Common Behavioral Interview Questions

Begin by explaining a situation from a prior company or a relevant event with the proper context for the interviewer to evaluate your abilities. Next, go into the task that establishes the objectives of the project and your specific role in that situation. After giving the interviewer some background information, describe the action you took to complete the task successfully. Then, bring it home by presenting the result based on your actions and what you took away from the experience. To add credibility to your story, include quantitative data. Practice your interviewing skills by applying the STAR interview method to the top five behavioral interview questions below.

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Embracing the STAR method for your interview

5 Behavioral Interview Questions to Know

Interviewers measure your competencies to get a glimpse of how you will perform at their company. To do so, they ask a series of behavioral questions to gauge whether you are a good fit for the role. During this process, portray yourself in the best light by giving a vivid picture of what they can expect if they hire you. To prepare for your next interview, implement the STAR (situation, task, action and result) interview method into your responses to behavioral questions. This tactic is essential to differentiating yourself from the competition and nailing your next interview. Follow each part of this technique to keep your answers concise and focused on the questions posed by the hiring manager.

SITUATION Disclose details of the specific event

TASK Explain your responsibility in that situation

ACTION Describe how you accomplished the task

RESULT Outline the impact of your actions

the star method

SITUATION

During project testing, I occasionally don’t elaborate enough on why a particular approach will have a low likelihood of success to junior data scientists on my team.

RESULT

SITUATION

We all dread this question, and your response can be the differentiator of whether you make it to the next interview round. It’s important not to let yourself get tripped up when discussing your flaws. The best way to approach this question is to outline a minor weakness that won’t interfere with the job at hand and that you are already making strides toward improving.

Now that you’ve familiarized yourself with the STAR method, let’s jump into the behavioral questions you should know and how to answer them properly through this four-part process:

1. What is your greatest weakness?

TASK

ACTION

SAMPLE ANSWER:

As a senior data scientist, I am tasked with mentoring my direct reports and communicating effectively to avoid pitfalls during projects.

TASK

To strengthen my abilities, I started taking a course on “Giving Helpful Feedback” from Coursera to expand my leadership skills and help those under me grow their expertise.

ACTION

By doing this, I was able to build more formidable relationships with my team and achieve superior business results.

RESULT

SAMPLE ANSWER:

This question is typically used as a follow-up after evaluating your weakness. During this time, the interviewer is assessing your problem-solving skills and how you handle stress. So, choose wisely. Instead of focusing on how you were fazed by the demanding nature of a previous role, respond with a specific project that not only describes an obstacle but also how you handled it.

2. What is the biggest challenge you have faced, and what steps did you take to overcome it?

The executives at my last company wanted to make better data-driven decisions.

SITUATION

I was directed to streamline a dozen reports for our monthly executive briefing.

TASK

I used data visualization tools to create a real-time comprehensive, automated dashboard.

ACTION

My approach saved the team over 25 hours monthly, helping them focus on more strategic projects.

RESULT

ACTION

TASK

SITUATION

SAMPLE ANSWER:

Some form of this question almost always comes up, so preparation is key. The goal of this question is to explain how you strategically solved something to deliver excellent results. Identify three to five power stories to use as an example of past experiences that you can tailor to the specific behavioral question asked. These stories should cover the top attributes highlighted in your elevator pitch as well as transferrable skills for the role you’re interviewing for. Remember to keep it short and to the point. Consider different examples to a question like, “Tell me a time when you had to deal with a tight timeline and how you exceeded expectations.”

RESULT

ACTION

TASK

SITUATION

3. ‘Tell me a time…’

The previous organization I worked in required an update to their learning management system due to new regulations on data privacy.

SITUATION

My manager presented me with a strict deadline to complete the software update in less than 48 hours to ensure we remained compliant.

TASK

I worked with key stakeholders to update the user interface on all systems with information on data tracking, what the data is used for and options for users to remove their data.

ACTION

I was able to update all the systems before the deadline and came in under budget by 15%.

RESULT

SAMPLE ANSWER:

This isn’t your chance to tell an employer about how you’re looking for a salary bump or that you can’t stand your current company. Potential employers seek candidates who are aligned with their organization via shared values, aspirations and relevant experience. Stick to the facts and write down a few top reasons based on your research of why your background matches up with the expected job scope and responsibilities.

4. Why do you think you are a good fit for this position?

I am a performance-driven inbound marketing professional with a demonstrated history in creating successful campaigns.

SITUATION

For example, my previous role focused on optimizing lead generation and lead nurturing processes through high quality and targeted content.

TASK

I created and executed email marketing, website updates and social media campaigns to grow customer acquisition.

ACTION

These multi-channel marketing campaigns resulted in tripled conversion rates. I believe my proficiency in converting qualified leads into customers would make me an asset to your organization, and I would be eager to continue growing my expertise alongside your highly skilled team.

RESULT

SAMPLE ANSWER:

Make a list of specific achievements you have accomplished and then narrow it down to relevant examples for your desired role. Don’t be afraid to share an example that gives the interviewer insight into who you are outside of work. Consider providing examples from previous jobs, promotions, academics, sports, philanthropy and goals obtained through passion and hard work. If you choose to explain a personal accomplishment, tie it back to how it can be applied in that particular company.

5. What accomplishment are you most proud of, and why?

RESULT

TASK

SITUATION

At my last company, I noticed there was no formal development program to help my peers who were promoted to a supervisor role for the first time.

SITUATION

I spoke to my manager about starting a leadership boot camp, and he told me to challenge my thinking and come up with a strategy to implement it.

TASK

After collaborating with my leader and business partners, I was able to formulate a curriculum for a leadership development track, teaching my peers fundamental leadership skills and how to manage their teams efficiently.

ACTION

I was able to successfully bring the program to life, allowing me to channel my passion for leadership while serving the community. Given the opportunity as your firm’s organizational development manager, I would love to carry the invaluable skills I learned to help future leaders at your organization.

RESULT

Mastering the rest of the interview process

Now that you are prepared for the behavioral round, it’s time to triumph over the rest of the interview process. From tips on auditing your digital footprint to preparing for video interviews, we are here to help you with every step of your journey. Visit our Job Search Guide to continue your expedition.

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TASK

ACTION

RESULT

As a senior data scientist, I am tasked with mentoring my direct reports and communicating effectively to avoid pitfalls during projects.

SITUATION

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Our Job Search Guide is Filled with Expert Advice You Need to Land a Job

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RESULT

ACTION

TASK

SITUATION

By doing this, I was able to build more formidable relationships with my team and achieve superior business results.

RESULT

To strengthen my abilities, I started taking a course on “Giving Helpful Feedback” from Coursera to expand my leadership skills and help those under me grow their expertise.

ACTION

As a senior data scientist, I am tasked with mentoring my direct reports and communicating effectively to avoid pitfalls during projects.

TASK

During project testing, I occasionally don’t elaborate enough on why a particular approach will have a low likelihood of success to junior data scientists on my team.

SITUATION

SAMPLE ANSWER:

1. What is your greatest weakness?

RESULT

ACTION

TASK

SITUATION

My approach saved the team over 25 hours My approach saved the team over 25 hours monthly, helping them focus on more strategic projects.

RESULT

I used data visualization tools to create a real-time comprehensive, automated dashboard.

ACTION

I was directed to streamline a dozen reports for our monthly executive briefing.

TASK

The executives at my last company wanted to make better data-driven decisions.

SITUATION

SAMPLE ANSWER:

2. What is the biggest challenge you have faced, and what steps did you take to overcome it?

RESULT

ACTION

TASK

SITUATION

I was able to update all the systems before the deadline and came in under budget by 15%.

RESULT

I worked with key stakeholders to update the user interface on all systems with information on data tracking, what the data is used for and options for users to remove their data.

ACTION

My manager presented me with a strict deadline to complete the software update in less than 48 hours to ensure we remained compliant.

The previous organization I worked in required an update to their learning management system due to new regulations on data privacy.

SITUATION

SAMPLE ANSWER:

3. ‘Tell me a time…’

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RESULT

ACTION

TASK

SITUATION

I was able to update all the systems before the deadline and came in under budget by 15%.

RESULT

I worked with key stakeholders to update the user interface on all systems with information on data tracking, what the data is used for and options for users to remove their data.

ACTION

My manager presented me with a strict deadline to complete the software update in less than 48 hours to ensure we remained compliant.

TASK

The previous organization I worked in required an update to their learning management system due to new regulations on data privacy.

SITUATION

SAMPLE ANSWER:

4. Why do you think you are a good fit for this position?

A career at Kforce gives you the opportunity to experience, learn and grow. We help you achieve lasting success with structured onboarding, training, mentorship and continuous development programs.

Careers at Kforce

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RESULT

ACTION

TASK

SITUATION

ACTION

TASK

elevator pitch

preparing for video interviews