Behavioral Questions

The hardest part of the interview process can often be preparing for situational and behavioral questions. The reason for this is that you don’t really have a clue what will be asked. How in the world do you prepare for the unknown? This week we’re sharing some tips on becoming a storyteller, and a tried and true framework for keeping your responses in check.  

Here are some commonly asked questions:

1. Tell me about a project you are proud of
2. Tell me about a time that you overcame adversity to achieve positive results
3. Tell me a story that demonstrates your leadership ability

You should be prepared with a story that talks about 4 or 5 of your biggest accomplishments. These become the foundation for your behavioral responses, and can be used for a variety of questions. 

Use no more than 3 sentences that contain the following information:

1. The objective or the purpose of the project
2. Your role in the effort
3. The outcome or the results

While behavioral questions are the most difficult to prepare for in advance of an interview, you can rehearse your history so that your stories make sense and you don’t over-explain yourself in an effort to hit every detail.

Next week in the last episode of the Tough Interview Questions series, we’ll advise you on how to discuss pandemic-related issues in an interview such as a gap in employment or remote work schedules.