions, such as target job titles, and tasks you have completed in the past job, and copy-pasting the entire resume. This would allow ChatGPT to generate a more personalized answer based on your previous experience.

Prompts that you can use to get the most appropriate answers through ChatGPT 👇

Based on your resume:

  • Can you provide a sample answer to the question: 'Tell me about a time when you had to work with a challenging client', based on my experience as a sales representative listed on my resume? I want to highlight my ability to handle difficult situations and maintain positive relationships in this answer.
  • Can you provide a sample answer to the question: 'Tell me about a time when you had to overcome a significant obstacle in your work', based on my experience as a software developer listed on my resume? I want to showcase my problem-solving skills and determination in this answer.
Real-time conversation example with ChatGPT: https://gpt.best/oV6k5tAV

Based on the particular scenario:

  • Can you provide a sample answer to the question: 'Tell me about a time when you had to adapt to a new situation’, based on my experience transitioning to a new role at my previous company? Here is the scenario: I was promoted to a management position at my company and had to oversee a team of employees who were used to a different leadership style. I had to quickly learn how to adapt my management approach to fit their needs and preferences while also maintaining the company's policies and procedures. 
  • Can you provide a sample answer to the question: 'Tell me about a time when you had to make a difficult decision', based on my experience making tough decisions in my previous job? Here is the scenario: I was working on a project with a tight deadline and one of my team members came to me with a personal issue that would require them to take a few days off. I had to decide whether to allow them to take the time off and potentially fall behind on the project, or deny their request and risk morale and productivity.
Conversation between a job seeker and ChatGPT
Real-time conversation example with ChatGPT: https://gpt.best/2x1gRptc

Based on specific career goals:

  • Can you provide a sample answer to the question: 'Tell me about a time when you had to adapt to a changing situation or environment', based on my goal of becoming a successful manager in the future?
  • Can you provide a sample answer to the question: 'Tell me about a time when you had to learn a new skill or knowledge quickly', based on my aspiration to work in a high-stress, fast-paced industry? I want to demonstrate my ability to learn quickly and adapt to challenging situations in this answer.
Conversation between a job seeker and ChatGPT
Real-time conversation example with ChatGPT: https://gpt.best/5tsIRhEA

Based on specific achievements or accomplishments:

  • Can you provide a sample answer to the question– 'Tell me about a time you went above and beyond’, based on my achievement of exceeding sales goals at my previous company?
  • Can you provide a sample answer to the question– 'Tell me about a time when you had to take on a leadership role outside of your job’, based on my work of organizing and leading a charity marathon event?

Real-time conversation example with ChatGPT: https://gpt.best/AdEwlsRU

Evaluate your answers and ask ChatGPT for feedback.

Prompts that you can use to get feedback on your answers through ChatGPT 👇

  • I am preparing for a behavioral interview and have an answer to the question: 'Tell me about a time when you had to work with a difficult team member. How did you handle the situation and what was the outcome?' Here is my answer: “I had to work with a difficult team member on a project at my previous company. They were constantly disrupting meetings and not pulling their weight on tasks. I approached them privately and calmly discussed my concerns and asked for their input on how we could improve communication and collaboration. We were able to come to an understanding and establish some ground rules for future team meetings. The project was completed on time and received praise from our manager.” Can you review my answer and give me your feedback?
  • I am preparing for a behavioral interview and I have an answer to the question: 'Tell me about a time when you had to make a difficult decision. How did you handle the situation and what was the outcome?' Here is my answer: "I had to make a difficult decision at my previous company when I was given the choice to either take on a new project with a tight deadline or delegate the project to another team member. I carefully weighed the pros and cons of both options and sought guidance from my manager. I ultimately decided to delegate the project to another team member who had more experience in that specific area. The project was completed successfully and I received praise from my manager for making a thoughtful and strategic decision." Can you review my answer and give me your feedback?
Conversation between a job seeker and ChatGPT
Real-time conversation example with ChatGPThttps://gpt.best/IA6gw5tY

Bonus Tip 🔉: Provide detailed and authentic answers to ChatGPT using examples from your own experience. Take note of any feedback or suggestions provided by it and use them to refine your responses.

Also read: How To Find a Job During a Recession: The Ultimate Guide 2023

Find potential follow-up questions for the interview using ChatGPT.

During a behavioral interview, the interviewer will typically ask follow-up questions based on your initial answer. Therefore, it is crucial to be prepared to respond to follow-up questions.

Prompts that you can use to generate the right follow-up questions for your interview👇

  • I'm preparing for a behavioral interview and I'd like to practice answering questions about a time when I had to work in a team to achieve a difficult goal. Can you ask me some follow-up questions based on my answer? My answer is: I was part of a team that had to develop a new product in a short amount of time. We faced several challenges, including tight deadlines and limited resources. I worked closely with my team members to prioritize tasks, delegate responsibilities, and communicate effectively. We were able to meet the deadline and launch the product successfully.
  • I'm practicing for a behavioral interview and I'd like to improve my answers to questions about a time when I had to make a difficult decision. Can you ask me some follow-up questions that will help me provide more in-depth and specific responses? For example, I could talk about a situation where I had to decide between two job offers that had different pros and cons. I weighed the factors that were most significant to me, such as the company culture, the opportunities for growth and development, and the compensation package, and made my decision based on what I felt was the most appropriate fit for my long-term career goals.
Conversation between a job seeker and ChatGPT
Real-time conversation example with ChatGPT: https://gpt.best/tcE0JdkF

How to Simulate a Behavioral Interview Using Chatgpt?

As you are now done with preparation, it’s time to test your preparation by creating an actual interview-like atmosphere using ChatGPT. 

Yes, ChatGPT is capable of doing that as well 😀. 

To set up a practice session for a behavioral interview with ChatGPT as a job seeker, follow these steps:

  • Start by explaining the purpose of the practice session to ChatGPT. Prepare a prompt to alert ChatGPT that you will be simulating a behavioral interview and it will play the interviewer's role. 

           For example, Hi, I'm John and I'm preparing for a behavioral interview. Can you act as an interviewer and ask me a question?

  • Identify the common behavioral interview questions that you would like to practice. Ask ChatGPT to pick one of the questions from the list and ask it to you in a conversational manner. 

           For example: Can you ask me these questions one at a time: 1. Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult customer. 2. Describe a situation             in which you had to work under tight deadlines. 3. How do you handle conflict in the workplace?

  • Respond to the question as if you were in an actual behavioral interview, using examples from your own experiences to illustrate your answers.
  • After you have answered the question, ask ChatGPT for feedback on your response. Ask if there were any areas where you could have provided more detail or given a better example.
  • Repeat this process with several different questions from the list, allowing ChatGPT to ask each one and provide responses.

Few Things to Remember While Simulating a Behavioral Interview Using ChatGPT

  • Engage in a conversation with ChatGPT, following the rules and guidelines of an actual behavioral interview.
  • Choose a quiet place for a practice session and don’t get up during the session.
  • Be specific and realistic when setting up a practice scenario.
  • Provide detailed and authentic answers to ChatGPT's questions, using examples from your own experience.
  • Take note of any feedback or suggestions provided by ChatGPT and use them to refine your responses.
Conversation between a job seeker and ChatGPT
Real-time conversation example with ChatGPT: https://gpt.best/gx625tNU

Repeat the practice session as needed to improve your skills. Think of these sessions as mock interviews, and do everything possible to make the most of them. However, as of now, you can only submit your answers by typing. But in an actual interview, you have to verbally convey your answer, so it is very crucial that you also work on your communication skills. You can schedule a mock interview with Careerflow’s mentors to accelerate your interview preparation. 

Bonus Tip 🔉: Update your LinkedIn profile with Careerflow’s completely FREE LinkedIn Optimization Chrome Extension. This tool gives you the best practices for each section of your LinkedIn Profile based on industry experts’ LinkedIn Profiles and boosts your search visibility by 2.5x 🚀.

Conclusion:

ChatGPT is more than just a viral sensation that will fade away within a few weeks; it represents a technological revolution that will produce the next generation of conversational AI. The only thing that you need to remember while using ChatGPT is– Accurate questions lead to accurate answers. The more detailed and specific queries you ask, the more precise answers it will give you. Whether you're looking for common questions, tricky questions, or questions specific to your field, ChatGPT has got you covered. But it does not stop at generating questions. It can also help you craft the perfect answers by providing feedback on your responses. 

However, it’s also essential to realize that every technological invention comes with its own limitations. Even though ChatGPT can be a huge help to you, it can sometimes generate incorrect information, wrong answers, harmful instructions, or biased content. Thus, be careful while using it. 

So, instead of binging on Netflix this weekend try binging on ChatGPT and ace your next behavioral interview. You won’t regret it 😉!

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