16 most-asked behavioral interview questions (+ answers)

Example answer:

(Situation) 

"In my previous software engineering role, our team was tasked with developing a real-time data analytics platform for a major client. 

(Problem) 

The project had a tight timeline and required integrating multiple complex systems, including data ingestion, processing, and visualization components.

(Solution) 

To be as efficient as possible, we adopted an Agile development approach. We held daily stand-up meetings to discuss progress, address challenges, and prioritize tasks. I took on the role of the Scrum Master, facilitating the meetings and making sure that everyone had a clear understanding of their responsibilities.

One particular challenge we faced was the need to integrate a third-party data visualization library with our custom backend solution. I took the initiative to organize a brainstorming session with the frontend and backend developers, UX designers, and data scientists.

Together we explored different integration approaches and identified potential roadblocks.

(Impact) 

We were successful in delivering the real-time data analytics platform within the given timeline. What’s more, the client was delighted with the platform’s user-friendly interface, real-time insights, and advanced visualizations.

(Lessons)

This experience taught me how important communication skills are in my role. As a software engineer, I had previously thought that the most important skill I had was my ability as a programmer. But this project taught me that by communicating well with other people and other teams, I could have a far greater impact than I could just through writing code.”

Example answer:

(Situation)

“Unfortunately I’ve found that conflicts can often arise from clashing personalities. When I was a lead software engineer at a fintech startup, one of my new engineers, Rob, told me that he had a hard time working with another engineer, Benji. 

(Problem)

He explained that Benji was consistently rude and demeaning to him, to the extent that Rob was ready to change teams or even leave the company.

(Solution)

With Rob’s permission, I brought this up with Benji in our next one-on-one. Benji admitted that he likes to joke around and tease his coworkers, but that none of it was ill-intended and he didn’t feel that he had done anything wrong.

However, I insisted to Benji that while I personally enjoyed his sense of humor, we all had a responsibility to make sure we created a friendly, safe and professional environment for every team member. I encouraged him to speak to Rob directly and apologize for the misunderstanding, and to keep his interactions with Rob more matter-of-fact in the future.

(Impact)

I offered to be present as a mediator, but Ben elected to initiate the conversation himself. I checked in with Rob regularly in the weeks and months following, and he reported that his working relationship with Ben had greatly improved.

(Lessons)

The experience showed me that people can perceive the same situation very differently, and often the key to solving conflicts is simply talking it through and listening actively.”

Example answer:

(Situation)

“Last year I was working on a project where I had to implement a new online booking feature for a client. I had a tight deadline and was working under pressure to get it done. I was in such a hurry that I didn’t take as much time as I normally do to check my code for bugs. 

(Problem)

Unfortunately, it did have a bug and it caused a lot of follow-on problems on the client’s website.

(Solution)

I tried to solve it but I quickly started to feel a bit out of my depth, so I decided to ask for help from my manager as well as a more experienced colleague. We worked together to identify the root cause of the issue, and we came up with a plan of action.

We had a very frank meeting with the client where we laid out the extent of the problem and the steps we were going to take to fix it.

(Impact)

We had to work some long hours to get everything fixed, but in the end, we were successful. We only narrowly missed the deadline and our relationship with the client actually improved in the long-term as they appreciated how committed we were to fixing the problem and how transparent we’d been with them.

(Lessons)

I learned three things through this experience. One, don’t skip on testing code properly or you’ll pay for it later on. Two, it’s important to always be transparent and honest, in this case both with my manager and then with the client. And three, I learned that when you have to own up to a mistake, it’s a lot easier if you can also explain what you’re going to do to solve the problem.”

Example answer:

(Situation) 

"In my previous role as a project manager, we faced a major challenge when a critical vendor abruptly ceased operations just weeks before a high-stakes project deadline. 

(Problem)

This vendor was responsible for a significant portion of our project's deliverables, and their sudden closure jeopardized the entire timeline. Our client was going to be very unhappy.

(Solution)

I immediately gathered my team and assessed the potential risks and alternatives. I initiated a series of emergency meetings with our procurement team to explore viable options. We researched alternative vendors, engaged in intense negotiations, and evaluated the feasibility of ramping up our internal capabilities to fill the gaps left by the defunct vendor.

We also reached out to our existing network, leveraging relationships with industry peers and partners to identify potential resources that could support us in the short term. Simultaneously, I kept in regular contact with the client to update and reassure them.

(Impact)

Through our relentless efforts, we secured a new vendor partnership and swiftly onboarded them, aligning their capabilities with our project requirements. Despite the initial setback, our team's dedication and adaptability allowed us to deliver 70% of the project's deliverables before the deadline, with the remaining 30% shortly afterwards, and this satisfied the client.

(Lessons) 

This experience taught me the importance of proactive risk management and effective contingency planning. It reinforced the significance of building strong relationships within the industry, as they proved invaluable  for us when we were scrambling for options. I also learned that honest communication builds trust - the client really appreciated being in the loop from the beginning and thus were happy to allow some flexibility."

Example answer:

(Situation)

"In a previous role I had to deal with a client who was extremely demanding and very difficult to satisfy. His company had been a very important account for us and so he was used to getting everything he asked for. However, it was no longer profitable to employ so many resources on this account.

(Problem)

When I took over the team, I found that some of them were suffering from stress and anxiety because of this client. He would even call them outside office hours to chase up work. Furthermore, he gave constantly negative feedback.

(Solution)

I realized that this client needed his expectations managed, and clear boundaries set. First of all, I spoke to our director and convinced her that we had to be prepared to lose this client if we were unable to improve the situation. With the director on board, I then spoke to the team and explained that I wanted to change the way we worked with the client, but I needed their help.

Together we worked extra hours to create a 20-page presentation that clearly outlined our way of working and what the client could expect from us. I then presented it to him in person. I explained the specific steps I was taking to improve the quality of our work for him, but that some things were simply out of scope. I also insisted that I was his only contact point with the team.

(Impact)

Gradually, the relationship with the client improved. He became more reasonable in his demands and the quality of the team’s work improved, as they were no longer being motivated by stress and fear. Three months later, this account was taking up 30% less hours of work than it was previously.

(Lessons)

I learned the importance of setting very clear deliverables and boundaries with clients. I like to say that we try to over-deliver, not over-promise. I also learned that my team is my most important resource, and anything that worsens their motivation and wellbeing must be solved immediately."

Example answer:

"I’ve learned to see change as an extremely positive thing and I’m used to working in frequently changing environments.

(Situation)

In my first proper job out of university I worked at a startup that made mobile apps. The company was still in its first year and was growing fast, but it was complete chaos. I was constantly being moved around as teams were restructured or disappeared and new ones created.

(Problem)

At first, I found it quite disconcerting and stressful, as I never really knew what was expected of me.

(Solution)

However, after talking to a colleague who’d been there from the start, I realized I need to “embrace the chaos”. I changed my outlook and focused on the positives: constantly moving teams meant I got to learn from people with different skills and profiles. Meanwhile, the chaos meant that there was a big opportunity for people who took the initiative - everything was up for grabs.

(Impact)

Instead of waiting for processes and systems to be put into place for me, I started to create them myself. For example, I created a Trello board for my team to organize our work and shared the link with other departments, a simple change which probably increased our productivity by 20%.

I also started coming to our weekly meetings with proposals for new projects, many of which were accepted and I led.

(Lessons)

I was soon moved to another side of the business with a whole new way of working, but I took my positive attitude with me. In the end, I stayed for another two years and was promoted twice, when initially I’d thought I’d be lucky to last two months! I learned so much more than I would have done in a more traditionally run company."

Example answer:

(Situation)

"I spent three years working at a small start up, and after an initial period of rapid growth, revenue dropped off and we started losing money.

(Problem)

I was leading a team of five, and understandably people were extremely worried about their jobs. I also had pressure from the CEO to implement cost-cutting and revenue-generating measures that would help us get back to break-even as soon as possible.

(Solution)

My primary focus was on keeping the team motivated and productive, even in the face of uncertainty. My first action was to schedule a meeting to specifically discuss the situation and provide an honest and transparent overview of what was happening.

I acknowledged the challenges that the company was facing, but that our team was essential to the company's success. I said that if they had any questions they could always ask me. We also came up with a list of team actions we could take that would reduce costs, and over the next 6 months I arranged bi-weekly updates with the CEO to show how we were progressing. 

(Impact)

Through these actions my team played a major part in getting the company back on track, and I made sure this was visible to the CEO. There were no lay-offs in our area and morale and productivity stayed strong.

(Lessons)

It was a difficult experience to go through but I learned that when you’re managing a team, constant communication is vital in a crisis. People always have doubts and hypothetical scenarios you hadn't even thought of, and it’s really useful to provide a space where you can listen to them and give them a more accurate picture of what’s going on, even if that picture is incomplete.”

Example answer:

(Situation)

"In my previous role as a management consultant, meeting tight deadlines was a common occurrence due to the fast-paced nature of client engagements.

(Problem)

One particular time we had one week to complete a comprehensive set of analysis and recommendations for an upcoming executive board meeting.

(Solution)

To address the tight deadline, I quickly organized a project team, including subject matter experts and analysts, to tackle the assignment effectively.

We developed a detailed project plan, breaking down tasks and assigning responsibilities.

We stayed in sync with regular meetings and I made sure that everyone was extremely transparent with their progress. When we were falling behind on one area, I shifted resources to help in that area and avoid it becoming a bottleneck.

We also stayed in communication with the client and briefed them on our progress - this was key as they steered us away from lower priority areas of analysis that would have taken up further time.

(Impact)

Through our focused efforts (and a few late nights!), we successfully delivered the analysis, recommendations, and implementation plan within the tight deadline. The deliverables were well-received by the executive board.

(Lessons) 

My number 1 learning was that if you’re going to complete a project at high speed, you have to get the foundations right. That meant spending a significant amount of time early on making sure that everybody knew what they had to do, and creating a central project spreadsheet that acted as our guide. This extra time spent early on enabled us to work much more quickly throughout the rest of the week."

Example answer:

(Situation)

“When I was in college I was a barista at a long-standing local coffee shop called Sunny’s. It was a small, family business with a few employees, resistant to change, and located in a neighborhood with new shops and restaurants opening constantly.

(Problem) 

It was also starting to lose regular customers and revenue, but we didn’t know why. The owner was trying all kinds of different promotions that weren’t working.

(Solution)

I was only a barista and had no stake in the business, but wanted the shop to succeed. So I decided to find an easy way to understand the market and find some of the root-causes of the problem we were experiencing. My first step was to informally survey customers about their coffee habits as they paid for their order. This gave me insight into what other shops were popular and what people liked about them.

Next, I stopped by some of the other shops on my way to work. I noticed a few common themes at these other popular shops: 1) They offered soy and almond as alternatives to dairy milk, 2) they emphasized fair trade coffee, and 3) they printed the WiFi password on receipts.

I mentioned these themes to the owner and helped to prioritize easy, low-cost solutions. First, buying a few cartons of soy and almond milk allowed us to test if this made a difference to Sunny’s customers without requiring a big investment. Second, most of the coffee that Sunny’s sold was already fair trade, but this wasn’t advertised; so I helped make a few signs to explain and placed them around the store. Third, we realized that printing the password on receipts was too cumbersome of a change, so instead I trained all baristas to ask customers if they wanted the WiFi password after they paid for their order.”

(Impact)

After these changes, sales returned to normal within a couple months. Seeing this, the owner started more regularly surveying customers and executing competitive analysis, which has helped to make Sunny’s one of the top coffee shops in the neighborhood to this day.

(Lessons)

This all happened before my professional career really started, but it taught me that the most innovative solutions are not always radical or expensive. It’s also a great reminder that understanding customer needs is crucial when trying to innovate in any business."

Example answer:

(Situation)

"During my time as a financial trader, I encountered a situation where I disagreed with my manager regarding a trading strategy for a specific market opportunity. 

(Problem)

My manager had a more conservative approach, emphasizing risk mitigation, while I believed that a more aggressive trading approach could yield significant profits in the current market conditions.

(Solution)

I carefully listened to my manager’s concerns, and then went away to construct arguments to counter them.

I requested a meeting with him in which I presented a detailed analysis supporting my view, showcasing the potential profitability of the more aggressive approach within a calculated risk framework. I made sure to back up my arguments with relevant market data and insights to show it was a very feasible strategy.

(Impact)

Recognizing my preparedness and commitment, my boss appreciated the depth of my analysis and willingness to challenge conventional thinking.

As a result, we reached a compromise where we agreed to allocate a portion of our portfolio to the more aggressive strategy, while ensuring we maintained risk controls and monitored the positions closely.

(Lessons) 

I learned that challenging people’s opinions or arguments that you don’t agree with is not just acceptable, it’s actually extremely important, as long as you go about it the right way: with respectful communication, active listening, and presenting well-reasoned arguments backed by data."

Example answer:

“My biggest weakness is probably attention to detail. I’m what you would call a “big picture” person - I find that I’m quite good at taking on large amounts of information and just focusing on what’s important. And that can be really helpful when I’m working on things like strategy, for example.

However, focusing on the details comes less naturally to me. In the past this has meant that I’ve presented documents with small errors in, and I haven’t always paid attention to correctly labeling files and saving them in the right place, that kind of thing.

To be completely honest, I used to think that these things didn’t really matter. After all, what do a few typos matter in an internal document as long as the strategy I’ve outlined is top quality? But after some feedback from a colleague, I realized that small details help set the standard, and people are more likely to perceive your work as high quality and buy into what you’re telling them, if there are no typos and the formatting is all correct.

Now I always force myself to take an extra 5 minutes to check any document before I share it. And when I’m working on a client-facing presentation I have a long error checklist I go through before sending.

It’s still something I have to be conscious of but with a little bit of extra effort, I’m able to keep on top of the details and prevent small errors from occurring.”

Example answer:

(Situation)

“A month into my first management position, my team was only just hitting its targets. My manager asked me to assess my performance so far and I first outlined my own individual performance which had been strong, then explained how I had been trying to help my team.

(Problem)

My manager told me that I was displaying the wrong mindset. She said I was acting as though his first responsibility was to meet my own targets, when in fact it was the other way around. She told me she’d rather see my own individual results go down, if that meant the team’s results improved overall, and that I needed to change my mindset from an “execution mindset” to a “leverage mindset”.

I was used to leading the way in terms of performance charts, etc, and initially I found it difficult  to accept that I was going to have to stop doing measurable work for things that were less directly visible.

(Solution)

However, the more I thought about what my manager had said, the more it made sense.

The time I spent empowering my team would be multiplied by five (for each team member) in terms of value. This kind of leverage was worth much more to the firm than time I spent chasing my individual targets.

I reorganized my workload to focus more on leverage and started to judge myself first and foremost on the results of my team. I also realized that the skills I’d relied on as an individual contributor were no longer enough to excel in my position, and I started reading up on management theories and best practices.

(Impact)

A month later there was already a clear improvement in my team’s performance as a whole. Over the next year, my team consistently exceeded the targets set and what’s more, we had a much lower churn rate than the company average.

(Lessons)

I hadn’t really understood the importance of good management until this experience. It opened my eyes to a new way of thinking, and I ended up enjoying management so much that I went off to study an MBA.

This experience also taught me how impactful great feedback can be. I made sure to give my team regular feedback, and also instigated a process where they gave me anonymous feedback at least every 6 months.”

(Situation)

"In my last role as a product manager, I frequently encountered situations where multiple projects demanded attention and had tight deadlines. 

(Problem) 

One particular instance stands out when we had an important funding round coming up and we were under pressure to finish important projects ahead of time.

(Solution) 

I used a prioritization framework called RICE, which helped me assess the potential impact, reach, confidence, and effort required for each project. By considering these factors, I was able to give myself a solid overview of the projects and their alignment with strategic objectives.

(Impact) 

Through careful evaluation and applying the RICE framework, I successfully prioritized the projects based on their potential reach, impact, confidence, and effort. 

I was able to take this to senior management and show them that, while we weren’t in a position to finish all the projects ahead of time, we could finish the two that were most important in terms of the upcoming funding round.

Senior management accepted my analysis and we were able to allocate resources effectively and meet their expectations. They were satisfied and my team escaped having to work a month of late nights which would have severely impacted morale.

(Lessons) 

This experience reinforced the value of utilizing frameworks like RICE to prioritize projects under pressure. By incorporating a systematic approach, I was able to make informed decisions and it was much easier to convince other stakeholders of my arguments than it would have been if I had simply used my instincts to prioritize."

Example answer:

(Situation and Problem) 

“As a middle manager in my previous role, the company urgently needed to reduce costs due to budget constraints.

(Solution)

I realized that a particular department had overlapping responsibilities with another team, leading to inefficiencies and duplication of efforts. To address this issue, I proposed a restructuring plan that involved merging the two departments and redistributing tasks among the team members.

This decision unfortunately meant we would have to let three people go. However, it was essential for the sustainability of the company. 

To mitigate the impact, I spent the next few days in individual meetings with the relevant team managers and many of their team members, including the three who were being let go.

I was as transparent as I possibly could about the situation and the reasons for the redundancies. I took full responsibility for the decision, emphasizing that it had been an extremely difficult decision but that it should help put the company on a more solid footing and that no further redundancies were planned.

(Impact)

The decision gradually yielded very positive outcomes. The merged department experienced improved collaboration and synergy, and after 6 months productivity was up 20% with a reduced wage bill.

(Lessons)

I learned that it’s better to make tough decisions when necessary rather than delaying them. If I hadn’t made the call to merge the departments, we would have carried on losing money and even more redundancies would have been necessary, or our department might have been axed completely.”

Example answer:

(Situation) 

In my previous role as a team leader, I was responsible for managing a cross-functional team to develop and launch a new product. 

(Problem)

To ensure everyone was aligned and working towards a common objective, I had to set clear and achievable goals for the team.

(Solution) 

Taking into account their input, I sat down with each team member to establish SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) that aligned with the project's objectives.

For example, one team member had a strong background in user experience design, so I set a goal for them to lead the development of an intuitive and user-friendly interface. Another team member had exceptional coding skills, so their goal was to optimize the software's performance by reducing the response time.

To ensure continuous progress, I established regular check-ins and provided constructive feedback.

(Impact) 

We managed to launch the new product on time and received a 4.2* average rating on the App Store.

(Lessons) 

This experience showed me the importance of getting team members to take the lead in setting their goals, as this way they felt much more ownership over them and worked harder towards them. It also made sure the goals were challenging but realistic.”

Example answer:

(Situation)

“I was working at Start Up X on the marketing team and our SEO expert left unexpectedly.

(Problem)

This was a big problem because we relied on her analysis to inform us as to what content we should be creating to drive demand for our services. I was tasked with providing the SEO analysis, but I had only a rudimentary understanding of SEO and had never considered myself a “technical” person.

(Solution)

I re-organized my workload and spend the next couple of days watching YouTube tutorials on Google Analytics and reading articles about SEO. Obviously I couldn’t get near the expertise that my former colleague had, but I was confident that I could quickly grasp the basics and that would be enough to inform our strategy.

(Impact)

I quickly realized that SEO was not as impenetrable as I’d always assumed, and within a week I had provided the team with the necessary analysis and worked with them to finalize our content strategy for the next quarter ahead of the deadline. SEO and analysis continued to be a part of my role and I ended up developing a whole new area of expertise.

(Lessons)

I learned not to be put off by things that seem “technical”, often seemingly complex topics are actually quite simple once you learn the jargon. And if in doubt, YouTube has the answer to pretty much anything!”