Over the years, I’ve interviewed many engineering managers, and here’s what I’ve noticed…
Those who didn’t receive an offer often failed in the behavioral rounds.
And yet, many candidates seem to underestimate the importance of preparing for these interviews. 🤔
Sure, coding and system design rounds are crucial too, but behavioral interviews require just as much focused preparation.
Behavioral interview questions appear simple on the surface, such as “Tell me about a time when you had a conflict with a co-worker.”
But it’s the ability to craft a crisp story and answer follow-up probing questions that sets candidates apart. 📝
So, how can you prepare for these behavioral interviews? Here are a few tips that I learned from experience:
1️⃣ Start by writing down all the challenging and interesting people situations you’ve successfully handled in your career. 📚
2️⃣ Next, make a list of commonly asked behavioral questions, which you can easily find online. 🌐
3️⃣ Map your examples to these questions, ensuring you have a compelling story for each. 🗣️
4️⃣ Structure your answers using the STAR framework: Situation, Task, Action, and Result. 🌟
5️⃣ Anticipate the follow-up questions the interviewer might ask, and be prepared with realistic answers. ⏭️
6️⃣ Dive deep into the company values and job description, and subtly connect your examples to these through your answers. 🤝
7️⃣ Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable in some of your examples. Share how you failed, what you learned, and how you bounced back. 🌈
8️⃣ Remember, your examples don’t have to be all success stories. Authenticity and growth are equally valuable. 🌱
9️⃣ Utilize different projects and situations to answer different questions, showcasing your versatility and problem-solving abilities. 🔀
🔟 And most importantly, start with a framework approach to demonstrate that you have a mental model to tackle various situations. Show them your strategic thinking. 💡
So, the next time you prepare for an interview, remember that behavioral interviews require just as much attention and preparation as technical rounds.
I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences with behavioral interviews. Share them in the comments below! 👇✨
