Behavioural interview questions

Behavioural interview questions ask you to describe past situations ("Tell me about a time you...") to predict how you will act in future. Answer them with the STAR method and a specific, real example that ends in a measurable result.

Most common behavioural questions

• Tell me about a time you handled a conflict.
• ...a deadline you nearly missed.
• ...a mistake you made and what you learned.
• ...a time you led without formal authority.
• ...a goal you set and achieved.
• ...a time you dealt with a difficult customer or colleague.

How to answer them

Use the STAR structure, focus on what you did, and finish with the outcome. Vague, hypothetical answers ("I would usually...") are the most common way to lose points — give a real, specific story.

Prepare a small bank of stories

You do not need a story per question. Prepare 5-6 strong stories — a success, a failure, a conflict, a leadership moment, a tight deadline — and most behavioural questions can be answered by adapting one of them.