To use the STAR method to structure your answers, you need to:
Situation: Describe the situation and when it took place.
Task: Explain the task and what was the goal.
Action: Provide details about the action you took to attain this.
Result: Conclude with the result of your action.
Remember to keep your examples short and to the point4.
Best Practices
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Be Authentic
you should never lie in interview
Be Truthfull
Sell Yourself
A big part of this is learning to tell good, interesting, relevant stories about your experience
Be Concise
2 min on any topic
Show Enthusiasm
Common Mistakes
Lack of Professionalism
Lack of Preparation
Lack of Content
Negativity
Describe your current or most recent job role.
QUESTION TIPS
Describe your current or most recent job role.
Your current or most recent role is almost always the most interesting to the interviewer. Be prepared to describe your top achievements and responsibilities in this job. As always, you should focus on the areas most relevant to the work that you would be doing if hired.
Avoid these common mistakes:
1) Don't just rattle off your job description. Focus on you accomplishments and how you went above the normal call of duty.
2) Stress any impressive statistics, numbers, or details.
3) Don't try to describe absolutely everything that you do. Focus on the highlights that this particular interviewer will care about.
4) Keep your audience in mind. Define any unfamiliar terms and skip or explain details that could be confusing.
Example Answer:
"I have been the marketing manager for Smith, Jones, & Smith law firm for the last two years, responsible for managing all of the firm's marketing activities. This includes brochures and RFPs, public relations, management of the firm's website and social media accounts, and advertising and sponsorships.
I have two direct reports -- a graphic designer and a junior marketing associate. I wear a lot of hats and I love the fast pace of the job and the ability to be innovative. Most recently, I took the lead in rolling out a new referral program to existing clients -- it has been a huge success and led to dozens of leads within just the first two months of the program."
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Why are you interested in working for this company?
Research is key to effectively answering this question. Before every interview, research the company and the job description so you can speak intelligently about why it appeals to you.
The interviewer wants to see that you are genuinely enthusiastic about the opportunity and that you took the initiative to learn about the company and the role.
While it may seem that your answer should be all about you and what you're looking for, a great answer goes a step beyond that and also mentions your ability to do great work in the position.
Example Answer:
"I have always admired your company's products and I was really impressed with the recent Forbes interview with your CEO and his description of the collaborative company culture. The job description also emphasizes communication skills and leadership -- two of my greatest strengths. I really feel that it's a role and organization in which I could excel."
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Tell me about a time when your work was criticized. How did you handle it?
This behavioral interview question is designed to help the interviewer understand how you handle criticism and feedback. Your interviewer may also be probing for examples of when your work has fallen short of expectations.
Behavioral interview questions ask you to detail how you have behaved in certain situations in the past. This may tell the interviewer a lot about how you might respond in a similar situation while working for them.
Once again, it's worth using the Big Interview Answer Builder to plan how you will answer this behavioral question.
The key here is to choose a situation in which you received constructive criticism on the job and used that feedback to help you improve. Steer clear of examples when criticism was overly negative or highlights your weaknesses. The key is to demonstrate your ability to handle criticism graciously and your willingness to learn. Develop your interview story and be prepared to respond to follow-up questions.
Example Answer:
"In August, my boss asked me to put together a presentation for an internal training session to teach employees how to use the CRM system that our department developed. He asked me to take charge of this project because of my knowledge of the system. However, I didn't have a lot of experience explaining technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
"When I shared my first draft with my manager, he told me that the presentation was confusing and covered way too much detail. I asked for a chance to fix it and then consulted one of my friends from the marketing department to better understand the kind of questions that non-techies have about the system.
"As a result, I was able to write a second draft that earned my boss's approval and helped us conduct a successful training session.This experience also helped me improve my overall writing skills -- especially when writing reports for our management team."
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Tell me about a time when your work was criticized. How did you handle it?
This behavioral interview question is designed to help the interviewer understand how you handle criticism and feedback. Your interviewer may also be probing for examples of when your work has fallen short of expectations.
Behavioral interview questions ask you to detail how you have behaved in certain situations in the past. This may tell the interviewer a lot about how you might respond in a similar situation while working for them.
Once again, it's worth using the Big Interview Answer Builder to plan how you will answer this behavioral question.
The key here is to choose a situation in which you received constructive criticism on the job and used that feedback to help you improve. Steer clear of examples when criticism was overly negative or highlights your weaknesses. The key is to demonstrate your ability to handle criticism graciously and your willingness to learn. Develop your interview story and be prepared to respond to follow-up questions.
Example Answer:
"In August, my boss asked me to put together a presentation for an internal training session to teach employees how to use the CRM system that our department developed. He asked me to take charge of this project because of my knowledge of the system. However, I didn't have a lot of experience explaining technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
"When I shared my first draft with my manager, he told me that the presentation was confusing and covered way too much detail. I asked for a chance to fix it and then consulted one of my friends from the marketing department to better understand the kind of questions that non-techies have about the system.
"As a result, I was able to write a second draft that earned my boss's approval and helped us conduct a successful training session.This experience also helped me improve my overall writing skills -- especially when writing reports for our management team."
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What type of people do you prefer not to work with?
This is a silly question, but I’ve heard it on more than a few occasions.
Naturally, you’d prefer not to work with difficult and annoying people. That goes without saying.
Otherwise, I think it’s shortsighted and unprofessional to talk about people as “types.”
Hiring managers are looking for employees who can work productively with all kinds of personalities.
Example Answer:
“Honestly, I am happiest working with a diverse group of people. I’m pretty easy to get along with and I have friends of all ages and backgrounds.
I’m definitely an extrovert, so I enjoy people in general, though I also appreciate my friends who are on the quieter side — often it’s those who seem quiet and shy who have the most interesting things to say.
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Where do you see yourself in five years?
This question is about your long-term career goals. Realistically, it's hard for any of us to predict exactly what we will be doing in five years (let alone 10 or 15, which some interviewers will ask about).
What the employer really wants to know is that you have goals and that the position at hand is a good fit for your long-term planning.
Hiring managers want to confirm you'll stick around if they hire you and that you envision a career path with the company.
It's best to keep your answer fairly general, especially if you don't know much about the typical career path within the organization.
The key here is to stress your interest in a long relationship with the company. This is particularly important if you have any job hopping or short job tenures (less than a year) on your resume.
Example Answer:
"My goal right now is to find a position at a company where I can continue to grow and take on new challenges over time. Ultimately, I'd like to take on more management responsibilities and get involved in product strategy. But most importantly, I want to work for an organization where I can build a career."
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Are you an innovator? Why?
This question is as much about how you view yourself as it is about how you can benefit the business. Innovators are the people who come up with new ideas, concepts, and products for the company and they exist in every industry.
Sample Answer:
Situation/Task: When I worked as a direct sales consultant for a popular party plan company, one common problem we had was accurately figuring sales tax, discounts, and shipping costs while on the go. I saw how much time this wasted for me and my fellow consultants.
Approach: Because I am a techie who dabbles in programming as a hobby, I immediately thought -- there should be an app for that! So I decided to build it. I created an app that works for iPhones and Android devices that allows us to easily calculate tax and discounts and shipping, record client orders and information, and even send text message alerts about upcoming deals to clients.
Result or Outcome: The app has been a huge hit. It takes advantage of the latest technology and helps reduce the amount of time members of my team spend closing out parties at the end of the night. I also got a special award from the company as most innovative sales consultant of the year!
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I see that you were only with your previous employer eight months. Why is that?
The interviewer wants to make sure that you're not a "job hopper" who will hop away and leave them in a tough spot.
In today's job environment, the definition of "job hopper" has changed. People are less likely to stay in one job for years at a time. From the interviewer's perspective, there are good reasons and bad reasons to leave a position after less than year.
Reason 1 -- The Layoff
Often, this is because the company made cuts, reorganized, or slashed budgets. If you were laid off for reasons outside your control, explain the situation honestly and concisely and avoid apologies and defensiveness.
Example Answer:
"I outlasted a few rounds of downsizing, but finally got caught up in a department-wide staff reduction. By that point, I was the one in the group with the least seniority. I am proud of what I accomplished in the position, however, and feel ready to apply my skills to a new opportunity."
Reason 2 -- You Moved On
If you left for your own reasons, employers want to see that you made the decision for a good reason. Ideally, you left for a better opportunity (and gave sufficient notice).
If you chose to leave because of a conflict or negative situation, keep your explanation short and big-picture. Avoid getting into blame or ugly details and quickly move on to more pleasant topics.
Example Answer:
"After a company reorganization, the role of the department changed and my job duties changed substantially as a result. I was no longer working directly with clients, which is what I love and what is so appealing about the job with your company. Instead, I was spending most of my time in meetings and completing paperwork. When I was offered a position that was a better fit with my strengths, I decided to move on, though I stuck around to help find and train my replacement."
Reason 3 -- You Got Fired
Address the issue honestly and concisely and make an effort to move the conversation along to more positive topics. Don't let yourself get sidetracked into discussing the ugly details of the separation or criticizing your former bosses or coworkers. You must explain what happened -- briefly -- and make it clear that it's a situation that could never happen again.
Avoid using the word "fired" if you can. Draw attention back to your track record of jobs that ended well.
Example Answer:
"The job wasn't the right fit for me. Looking back, I ignored my instincts and took the position anyway because it was a very generous offer. I won't make the same mistake again. As you can see from my resume, I have been very successful in all of my subsequent positions."
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Tell me about a time you had a particularly heavy course load. How did you manage that?
This behavioral interview question is designed to help the interviewer understand your work ethic, how you prioritize work, and how you handle stress.
Behavioral interview questions ask you to detail how you have behaved in past related scenarios. It tells the interviewer a lot about how you might respond in a similar situation while working for them.
Once again, it's worth using the Big Interview Answer Builder to plan how you will answer this behavioral question.
Choose a situation in which you demonstrated a strong work ethic, prioritization skills, and time management skills. Develop your interview story and be prepared to respond to follow-up questions.
Example Answer:
"During my sophomore year, I transferred to the computer science program and had a lot of credits to make up in order to stay on track to graduate. I took on 7 courses for the following semester, which my adviser warned me would be extremely challenging.
It was very difficult, but I succeeded because I was able to carefully plan and schedule all of my assignments and tests using an Excel spreadsheet that I designed. This helped me to prioritize and plan.
I had to scale back my social life for the semester, but it was definitely worth it. I enjoyed the work much more than my previous classes, so that helped. Now I am on track to graduate on time and I have a 4.0 for this semester."
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When have you made a bad hire? What would you do differently?
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What's the least attractive aspect of this position?
No job is all fun and excitement. Every position comes with both pros and cons. Naturally, your interviewer wants to know which aspects of the job you'll be complaining about if they hire you.
The key here is to reiterate that the overall job is very attractive to you. If you can name a minor "unattractive" detail that won't be a deal breaker, go ahead.
Another option would be to say something like: "Based on what I know about the position at this stage, there's nothing that I would consider unattractive about it. I'm sure there will be some tough tasks that come with the job, but I feel like I'm up for the challenge."
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Describe your leadership style.
Most organizations are looking for people with leadership potential -- especially in positions that will require managing and motivating others.
It's easy to say you have leadership skills, but what does that mean to you? Who do you lead and how do you do it?
Your answer should include an example of your leadership style in practice, perhaps even referencing leaders you admire and how you have learned from their examples.
Example Answer:
"I have a very collaborative leadership style. I like to hear ideas and feedback from everyone on the team. For example, in my current role, I have established a set of intranet tools to make it easy for anyone to submit ideas and share feedback. Once a month, we meet as a division and review all of the ideas in the queue. This has not only led to some great new ideas, but also makes team members feel more empowered and engaged. This approach as inspired by my first boss, who taught me a lot about what it takes to be a good manager."
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What economic indicators are considered by the Fed when making interest rate decisions.
Tell me about a time when you reorganized a department or made significant changes to job assignments.
If you are interviewing for a more senior management role, you must show that you have the ability to make strategic management decisions. Often, this means making major changes in the way a company or department operates.
Share an example of a time when you were involved in making and implementing these types of decisions. How did you decide a change was needed? What approach did you take? How did people respond? What were the results? Ideally, your interview story should end with a description of the positive effects of the change on the organization as a whole.
