In 2017, my first behavioral interview was a disaster. I left thinking I’d never be good at interviews.
Fast forward to 2024, and I’ve aced multiple interviews—all without even an hour of preparation.
I figured out the secret, and you don’t have to spend years learning it. With just two hours of prep, you can crush your next interview. Here’s how.
What is a Behavioral Interview?
A behavioral interview is an interview that companies conduct to assess an applicant’s alignment with job requirements and company culture.
Your mindset, work ethic, and ability to handle different situations are a few things interviewers seek to evaluate during a behavioral interview.
Steps to Crack Behavioral Interview
You’ve probably already drowned in a sea of behavioral interview questions and answers online, right? If not, here are my favorite 50+ top interview questions and answers.
But how do you answer them in a way that stands out from the crowd? Here’s the secret.
1. Know yourself
Though you’ll need to go through this step only once, it holds the greatest significance. And knowing yourself goes beyond what you do at work and your educational background.
My interview responses made me seem playful and childlike, even though I knew my value. It taught me that how you communicate is as vital as what you say. Aligning your tone with their expectations will help you showcase your expertise while leaving a lasting impression.
But, how do you truly know yourself then?
So, how do you really get to know yourself? A self-assessment is key, but if you’re short on time, here are four quick steps to get started:
Know your work
You already know what you do and what you’re good at. But dig deeper. What excites you about your work? Why did you choose this career?
If you’re navigating a career change, understand why you made the switch. Saying something like, “I’ve loved playing with computers since childhood,” feels cliché. Instead, focus on a more genuine and relatable reason that led you to pursue this new path. Highlighting your thought process and passion will make your story stand out.
For example, with an engineering degree, I was interviewed for a content marketing role. The interviewer asked about the mismatch between my background and career goals. I replied, “I’ve been writing and storytelling since college, and after working in engineering, I realized content marketing was more fulfilling.”
This showed I understood content marketing, even with a different background, and the interviewer appreciated my career exploration.
Know your qualities
There’s something you’re really good at even if you don’t realise it. Knowing that one thing that you always do better than others offers you a competitive advantage.
For example, I am good at brainstorming ideas and my childhood friend at making new friends. My brother remembers numeric figures well and my father is good at anticipating the future.
Your unique strengths are what make you stand out, so own them. In interviews, I always emphasize my brainstorming skills and back them up with real examples. Highlight your strengths too, and connect them to the role. It shows confidence and makes you memorable.
Know your values
Your values define what you do in your life. Your values direct every decision you make. However, a lot of people don’t identify their values even though their actions speak about their personal values.
Oftentimes, companies asses candidate values through an online assessment before the interview. And, if your assessment and interview responses don’t match, they won’t hesitate to turn you down.
Struggling to identify yours? Mark Manson’s article Personal Values: How to Know Who You Really Are is a good practical guide to get started.
Know your interests
These are the things you find yourself doing in your leisure time. Whether it’s watching space videos, caring for pets, or creating digital art, connect your interests to the role you want.
For example, my friend liked interacting with Instagram influencers and staying updated with trends. She took it as an opportunity to brag about her social media monitoring and trend awareness and landed the role of Marketing Executive.
But is all this necessary?
I spent a year and a half forcing myself into a job role that didn’t align with my interests. The result? People thought I was rude when I was actually just unhappy and overwhelmed. Understanding yourself leads to a more fulfilling and balanced life.
2. Company research
Before entering the interview room, it’s crucial to understand the heartbeat of the company you’re aiming to join.
A company with a culture of witty banter won’t vibe with someone overly stiff, and those who run like well-oiled machines might not want a free-spirited innovator.
So, how do you figure out if you’re their missing puzzle piece? Here’s your cheat sheet:
Company website
Start with the official website. Pay attention to the ‘About Us’ section, mission statements, and any values or principles they emphasize. Look for client testimonials and employee programs, you’ll get the gist of their ethic right there.
Social media exploration
Look at their Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter. Are they sharing memes, team parties, or behind-the-scenes peeks? Or is it all product launches and press releases? Their content can tell you if they value fun or strictly mean business.
Employee profiles
Hit up LinkedIn. Notice how employees talk about their roles, their posts, and their engagement with colleagues. Look for patterns in tenure and promotions—it’s a great way to assess whether the company supports employee growth and overall satisfaction.
Glassdoor reviews
Glassdoor reviews are sometimes haunting, but they give an overall idea of the company. eviews can be dramatic, but trends don’t lie. Look out for common themes—work-life balance, career growth, or leadership styles.
Why it matters?
Doing your research ensures your interview responses align with the company vibe. You’ll know whether to sprinkle in humor or keep it buttoned up. Bonus: sometimes you’ll realize a company isn’t the right fit after digging deeper (been there, done that), and that’s okay.
3. Tailor your responses
Talk in terms of the other person’s interests is my favourite principle of making people to like you from Dale Carneige’s book “How to Win Friends and Influence People”. This has always helped me get an appreciation during conversations.
If the company’s culture is formal, keep your tone professional. But if they’re all about beanbags and brainstorming over coffee, let your personality shine through in a casual, friendly way.
I have been interviewed for a company twice. The company prioritizes casualty and fun during work hours. They believe a relaxed mindset and a jolly personality lead to great ideas.
I once interviewed at a company that prized fun and creativity. During my first attempt, I showed up stiff, smiled sparingly, and had no idea how to answer a question like, “If you were a bird, what would you be doing?”
The second time around, I went in relaxed, laughed more, and rolled with their quirky questions. Unsurprisingly, I cleared the interview.
But let’s say you’re a casual communicator interviewing with a super formal firm. You’ll need to flip the script. Prepare answers that highlight your professionalism, expertise, and ability to stay composed under pressure. For example, if the company values formality, practice responses that showcase your maturity and adaptability.
4. Stand out by showing you care
Everyone in the interviews is showing off their best tricks, but the winner is the one who connects with the judges. So how do you stand out? You prove you’re not just there for the role. You’re there for them.
When they ask, “What do you know about us?” most candidates will give generic answers or repeat what’s on the “About Us” page. That’s your chance to do something different.
For example, if they bring up your potential responsibilities, mention how their Instagram engagement could improve. Suggest adding X to increase it by 20%, based on your research.
This shows you’re not just prepared. You’re invested in their success. It’s the kind of care they’ll remember.
5. Follow up
After the interview, send a follow-up email that adds value. It’s your chance to show you’re already thinking like part of the team.
Address a challenge they mentioned during the interview, offer a quick solution, or expand on a discussion you had. For example:
- Create a short proposal tackling the issue.
- Share a brief case study about how you handled a similar problem in the past.
Get creative, but stay relevant. You’re not aiming for perfection; you’re showing genuine interest and initiative based on the information they’ve shared so far.
Keep the email short. Three brief paragraphs max. Start with a compliment, share your idea, and end with gratitude.
Here’s an example:
Hi John,
I love how your design team collaborates so efficiently, even across three continents.
After our conversation, I brainstormed some ideas for X and put together a quick proposal. You can check it out here.
Thank you for taking the time to chat with me. Looking forward to our next conversation.
Best,
Tooba
Putting it all together
You’ve done your research, tailored your responses, and even sent that follow-up email. What’s next? Time to prep for behavioral questions.
Don’t panic. You don’t need to memorize answers like you’re cramming for a pop quiz. The goal is to understand your responses so you can adapt them naturally during the interview.
Here’s the plan:
- Take your best qualities (you’ve already identified them) and connect them to the role and company.
- Use the STAR technique: Situation, Task, Action, Result.
Let’s break it down with an example:
Imagine you’re great at finding alternatives when things go sideways, and you’re interviewing for a Business Development Manager role.
You could say:
“I can quickly spot new ways to achieve the same goal. This helps me save businesses thousands of dollars by identifying strategies that don’t deliver early on. For instance, in my previous role as a Business Executive, I noticed our XYZ marketing campaign wasn’t meeting its objectives. My task was to turn it around. I proposed the ABC technique and launched a new campaign within the same budget. The result? It exceeded expectations and delivered a 40% higher ROI.”
See what happened there? A clear, concise story that highlights your skill, action, and results through the STAR framework.
The trick is to practice crafting responses like this. That way, when you’re asked, “Tell me about a time you solved a problem,” you’ll feel ready, not panicked.
Now grab your favorite list of behavioral questions and start rehearsing!
FAQs
What is an example of a behavioral interview?
This video is an excellent example of a behavioral interview, helping you shape your expectations and prepare effectively for an actual interview.
How do you crack a behavioral interview?
Below are the steps to crack behavioral interview:
- Conduct a self-assessment to identify your desires.
- Research the company to know its culture.
- Prepare tailored responses in advance to ensure fluency.
What are the mistakes in behavioral interviews?
Lack of company research, poor preparation, arriving late, improper dressing, and lack of confidence are some of the most common mistakes in behavioral interviews.
Last words
In summary, getting to know you and who you’re talking to makes the difference. Self-awareness not only improves your confidence during interviews but is also a long journey toward a better life.
If you fail your interview, don’t get discouraged. Update your LinkedIn, network with industry professionals, and trust your abilities. Rising after each setback is your greatest strength.