Common Behavioral Interview Questions To Prepare For

After 15+ yrs interviewing and hiring at Fortune 500 companies, here's what I know: The difference between good and great candidates isn't talent. It's preparation. Here are the 12 must-prepare questions I've asked or seen being asked in interviews (and how to nail them): 💥 "Tell me about yourself" → Not your life story. Your career movie trailer: Hook, highlights, where you're headed (2 mins max). 💥 "What makes you different?" → Pick 3 strengths that solve their problems (I'll teach you how to find these). 💥 "Your biggest weakness?" → Be real. I've heard every "perfectionist" story. Show self-awareness and growth instead. 💥 "Why us?" → If you can't articulate this clearly, you're not ready. Research isn't optional. 💥 "Tell me about a challenge" → Use the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Keep it recent and relevant. 💥"How do you handle mistakes?" → Everyone fails. Winners show ownership and learning. 💥 "Managing multiple priorities?" → Concrete example + your system. Show me your mind works strategically. 💥 "Dealing with conflict?" → Focus on resolution, not drama. Emotional intelligence wins here. 💥 "Ethical decisions?" → Values matter more than outcomes. Pick a story that shows your compass. 💥 "Why leave your current role?" → Growth story, not escape story. Never bash your employer. 💥 "Missing a deadline?" → Ownership + Learning + Prevention. Three-part answer. 💥 "Your greatest strength?" → Match their needs. The job description is your cheat sheet. 🔥 Pro Secret: Record yourself answering these. You'll hear what needs work. The goal isn't memorization. It's authentic confidence. Save this cheat sheet. Your next interview could be tomorrow. 🔁 REPOST to help someone else get hired. 👤 FOLLOW for more practical job search content that works.

We have been testing and refining interview questions with our clients for several years. Here are 15 that penetrate to the core of several critical performance areas and are extremely difficult to dodge, game, or fake: 1. We all have things about us that make it hard for other people to work with us. What makes it hard to work with you? (Collaboration). 2. How do you approach a complicated problem that you have never seen before? (Critical thinking and problem framing). 3. Tell me about a time when you had to go with your gut instinct and intuition to make a hard choice under pressure? (Judgment, responding to uncertainty and ambiguity, synthesis, confidence). 4. Tell me about an important skill you have developed on your own? (Self-directed learning agility). 5. Please share a specific experience that shows you have your ego under control? (Hubris/humility). 6. What was the last idea or suggestion you presented to your organization that was rejected or accepted? What happened? (Influence, courage, and innovation). 7. When was the last time you got some tough feedback? What did you do? (Coachability and tolerance for candor). 8. Give me an example of a time when priorities suddenly shifted. What did you do to respond in that situation? (Adaptability and resilience). 9. What’s the most pressing question you are asking yourself right now in your role and don’t have an answer for? (Curiosity, mental tenacity, and problem solving). 10. When was the last time you failed to act quickly enough? What happened? (Strategic thinking, initiative, urgency, and confidence). 11. Tell me about a time in your professional life when you failed to meet objectives you had committed to. What did you do? (Ownership, accountability). 12. What would your peers, direct reports, and manager say about you? How would they describe your patterns? (Self-awareness) 13. Can you identify an area of performance where you personally have set the standard? (Drive, value, performance). 14. Give me an example of a time when you didn’t do the best work of which you are capable. (Self-reflection and accountability). 15. Tell me about the little things you do to ensure that you are acting ethically and with integrity. How do you sweat the small stuff? (Ethics and integrity). The interview is typically the culminating stage of the hiring process. Everything else–resumes, references, assessments, portfolios, networks and connections–becomes secondary support. The precious few questions you choose to ask in the interview will shape the entire experience. Sharp or blunt, they are the instruments that draw out the information you will likely use to make your hiring decision. #hiring #interviewing #culture

Your next job interview could change your life. Here's the guide I wish I had 20 years ago. I've interviewed hundreds of candidates for $100k+ roles. The secret of the most successful? Preparation. 🔖 Save this cheat sheet. ♻️ Share it to help others. It covers 14 of the most common and toughest questions. Master these powerful responses and you'll stand out from 95% of candidates: 1. When Asked About Weaknesses ↳ Avoid statements like "I'm a perfectionist." ↳ Share a real weakness you're actively improving. ↳ For example: "I used to struggle with delegation. Now I use systems to empower my team and keep quality high." 2. Salary Requirements ↳ Do your homework on market rates before the interview. ↳ Let them share their range first when possible. ↳ Frame it as finding the right partnership, not a number. 3. Tell Me About Yourself ↳ Keep it under 3-5 minutes. Show genuine passion. ↳ Share a story that links directly to the role. 4. Why Did You Leave Your Last Job? ↳ Stay positive and professional. ↳ Focus on growth opportunities ahead. 5. Why Should We Hire You? ↳ Connect your experience to their specific challenges. ↳ Share measurable successes that relate to their goals. 6. How Do You Handle Stress? ↳ Give real examples of staying calm under pressure. ↳ Focus on results achieved during challenging times. 7. Explaining Resume Gaps ↳ Be honest, direct, and brief. ↳ Highlight productive activities during the gap. 8. Handling Conflicts ↳ Emphasize listening and finding common ground. ↳ Share specific examples of successful resolution. 9. Tell Me About a Failure ↳ Own it without excuses. ↳ Focus on lessons learned and how you made it better. 10. Greatest Accomplishment ↳ Choose something relevant to the role. ↳ Use specific numbers and results. 11. Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years? ↳ Show ambition balanced with realism. ↳ Align your growth with their company's future. 12. Why Do You Want This Job? ↳ Show you've researched their mission. ↳ Connect your passions to their goals. 13. What Motivates You? ↳ Share authentic drivers like growth and impact. ↳ Link your motivation to business results. 14. Questions for Them ↳ Ask about success metrics and expectations. ↳ Show interest in team culture and collaboration. Remember: Great interviews aren't about memorizing perfect answers. They're about showing who you are, what you can deliver, and how you'll help the company succeed. 2025 is your year to get that dream job 💪. ♻️ Helpful? Repost to share with your network. 🔖 Follow Justin Wright for more career tips. Want this and my 80 best cheat sheets? Get them here for free: BrillianceBrief.com

Want to ace your next behavioral interview? Knowing what to expect can make all the difference. Here are 5 questions you’ll likely encounter and tips on how to respond effectively. 1. Tell me about yourself - Present → Past → Future - Start by discussing your current situation: Explain your current role and highlight your major, relevant achievements, and responsibilities. - Work backward by hitting key points along your professional journey: Summarize previous experiences and how they’ve helped prepare you for the role. Focus on results you can quantify where possible. - Connect your background, interests, and qualifications back to the job: Finish by explaining how your experience will make you successful in the role and how the job aligns with your career goals. 2. Tell me about how you work under pressure - If you’re being considered for a high-stress job, the interviewer will want to know how well you can work under pressure. Give a real example of how you’ve dealt with pressure when you respond by using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, and Result) 3. How do you handle a challenge? Give an example - The hiring manager wants to know how you will react in a difficult situation. When responding, focus on how you resolved the situation. Consider sharing a step-by-step outline of what you did and why it worked. 4. What do you do if you disagree with your boss? - The idea here is for you to show that you handle disagreement as a professional and that you learned something from this experience. At the beginning, you can make a short statement of what you learned, tell the entire story and finally end it by mentioning a conclusion. 5. Do you prefer working alone or in a team? a) Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both b) Explain your preferences and take into account the job description c) Use past experience to support your preferences d) Discuss your flexibility with both work environments With these strategies, you’ll be ready to tackle any behavioral interview questions that come your way. Good luck!

How to ace any 6-figure job interview (Part 3): Practice. My first business was an interview company. We coached over 5,000 high performers. To ace any 6-figure job interview, you need to: ↳ Prepare 5+ personal examples that highlight your skills. ↳ Use the STAR framework to structure your answers. ↳ Practice interview questions under pressure. Here are 9 common behavioral interview questions and how to prepare for each: 1/ How do you handle stress and pressure? ↳ Provide an example of a stressful situation and how you navigated it successfully. ↳ Highlight your coping strategies and stress management techniques. ↳ Reflect on what you learned from the experience. 2/ Tell me about a time you went above and beyond your job duties. ↳ Explain the impact your actions had on the team or company. ↳ Share a specific instance where you took initiative. ↳ Relate this to your proactive nature and dedication. 3/ How do you prioritize your work? ↳ Describe your method for assessing task importance and urgency. ↳ Provide an example of a time when prioritizing was crucial. ↳ Demonstrate your ability to stay organized and focused. 4/ How do you handle constructive criticism? ↳ Show that you are open to feedback and eager to improve. ↳ Highlight your ability to separate feedback from personal feelings. ↳ Provide an example of how constructive criticism helped you grow. 5/ Describe a time you worked on a team project. ↳ Focus on your collaborative skills and how you contributed to the team's success. ↳ Mention any challenges faced and how you overcame them together. ↳ Reflect on the outcome and what you learned about teamwork. 6/ What motivates you in your work? ↳ Discuss what drives you, such as personal goals, passion for the field, or making an impact. ↳ Provide examples of how your motivation has led to achievements. ↳ Link your motivation to the company’s goals and values. 7/ How do you adapt to changes in the workplace? ↳ Share a specific example of a time you adapted to a major change. ↳ Explain your flexibility and ability to embrace change. ↳ Reflect on the positive outcomes of your adaptability. 8/ How do you ensure accuracy and attention to detail in your work? ↳ Describe your process for double-checking and verifying your work. ↳ Provide an example where your attention to detail was critical. 9/ Tell me about a time you had to learn something new quickly. ↳ Showcase your ability to pick up new skills and knowledge rapidly. ↳ Provide an example and explain the steps you took to learn. Remember: Every question is a chance to sell yourself. Use personal examples and reflect. Make every answer count. --- ➕ Follow Dr Alexander Young for more in this series. ♻️ Repost to help your network ace any job interview! 📌 Want a high-res PDF of this cheat sheet? 1. Hit Follow. 2. Comment "𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄" below (or drop me a DM). Inspired by my friends Will McTighe, Andrew Lokenauth & George Stern.