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Common Behavioral Interview Questions - Coggle Diagram
Common Behavioral Interview Questions
Stress Management
Describe a time when something urgent came your way at the last minute. How did you handle it?
Give an example of when you faced a stressful situation. How did you approach it?
Tell me about a time when you couldn’t finish your tasks on time. What did you do in the end?
Could you give an example of a time when you had to make an important decision, but you didn’t have enough experience for it?
Describe a situation when you had a busy day and more work came to your desk. How did you handle that?
Describe a time when you were faced with a stressful situation and how you overcame the situation
• Tell me about a difficult decision you’ve made in the last year
• Give an example of a time when a project you were on failed
• Discuss a setback you have overcome in the last 12 months
• Give an example of a pressure situation you faced and how you reacted to the pressure
• What was the most stressful situation you have faced? How did you deal with it?
Decision Making
Tell me about a situation you had to defend your point of view. How did it go?
Give me an example of a time you had to make a tough decision.
Could you tell me about when you covered your teammate and needed to make decisions on their behalf?
Describe a time when you decided to change your approach 180 degrees. What urged you?
Tell me about a time when you disagreed with your manager. How did you handle the conversation?
• Describe an instance when you had to think on your feet to make a split second decision
• What was your most difficult decision in the last 6 months? What made it difficult?
• Explain a complex problem you recently encountered
• Describe a time where you were wrong in your decision making – what did you do to fix it
Adaptability
Give an example of a situation where you had to do something for the first time. How did you approach it?
Describe a time when you had to do something outside your scope of work.
Tell me about a situation when you had to change your priorities. How did you go about it?
Give an example of when you had to adapt to someone’s personality or style of work to achieve your goal.
Tell me about a time you failed. How did you handle the situation?
• Describe a major change or adjustment to your job and your reactions to the change
• Describe a situation where the situation changed and you forced to adjust to the changes – how did you handle this adjustment?
• Provide an example of when you had to go above and beyond your normal duties in order to get the job done
• Tell us about a time that you were able to adapt to a culturally different environment
• Have you ever had to deal with conflicting deadlines? How did you decide which task to complete?
• Tell me about a time when you went overtime on a deadline
Collaboration and Teamwork
Give an example of when you relied on the other person to get information, and they didn’t deliver. What did you do?
Tell me about a situation when you gave feedback to your teammate. What were their reaction and the outcome?
Give an example of working with someone situated higher in the company hierarchy.
Describe a time when your team came to you to make a decision. How did it turn out?
Tell me about a time when you had to cancel your commitments for a coworker.
• Tell me about a time when you were successful in a team environment?
• Describe a team experience you found rewarding
• Describe a team experience you found disappointing
• What have you done in the past to contribute toward a teamwork environment?
Interpersonal Skills
Describe a situation when you used your assertiveness. How did it go?
Could you tell me about a time when you approached a person to pitch an untested idea? What was the outcome?
Tell me about a time you had to handle a problematic person. How did you approach them?
Give an example of a situation when you wanted to make a good impression. How did it end?
Describe a time you had to finish a project with a person you didn’t like.
• Tell me about a situation where you have had to speak with an unhappy customer
• When was the last time a supervisor gave you constructive criticism – how did you react?
• Give me an example of a time when you felt that someone wasn’t being honest with you in the workplace and how confronted it
• Describe a decision you made that was unpopular with your co-workers and how you handled this
• Describe a situation where you knew your boss wrong – how did you handle it?
• Tell me about a time when you encountered conflict in the workplace and how you handled the conflict?
• Provide an example of a problem you had with a co-worker or boss and how you resolved it
• Give an example of a situation that you have gone out of your way to make someone feel comfortable in the working environment
• Provide an example of an annoying or unpopular co-worker and how you deal with that person
Communication
Could you describe a situation when you used your negotiation skills? What was the outcome?
Tell me about a situation in which you were in the middle of a presentation and got distracted. How did you navigate the situation?
Think of a time when you had trouble communicating with your colleague. What was the reason? How did you overcome it?
Describe a time when you explained something complex to someone who had no clue about the topic. How did you do it?
Give me an example of a situation when you had to use your writing skills to get your idea across. What was the result?
• Describe a situation in which you were able to use negotiation to successfully change a person’s opinion
• Describe a time when you were able to effectively communicate an error to your supervisor
• Have you ever had difficulty getting others to accept your ideas? What was your approach?
Leadership
Give an example of a situation where you had to delegate a task. How did you approach your teammate?
Describe a time when you had to take over the leadership role in the middle of a project. How did you handle it?
Tell me about a time when you motivated your teammate.
Could you tell me about a situation when you wished you’d behaved differently? Why? How did you go about that?
Give an example of a time when something wouldn’t have happened without you.
Give me an example of a time when you motivated others and how this led to a positive outcome
• Describe a time when you put the needs of your workmates before your own when completing a task
• Provide an example of a time when you felt you were able to motivate
• Describe a situation when you were able to have a positive influence on others
• Describe a time where you had to delegate tasks
• Give an example of when you had to use different management styles for different people
• Provide an example of how you were able to promote morale
Taking initiative
What is the biggest contribution you made in your current role?
• Provide an example of when you showed initiative and took the lead
Give an example of when you foresaw an undesirable result. How did you tackle that?
Could you tell me about a time when you made changes to improve your, your team’s, or your department’s efficiency?
Describe a time when you took the initiative and opened a project.
Give me an example of a time when you went the extra mile for someone. Why did you do it?
Tell me about a situation when you felt accomplished.
• What are you most proud of in your working career?
• Have you ever had to “go the extra mile” for a customer? What did you do?
• Give an example of a goal you set and how you reached it
• Give an example of a time when you used good judgment in solving a problem
• Tell me about a time when your knowledge or skills significantly enhanced an outcome or decision
• Describe a time when you did not put in 100% into your job or performance and what you did about it
• Tell me about a time when you had to solve a problem with very little guidance or direction
• Tell us about the most effective contribution you have made as part of a task group or special project team