"Tell me about a time when..."

This is the classic opening of a behavioral interview question. These questions are designed to assess your past performance as an indicator of your future success. To ace this part of the interview, you need a strategy. Enter the STAR method.

What is the STAR Method?

The STAR method is a structured way to answer behavioral interview questions by providing a clear and concise narrative of a specific situation. It stands for:

• S - Situation: Describe the context. Where and when did this take place?
• T - Task: What was your goal or responsibility in this situation?
• A - Action: What specific steps did you take to address the task?
• R - Result: What was the outcome of your actions? Quantify your success whenever possible.

Why Behavioral Interviews Matter

Behavioral questions help employers gauge your soft skills, such as problem-solving, teamwork, and communication. These are often the very skills that determine success in a role. For more on this, read our article on soft skills for career growth.

Common Behavioral Questions and How to Approach Them

• "Tell me about a time you had to handle a difficult coworker."

  • Focus: Your conflict resolution and interpersonal skills.
  • Tip: Avoid blaming the other person and focus on the professional way you handled the situation.

• "Describe a situation where you had to learn a new skill quickly."

  • Focus: Your adaptability and willingness to learn.
  • Tip: Highlight your learning process and how you applied the new skill.

• "Give an example of a time you failed."

  • Focus: Your self-awareness and ability to learn from mistakes.
  • Tip: Be honest, but choose a failure that you learned from and that ultimately led to a positive outcome.

Not being prepared for these types of questions is a frequent misstep. Learn more about what to avoid in our post on common interview mistakes.

How Flashy Can Help

Preparing for a behavioral interview is easier when you know what skills and experiences to highlight. This is where Flashy comes in. By analyzing your CV against a job description, Flashy helps you identify the key competencies the employer is looking for. You can use this insight to brainstorm relevant examples from your past and structure them using the STAR method. This ensures that your stories are not only well-told but also directly aligned with the employer's needs.

Final Thoughts

Acing the behavioral interview is about storytelling. By using the STAR method, you can provide compelling and evidence-based answers that demonstrate your value as a candidate. Practice with common questions, and you'll be well on your way to impressing your next interviewer.