Behavioral Interview Worksheet

BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEW WORKSHEET
HOW TO USE THIS WORKSHEET

1. Make a copy to your own drive by clicking this link
2. Research the company/position thoroughly using Glassdoor, LinkedIn, website, blog posts, Twitter, etc.
3. Tailor and complete worksheet based on your research
4. Study and rehearse the “stories” you developed on this worksheet without memorizing answers
5. Creating an Interview study guide
a. Knowing your audience
i. Who are you speaking to? What is their position? What is their motivation?
b. Guessing the questions you may be asked
i. Clues: Twitter, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Social Media, company website, press releases,
Google News alerts
c. Asking your interviewer questions
i. Demonstrate research
ii. Sell yourself
iii. Connect to interviewer
COMPANY/ROLE RESEARCH
ABOUT INTERVIEW:
● When is it? How long?
● Where is it? Zoom*/phone?
*Some tips for choosing Zoom background
ABOUT INTERVIEWER:
● Who is it with? What is their title?
● Link to their LinkedIn
● Do they have technical background or not?
ABOUT COMPANY (DESCRIPTION):
ABOUT JOB (POSTING):
STANDARD QUESTION PREP
INTRO: TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF. Sample: “I’m a junior Computer Science student at
● Present + Past + Future (align with company) ____ where I’ve recently completed some advanced
OR coursework in ________ and a side project where I
● Past + Present + Future (align with company) utilized [their company’s] API and documentation. I
● Additional help with this answer here. chose to pursue a career in software because I love
finding innovative tech solutions to complicated
● Origin story: What are your superpowers? How social problems, and that is why I jumped at the
did you get them? What would they mean for the chance to apply for a spot on [company’s] team for
company? this summer internship.”
● CS student
●
WHY DO YOU WANT TO WORK FOR [COMPANY]?:

● Why do you like them and their product?
● What are their values?
● Why are theirs the problems you want to solve?
WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS?:

● Feature + Example + Benefit
● Have at least 3 examples that relate to the top
skills they are seeking.
WHY SHOULD WE HIRE YOU?:

● How are you uniquely qualified? This answer
could relate to your strengths or your specific
motivation for applying to the company.
BEHAVIORAL/SITUATIONAL QUESTION PREP
WALK ME THROUGH A RECENT PROJECT OF YOURS.

(at least 2 project examples)
● Situation
● Task
● Action
● Result
TELL ME ABOUT SOMETHING YOU ACCOMPLISHED

THAT YOU ARE PROUD OF.
● Situation
● Task
● Action
● Result
TELL ME ABOUT A TIME YOU FAILED.

● Situation
● Task
● Action
● Result
TELL ME ABOUT A TIME YOU HAD TO LEARN

SOMETHING NEW FOR A PROJECT.
● Situation
● Task
● Action
● Result
● Have at least 2 examples and include how you
are overcoming them.
TELL ME ABOUT A TIME YOU DISAGREED WITH A

COWORKER.
● Situation
● Task
● Action
● Result
TRICKY QUESTION PREP
WHAT ARE YOUR SALARY EXPECTATIONS? The range I’m aiming for is around 90-110k which is
● Strategy #1: “I don’t see salary being an issue as in line with what I’ve seen for many of the other
long as it’s within the market rate.” opportunities I’m interviewing with. However, I could
● Strategy #2: “I expect to be paid in line with other be flexible depending on the total compensation
employees of my background and skill set.” package.
● Strategy #3: Give a well-researched range of at
least 20k.
TELL ME ABOUT A TIME YOU HAD A CONFLICT WITH

A COLLEAGUE.
● This can be a miscommunication. The key to
showcase if problem-solving, empathy,
understanding.
WHAT’S YOUR LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE WITH

[TOOL/SKILL YOU DON’T HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH]
● Don’t try to fake it.
● Don’t say “no”.
● Talk about your level of experience and how you
would go about getting more experienced.
WHAT ARE YOUR WEAKNESSES?:

● Feature + Example + Opportunity
● Have at least 2 examples. Include either how you
are overcoming them or how you are repurposing
your weakness into a strength.
TELL ME ABOUT A TIME YOU FAILED:

● Use a failure that demonstrates continued
learning, commitment, and is something you can
change moving forward.
WHAT DO YOU DO OUTSIDE OF CODING?:

● Something that can often be asked to determine
cultural fit.
WHAT’S A RECENT BOOK YOU’VE READ:

● This one always trips me up. Don’t hesitate to use
one of the tips for buying time to think.
QUESTIONS AT THE END:

You want these questions to do 1 (or more) of 3
things: demonstrate research you have done in the
company, gain insight for future interview rounds, or
connect with your interviewer.
● What are the most exciting challenges facing
your company in the next 6 months and how
would this role help you meet those challenges?
● Let’s say you were to hire me for this position. 30
days into the role, what would I have
accomplished that would tell you that you had
made the right decision in hiring me?
● The best questions to ask!
POST INTERVIEW
THANK YOU EMAIL:

● Don’t forget to send one to every person you interacted with for that interview round, if possible.
IF YOU DON’T HAVE INTERVIEWER’S EMAIL:

● Send thank you email to interview coordinator (likely someone in recruiting or HR) and, in that thank you
email, either ask them for the email address of your interviewer or if they’d be willing to pass along your
appreciation to the person who interviewed you.
RESOURCES:
● Behavioral interview questions + sample answers
● Behavioral interview questions categorized by skill
● Practice interview prep with LinkedIn

Behavioral Interview Worksheet

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Behavioral Interview Worksheet

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Behavioral Interview Worksheet

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEW WORKSHEET

HOW TO USE THIS WORKSHEET

ABOUT COMPANY (DESCRIPTION):

ABOUT JOB (POSTING):

STANDARD QUESTION PREP

WHY DO YOU WANT TO WORK FOR [COMPANY]?:

WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS?:

WHY SHOULD WE HIRE YOU?:

BEHAVIORAL/SITUATIONAL QUESTION PREP

WALK ME THROUGH A RECENT PROJECT OF YOURS.

TELL ME ABOUT SOMETHING YOU ACCOMPLISHED

TELL ME ABOUT A TIME YOU FAILED.

TELL ME ABOUT A TIME YOU HAD TO LEARN

TELL ME ABOUT A TIME YOU DISAGREED WITH A

TRICKY QUESTION PREP

TELL ME ABOUT A TIME YOU HAD A CONFLICT WITH

WHAT’S YOUR LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE WITH

WHAT ARE YOUR WEAKNESSES?:

TELL ME ABOUT A TIME YOU FAILED:

WHAT DO YOU DO OUTSIDE OF CODING?:

WHAT’S A RECENT BOOK YOU’VE READ:

QUESTIONS AT THE END:

THANK YOU EMAIL:

IF YOU DON’T HAVE INTERVIEWER’S EMAIL:

You might also like