Master Behavioral Interviews

By

Parth Vyas

What’s In it For You.

• Introduction and importance - Behavioral Interviews.
• The STAR method.
• How to Prepare, Research and Present.
• Categories of Behavioral Interviews.
• 50 Behavioral Questions and their Answers.
• Dealing with easy and difficult questions.
• Non-verbal communication.
• Resources and follow ups.

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About me

• Name: Parth Vyas
• 10+ years in the IT industry.
• Run my own YouTube channel : Destination FAANG
• Hobbies: Movies, COD, Hiking.
• Fun facts:
• Masters in Computer Science.
• Recently became dad of twin daughters.
• Born and raised in India, now in Canada.

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Types of Interviews

Technical

System Design

Behavioral

Data Structure

Algorithms

Building complex distributed systems

Are you a good culture fit

Understanding Behavioral Interviews

• Explanation: Interviews focused on past behavior as a predictor of future performance.
• Purpose: To assess suitability based on real-life examples.

Behavioral vs. Traditional Interviews

• Focus on real-life experiences vs. hypothetical questions
• Assess soft skills and problem-solving abilities
• Example-driven vs. general questioning.

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Why Behavioral Interviews Matter

• Accurate predictor of job performance
• Helps identify candidates with the right Mind set.
• Reduces hiring biases.

The STAR Method Explained

• Situation
• Task
• Action
• Result

Breaking Down the STAR Method

• Situation: Setting the context for your story,
• Task: Describing the challenge or responsibility.
• Action: Detailing the steps, you took.
• Result: Highlighting the outcomes and learnings.

Identifying Your Strengths and Weaknesses

• Methods to identify personal strengths
• Acknowledging and addressing weaknesses

Reflecting on Relevant Past Experiences

• How to recall and select job-relevant experiences
• Structuring your experiences for interview storytelling

Dive Deep into Job Requirements

• Analyzing the job description
• Matching skills and experiences with job requirements

Company Culture and Values

• How to Research
• How company values align with personal values

Case Study 1: Netflix

• What is unique.
• Elite Sports team mentality
• Keeper’s test.
• Feedback culture.

Case Study 2: Amazon

• What is unique.

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Categories

Teamwork & Collaboration

• Cooperation
• Empathy
• Open-Mindedness

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Problem Solving

• Critical Thinking
• Analysis
• Creativity
• Logic

Adaptability

• Resiliency
• Flexibility
• Agility

Communication

• Interpersonal skills
• Listening
• Articulation
• Diplomacy

Leadership

• Responsibility
• Initiative
• Accountability
• Vision

50 Behavioral Interview Questions

• 10 Questions each for all 5 Categories
• Covers most of topics
• Create your own answer
• Be prepared for the follow up

Teamwork & Collaboration

1. Give an example of a challenging & successful team project you were a part of.
• What made it successful and what made it challenging?
2. Tell a time when you had to deal with a difficult client or coworker.
3. Can you describe a time when you had to deal with a team member who wasn't pulling their weight?
4. How do you handle a situation where you disagree with a supervisor?
5. Describe when you had to use your understanding to lead a team.

Teamwork & Collaboration

6. Can you talk about a time when you had to coordinate with different departments to complete a project?
7. Tell me about a time when you had to rely on your presentation skills to influence someone's opinion.
8. Describe a situation where you had to resolve an interpersonal conflict at work.
9. How do you approach working in a diverse and inclusive team environment?
10. Can you give an example of how you have motivated others?

Problem Solving

11. Describe a project where you had to use your problem-solving skills.
12. Tell about a time when you made a mistake. How did you handle it?
13. Describe a situation where you had to be particularly attentive to details. How did you handle that?
14. Can you talk about a time when you had to persuade others to see things your way?
15. Tell me about a time when you showed initiative at work.

Problem Solving

16. Describe a situation where you had to take the lead on a project.
17. Can you give an example of a time when you went above and beyond your job duties?
18. Tell me about a time when you had to innovate to solve a problem.
19. Describe a time when you had to make a tough decision quickly.
20. How do you approach learning new skills or technologies? Provide an example.

Adaptability

21. Tell me about a time you had to adapt to a significant change in the workplace.
22. Describe a situation where you had to gather information from multiple sources. How did you determine which information was most relevant?
23. Can you talk about a time when you had to work under pressure?
24. How do you handle meeting tight deadlines?
25. Describe a time when you had to learn something new in a short period. How did you manage?

Adaptability

26. Tell me about a time when you had to adapt your communication style to suit a particular audience.
27. Describe an instance where you had to work with limited resources.
28. Can you talk about a long-term project you managed? How did you keep everything moving along in a timely manner?
29. Tell me about a time when you had to balance competing priorities and how you handled it.
30. Describe a situation where you had to be patient in order to achieve your goal.

Communication

31. Describe a situation where you had to use your communication skills to resolve a conflict.
32. Tell me about a time when you had to give critical feedback to someone. How did you approach it?
33. Describe a project where you took a creative approach to solve a problem.
34. Can you provide an example of a time when you had to juggle several projects at the same time?
35. How do you prioritize your work when you have multiple projects to handle?

Communication

36. Describe a time when you had to use your negotiation skills.
37. Tell me about a time when you had to manage conflicting priorities.
38. How do you handle constructive criticism?
39. Can you describe a time when you had to communicate complex information clearly?
40. Describe a situation where you had to actively listen to someone to understand their perspective.

Leadership

41. Give an example of a goal you set and how you achieved it.
42. Have you ever had to make an unpopular decision? How did you handle the feedback?
43. Have you ever worked on a project that failed? What did you learn from that experience?
44. Can you give an example of how you have handled a high-stress situation?
45. Tell me about a time when you had to take responsibility for an error made by someone else.

Leadership

46. How do you assess the success of a project? Give an example.
47. Tell me about a time when you had to decide without all the information you needed.
48. Describe a situation where you had to analyze data and make a recommendation. What approach did you take?
49. Have you ever faced an ethical dilemma at work? How did you handle it?
50. Describe a situation where you took a risk and it paid off.

Dealing with Difficult Questions

• Understanding Difficult Questions:
• Weaknesses or Failures:
• Strategies for Thinking on Your Feet:
• Stay calm and composed.
• Use the pause to organize thoughts.
• Apply the STAR for structure.
• Example

Incorporating Emotional Intelligence

• Importance of Emotional Intelligence
• Demonstrating Empathy and Self-Awareness
• Balancing Professional and Personal Anecdotes
• Emotional Intelligence in Action

Non-verbal communication

• Body Language
• Eye Contact
• Facial Expression
• Use of Space
• Virtual Interview

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Preparation Strategies

• Write some stories and experiences.
• Practice STAR.
• Do Mock.
• Be in the moment.

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Resources

• Book:
• Cracking The Coding Interview
• 101 Great Answers to the Toughest Interview Questions
• Online Courses: LinkedIn learning, Coursera, Udemy
• Website: Levels.fyi, Glassdoor
• Reddit: r/jobs, r/interviews, r/cscareerquestions

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Thank you