Interviewing Techniques

with Barbara Bruno

Behavioral Interviews—Sample Questions

Adaptability
• How have you handled a new boss who changed your job description?

• Describe a time when you embraced a change being made, when you didn’t agree with the change.

• Tell me about the most difficult change you’ve had to implement in your career.

• What have you done when you’ve been given a project beneath your level of responsibility
or experience?

• How have you handled a new employee who knew less than you, but was now your boss?

Customer Service
• Describe a time when you resolved a problem for an angry customer.

• Tell me about a time when you had to deliver bad news to a customer.

• Describe a time when you went out of your way to satisfy a customer, and the outcome.

• Tell me how you prioritize customer requests when they’re all demanding to be treated as
your top priority.

• How have you handled a customer who was blatantly lying about their experience?

• Recall a time when a customer complained about you, and describe the outcome.

Communication Skills
• Describe a time when you resolved a conflict.

• Describe a time when you were able to verbally calm a situation down.

• Tell me about a time when you had to get someone else to see things your way.

• How have you convinced someone to do something they didn’t want to do?

• Describe a time when you delivered tough feedback to a colleague.

• How do you deliver project results to your manager?

Initiative
• Give an example of a goal you surpassed and how you achieved it.

• Have you ever been a situation where you didn’t have enough work?

Interviewing Techniques with Barbara Bruno

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 • Please describe when you’ve gone above and beyond the call of duty.

• Describe a time when you were given additional responsibilities based on your performance.

• Tell me about a time when you showed initiative at your last job.

• How have you taken on additional work without stepping on a colleague’s toes?

Leadership
• Did you ever make a risky decision? Why, and what happened?

• Share an example of how you motivated employees or coworkers.

• Tell me about the last project you lead, and what the results were.

• Describe how you motivate others to get the results you want to achieve.

• Tell me how the people you lead would describe your leadership style.

Problem-Solving
• Give an example where you used logic to solve a problem.

• Give an example of a goal you didn’t meet and how you handled it.

• How have you handled a conflict with a peer?

• How have you handled a conflict with your manager?

• What is the biggest mistake you’ve made at work, and how did you handle it?

• Tell me about a time when you completed a project with very limited resources.

• Describe a process you created or improved, and the impact it had on your company.

Teamwork
• Describe an unpopular decision you made, and how you got it implemented.

• How do you deal with company policies you don’t agree with?

• Give an example of how you’ve worked on a team.

• Describe how you’ve handled a difficult situation with a team at work.

• Tell me about a time when you were in competition with a coworker.

• Describe a time when a coworker was not doing their share of the work,
and how you handled it.

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Time Management
• Give me an example of a decision you postponed and explain why you postponed it
• When you work on multiple projects, how do you prioritize?
• What do you do when your schedule is interrupted? Give an example of how you handle it.
• Describe a time when you did not meet a deadline, and what the outcome was.
• Tell me how the urgent demands of your job don’t overshadow the important ones.
• Give me an example of how you make best use of your time

Working under Pressure or Stress

• Did you ever make a risky decision? Why? How did you handle it?
• How did you handle meeting a tight deadline?
• Tell me about the most demanding boss you’ve worked for and how you handled them.
• Describe how you’ve completed projects and still maintained high quality.
• Give me an example of a time when you took on additional responsibility knowing your
plate was already full, and what the outcome was
• Describe how you handle high-pressure situations with customers

Interviewing Techniques with Barbara Bruno

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