Example behavioral interview questions to practicing using the STAR method

Tell me about a time when you did not communicate well. How did you correct
the situation?
Describe a time when you effectively communicated something difficult to a
Engaging in supervisor.
dialogue that leads
Describe the most effective written document, report, or presentation you
to productive
completed. What made it effective and why are your particularly proud of it?
outcomes and
points of Describe a situation when you were able to guide your interactions with a person
connection by or group by effectively “reading” the situation.
effectively
Tell me about a time when you had to “sell” an idea to your peers or co-workers.
articulating one’s
How did you do it, and did they “buy” it?
self to individuals
within and outside Describe a time when you kept other individuals informed about projects or
of one’s industry or things that impacted their job or role.
area of expertise.
Tell me about a time when you communicated technical or field-related
information to individuals outside of your area of expertise.
Describe a time when you disagreed with your supervisor.

Tell me about at time when building a successful relationship was difficult.

What strategies did you employ and what was the result?
Developing Tell me about a time when you demonstrated valuing someone who had a
authentic and different opinion than you.
mutually beneficial
Give an example of how you built and maintained a professional relationship.
relationships by
valuing everyone Describe how you have contributed to your organization’s, department’s, or
and taking employer’s goals.
responsibility for
Tell me about a time when you worked on a team. What was your role and how
one’s role within a
did you ensure you met your commitments to the team?
team.
Describe a time when you took personal accountability for a conflict and
initiated contact with the individual(s) involved to explain your actions.

Describe a time when you helped a group capitalize on everyones strengths.

Give a specific example of how you helped create an environment where

differences are values, encouraged, and supported.
Being able to
recognize, respect, Describe when you initiated a connection with someone from another culture.
develop, and
Tell me about a time when you delegated work to others. How did you decide
capitalize on the what to delegate to different individuals?
unique strengths of
individuals from all Tell me about the most successful group or team experience. What made it
backgrounds and successful, and how have you worked to replicate the experience?
being an active
Describe a time when you built or helped build motivation or enthusiasm
member in a group around a goal.
that achieves a
shared vision. Give an example of a time when the result of listening to a team member
resulted in solving a problem or achieving a goal.
Tell me about a time when you wokred with a group on establishing a plan
to reach a goal.
 What things have you done to become better qualified for your career?
Tell me about a time when you needed to learn a new skill. How did you go
about developing this skill?
Taking the
Describe a major change that occurred in a role you held. How did you adapt to
initiative to further
this change?
enhance one’s skill
set and being Tell me about a situation in which you had to adjust to changes over which you
creative with ways had no control. How did you handle it, and in looking back, would you do
of thinking or anything differently?
approaches that
What do you do when priorities change quickly? Give an example of when this
allow for action,
happened.
reflection, failure,
and resilience in an Describe a time when you failed and had to demonstrate resilience.
ever-changing
Tell me about a time when you adjusted your style or approach when it was not
world.
meeting the objectives.
Give an example when you took initiative or went above and beyond. What was
the outcome?

Describe a time when you made a suggestion to improve the work in an

organization/company/etc…
Seizing the Tell me about a time when you were particularly effective at prioritizing tasks
opportunity for and completing a project on schedule.
organizational
Describe a time when you had to analyze information and make a
improvement that
recommendation. What kind of thought process did you go through and what
prompts critical
was your reasoning behind your recommendation?
thinking and
problem solving by Describe a situation where you had a number of alternatives to consider. How
obtaining, did you go about choosing one?
processing, and
Describe a time when you came up with a creative or innovative
synthesizing
solution/idea/project/report to a problem.
information.
Tell me about a time when you or a team you were on was caught off guard by
an unforeseen problem or obstacle.

Describe a challenge you had in solving a technical problem. How did you solve
it, and how did you know what software or tools you needed?
Tell me about a time when you sought out the opportunity to learn a new piece
of software or tool. How did you become proficient using it?
Give an example of a time where you introduced someone else to a new
Employing current technological approach to solving a problem.
and emerging Tell me about how technology played a role in a previous experience. How did
software and tools you feel about using the technology? What other technologies would have been
to solve general and helpful?
industry-specific
challenges. Provide an example of when you had to change how you approached your work
to adapt to using new technology. What were the challenges and opportunities
the new technology brought to your work?
Describe a situation where you had to troubleshoot a technology problem.
Tell me about a time when you approached your supervisor to recommend
implementing new software or tools. What did you see as the pro’s and con’s?
 What challenges did you face in a previous job or leadership role and how did
you hand them?

What was the most competitive work situation that you have experienced? How did
you handle it? What was the result?
Understanding
one’s strengths, Tell me about a time when you disagreed with a manager or boss. How did you
limitations, handle the situation, and in looking back, would you do anything different?
emotions, and What kinds of decisions are the most difficult for you? Describe one.
biases in a variety of
situations and What is something you have done in the past to contribute towards a positive
work environment how how did you know it would be considered positive?
articulating how
one’s interests, Describe a time when you recognized and overcame your biases.
skills, and values
Tell me about a time when you were under extreme pressure. How did you
align with handle the situation?
educational and
professional goals.

Making choices and Give a specific example of a time when there was no rule or precedent to help
consistently acting you attack a problem.
in a manner that Tell me about a time when you worked in a situation where the rules and
displays integrity guidelines were not explicit. How did you accomplish the task and what things
(following internal did you take into consideration that helped guide your decision making process?
principles, morals,
and values) and Describe a situation when you were in a moral or ethical dilemma.
ethics (following Give an example of how you have acted with integrity in a work environment
external laws, rules,
and norms) in Tell me about a time time you had to handle a tough problem which challenged
personal and fairness or ethical issues.
professional
On occasion we are confronted with peers being dishonest. Tell about such an
settings. occurrence and how you handled it.

Tell me about a time when you sought out feedback from others. What did you
Demonstrating the learn about yourself?
continual Describe a situation where you worked with the same group of people for an
development of a extended period of time. How would they describe your strengths and areas for
positive impression improvement?
or image in every
facet of life while Give an example where you adjusted your approach to working with a team after
seeking feedback receiving feedback from a peer or co-worker.
from others to Tell me about how you decided who to ask to serve as your references for this
ensure congruence position.
between one’s
intended and Describe what has impressed you about a previous supervisor or colleague and
perceived how you have tried to emulate that quality in your work.
reputation. Tell me about a time when you put specific things in place to ensure your words
met your actions.
Engaging in dialogue that leads to
productive outcomes and points of
connection by effectively articulating one’s
self to individuals within and outside of
one’s industry or area of expertise.

Developing authentic and mutually

beneficial relationships by valuing
everyone and taking responsibility for
one’s role within a team.

Being able to recognize, respect, develop,

and capitalize on the unique strengths of
individuals from all backgrounds and
being an active member in a group that
achieves a shared vision.

Taking the initiative to further enhance

one’s skill set and being creative with ways
of thinking or approaches that allow for
action, reflection, failure, and resilience in
an ever-changing world.

Seizing the opportunity for organizational

improvement that prompts critical
thinking and problem solving by
obtaining, processing, and synthesizing
information.

Employing current and emerging software

and tools to solve general and industry-
specific challenges.

Understanding one’s strengths,

limitations, emotions, and biases in a
variety of situations and articulating how
one’s interests, skills, and values align with
educational and professional goals.

Making choices and consistently acting in

a manner that displays integrity (following
internal principles, morals, and values)
and ethics (following external laws, rules,
and norms) in personal and professional
settings.

Demonstrating the continual development

of a positive impression or image in every
facet of life while seeking feedback from
others to ensure congruence between one’s
intended and perceived reputation.