STAR MethodWhile every behavioral question will be different, most of them can be answered with the STAR method:

• Situation: The context for this story
• Task: Your role in the situation and why it’s related to the question
• Action: Your actions to address the situation (ideally something positive)
• Result: How your actions helped solve the situation (quantify outcome if possible, i.e. “reduced downtime by 27%”)

Hard QuestionsSometimes, you don’t have the answer to a question. That’s ok. If you get a really hard question, ask for a minute to think, and then see if any of your major experiences could apply to this situation. Don’t worry if you forget specific details, the interviewer won’t care if your story isn’t 100% accurate. If it’s truly something you haven’t experienced before, be honest. If the question is hard for you, it’s probably hard for everyone. The interviewer is looking to see if you can connect their question to some point in your past, even if that connection is very loose. 

Preparing Your Past ExperiencesBecause behavioral questions call upon your past, you should compile a list of experiences you have that can apply to different types of questions. This way, when you’re asked any question about time management, for example, you know exactly what to talk about, even if you haven’t practiced answering that question before. Below are some major themes that come up in behavioral interviews. Before the interview, you should think about which experiences relate to each theme. 

Time Management

• When you had to manage two commitments at once

Learning

• When you had to teach something to yourself
• Explain a difficult problem/situation and how you overcame it 
• A time when you failed/didn't reach a goal and what you learned

Strengths and Weaknesses

• 2 examples of strengths
• 2 examples of weakness & how you made the best of the situation
• The project you are most proud of

Teamwork

• When you worked on a team to accomplish something
• When you had friction working on a team
• When you had to question authority

Remember, the behavioral interview is about being authentic, showing your personality, and learning if you are a good fit. Most interviewers aren’t trying to trick you, so focus on being honest and being yourself!