30 Behavioral Interview Questions You Should Be Ready to Answer

Interview prep basics say you should have a short pitch about yourself, a few well-prepared stories, and a clear idea of what you bring to the table. So, how do you get there? Practice – a lot of it, and out loud whenever possible.

To help you prepare for your next interview, here are 30 behavioral interview questions organized by topic (plus 31 common interview questions here) that you can rehearse.

Not sure how to respond? Use this quick guide to help you shape strong answers that can land you the job.

Teamwork

For these questions, you’ll want to share a story that shows how you work well with others, especially in challenging situations. Think about experiences involving team disagreements, tight deadlines, or personality clashes.

• Share a time when you had to work closely with someone who had a very different personality from yours.
• Give an example of a conflict you faced while working on a team. What steps did you take to handle it?
• Describe a situation where it was hard to connect with someone important. How did you manage to build that relationship?
• Everyone has moments they wish they could redo. Talk about a time you wish you had handled things differently with a teammate.
• Tell me about a time you needed details from someone who wasn’t replying. What did you do to get the information you needed?

Client-Facing Skills

If the job you’re applying for involves working with clients, you’ll likely be asked something like this. Be ready with a story that shows how you represented your team or company well and delivered top-notch customer service.

• Share a time when making a strong first impression on a client mattered. What did you do to ensure it went well?
• Tell me about a situation where you didn’t meet a client’s expectations. What went wrong, and how did you try to fix it?
• Give an example of when you ensured a customer was happy with your service.
• Describe a time you had to deal with a challenging client. What was going on, and how did you handle it?
• When juggling many clients, giving each one excellent service can be tough. How do you decide which needs to be prioritized?

Ability to Adapt

Challenging times can actually be useful! Think about a recent work crisis you managed to get through. Even if it didn’t feel like a success in the moment, try to focus on what you learned or how it helped you grow.

• Tell me about a time you were dealing with a lot of stress. What was happening, and how did you manage it?
• Share an experience when your company or team was going through a change. How did it affect you, and how did you handle it?
• What was your very first job? How did you learn the basics and get up to speed?
• Give an example of a time when you had to quickly think and act to get yourself out of a tricky or uncomfortable situation.
• Talk about a time you failed. What happened, and how did you respond?

Time Management Skills

In short, be prepared to share a time when you handled several tasks at once, stayed organized, and finished everything on time.

• Tell me about a time when you had to plan carefully to meet all your main goals.
• Describe a long-term project you were in charge of. How did you keep it on track and meet deadlines?
• Sometimes, it’s just not possible to complete every task. Share a moment when your workload felt too heavy. What did you do about it?
• Talk about a goal you set for yourself. How did you make sure you reached it?
• Give an example of when you were responsible for many things at once. How did you manage everything?

Communication Skills

Communication questions are usually easy to answer since talking and sharing ideas are part of most jobs and everyday life. The key is to also explain how you prepared or what your thinking process was during the situation.

• Share a time when you convinced someone at work to see your point of view.
• Talk about when you were the go-to person for technical help. How did you make sure everyone understood what you were explaining?
• Tell me about a time you had to use written communication to clearly share your ideas with your team.
• Describe a situation where you had to explain something complicated to an upset client. How did you handle it?
• Give an example of a presentation you gave that went well. Why do you think it was so successful?

Motivation and Values

Many interview questions that seem random are actually trying to uncover what drives you. So even if the question doesn’t directly ask about motivation, your answer should still touch on it.

• What’s your proudest achievement in your career so far?
• Share a time when you noticed a problem and chose to fix it on your own instead of waiting for someone else.
• Talk about a situation where you worked under very close or very minimal supervision. How did you manage?
• Give an example of when you had to be creative at work. What made it fun or challenging?
• Tell me about a time when you weren’t happy with your work. What could have made the situation better?