- Share an example of a time when you faced a difficult problem at work. …
- Have you ever had to make an unpopular decision? …
- Describe a time when you were under a lot of pressure at work. …
- Tell me about a mistake you’ve made. …
- Share an example of a time you had to make a difficult decision.
STAR INTERVIEW QUESTIONS and Answers (PASS GUARANTEED!)
2) Have a Few Examples Ready
There’s no way for you to know in advance what type of behavioral interview question the interviewer will ask.
But it’s still a good idea to have a few examples ready that follow the STAR method.
This way, you can tweak and adapt your answer on the go depending on the question.
Keep in mind, though, that your answers shouldn’t be a word-for-word memorized script.
You’ll want to sound natural when answering.
And if you’re having a hard time coming up with an answer during the interview, don’t be afraid to ask for a minute to come up with an example.
It’s ok to take a few seconds and structure your answer in your head first. If anything, the HR manager might appreciate that you’re not rushing in your answers.
Imagine you’re telling a story about how you saved a client’s project at the last minute.
You swooped in, took charge, and made sure everyone knew what to do.
That’s awesome! That’s what the interviewer wants to know about.
However, you don’t have to:
As we mentioned before, your answer should be relevant and straight to the point.
So, when talking about the situation, try to only summarize the buildup to your story in only 1-2 sentences.
Finally, it’s your time to brag a bit.
Don’t be afraid to go all out and show how you made a difference. Make sure to mention the following:
No interviewer will be satisfied with a lackluster ending like “Yeah so, and then, we finished the project in time, and everyone lived happily ever after”
Even if the ending of your story isn’t all that amazing, you can at least say what you learned.
7) How do you handle angry customers? Give me an example.
S – “I always try to be calm and collected. Recently, when I was serving a customer behind the checkout, I had a customer shout at me for not being eligible for a refund. The customer was getting louder and there was a large line starting to form behind him.”
T – “I had to remain calm, move the conflict somewhere else, and make sure the other customers could go about their purchases.”
A – “I realized the best thing to do was to move the situation away from the cash register. I asked my colleague to take over for me so that I could talk to the customer one-on-one and better explain the situation. I explained that I could understand his frustration, but I made it clear that sales items were non-refundable, even though he had a receipt.”
R – “In the end, he began to calm down and accepted my explanation. While he still wasn’t happy about it, I managed to dissolve the situation before he made any more of a scene. I believe that by being calm and empathetic, it’s possible to dissolve most (if not all) such situations.”
Star Interview Questions and Answers (+9 Examples)
Your answer following the STAR method will depend on the specific behavioral interview question being asked.
So, to help you prepare, we’re going to give you 9 more common behavioral interview questions (with their corresponding sample answers)!
The questions we’re going to cover include:
