Boosting Your Interview Skills
How to Handle Behavioral Questions
By Mark Tumulty, CPRW, Employment & Training Consultant
What Is a Behavioral Interview Question?
If you’ve ever been in an interview and heard the classic “Tell me about a time when…,” you’ve met the dreaded behavioral interview question. Employers love these because they give them a glimpse of how you operate on the job. With the right approach, you can turn those questions into some of the most powerful moments in your interview.
Instead of “Do you work well under pressure?” the interviewer wants you to walk them through a real moment, such as a project you had to deliver under intense time pressure, how you handled it, and if the results were positive.
It’s about real stories from your past that show how you solve problems, collaborate with others, lead a project, or bounce back when things don’t go as planned.
The STAR Method (The Best Strategy)
You don’t need to memorize perfect answers, but having a structure helps you stay focused and clear. That’s where STAR comes in:
Situation – Set the scene. What was going on?
Task – What were you responsible for?
Action – What did you actually do? Walk through the steps.
Result – How did it turn out? What improved? What did you learn?
The STAR method keeps your story organized, shows off your emotional intelligence, and helps you end with a strong takeaway.
Common Behavioral Questions You’ll Probably Hear
You don’t need to prep for every single scenario but having a few stories ready that you can adapt is a huge help. Most behavioral questions fall under three categories: adaptability, problem-solving, and teamwork.
Here are some classics:
“Tell me about a big challenge you overcame.”
“Describe a mistake you made and what you learned from it.”
“Share a time you led a project on a tight deadline.”
“Tell me about working with someone difficult and how you handled it.”
How to Tell Your Story
Your story matters, but how you tell it matters just as much. When you talk through a project win, hiring managers are paying attention to your organization, your calm demeanor, and your genuine enthusiasm for the work.
You don’t have to pretend to be perfect. In fact, some of the best answers come from things that didn’t go smoothly. Just be sure to emphasize what you learned, how you handled it, and what you’d do differently now.
Keep Practicing
You don’t need to rehearse every line, but saying your stories out loud helps you get rid of filler words, spot awkward phrasing, and get comfortable with your delivery. The goal isn’t to sound scripted, it’s to sound clear, confident, and connected.
Behavioral questions are a great chance to show off your experience, mindset, and ability to grow. With a few solid stories, the STAR method, and a little practice, you’ll be ready to handle any behavioral question with confidence. So next time someone says, “Tell me about a time…” You’ll smile and say, “Absolutely.”
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