Behavioral Interviewing: Sample Questions
By Barbara Bruno from LinkedIn Learning
Adaptability
- How have you handled a new boss who changed your job description?
- Describe a time when you embraced a change being made, when you didn’t agree with the change.
- Tell me about the most difficult change you’ve had to implement in your career.
- What have you done when you’ve been given a project beneath your level of responsibility or experience?
- How have you handled a new employee who knew less than you, but was now your boss?
Customer Service
- Describe a time when you resolved a problem for an angry customer.
- Tell me about a time when you had to deliver bad news to a customer.
- Describe a time when you went out of your way to satisfy a customer, and the outcome.
- Tell me how you prioritize customer requests when they’re all demanding to be treated as your top priority.
- How have you handled a customer who was blatantly lying about their experience?
- Recall a time when a customer complained about you and describe the outcome.
Communication Skills
- Describe a time when you resolved a conflict.
- Describe a time when you were able to verbally calm a situation down.
- Tell me about a time when you had to get someone else to see things your way.
- How have you convinced someone to do something they didn’t want to do?
- Describe a time when you delivered tough feedback to a colleague.
- How do you deliver project results to your manager?
Initiative
- Give an example of a goal you surpassed and how you achieved it.
- Have you ever been a situation where you didn’t have enough work?
- Please describe when you’ve gone above and beyond the call of duty.
- Describe a time when you were given additional responsibilities based on your performance.
- Tell me about a time when you showed initiative at your last job.
- How have you taken on additional work without stepping on a colleague’s toes?
Leadership
- Did you ever make a risky decision? Why, and what happened?
- Share an example of how you motivated employees or coworkers.
- Tell me about the last project you led and what the results were.
- Describe how you motivate others to get the results you want to achieve.
- Tell me how the people you led would describe your leadership style.
Problem-Solving
- Give an example where you used logic to solve a problem.
- Give an example of a goal you didn’t meet and how you handled it.
- How have you handled a conflict with a peer?
- How have you handled a conflict with your manager?
- What is the biggest mistake you’ve made at work, and how did you handle it?
- Tell me about a time when you completed a project with very limited resources.
- Describe a process you created or improved and the impact it had on your company.
Teamwork
- Describe an unpopular decision you made and how you got it implemented.
- How do you deal with company policies you don’t agree with?
- Give an example of how you’ve worked on a team.
- Describe how you’ve handled a difficult situation with a team at work.
- Tell me about a time when you were in competition with a coworker.
- Describe a time when a coworker was not doing their share of the work and how you handled it.
Time Management
- Give me an example of a decision you postponed and explain why you postponed it.
- When you work on multiple projects, how do you prioritize?
- What do you do when your schedule is interrupted? Give an example of how you handle it.
- Describe a time when you did not meet a deadline and what the outcome was.
- Tell me how the urgent demands of your job don’t overshadow the important ones.
- Give me an example of how you make best use of your time.
Working under Pressure or Stress
- Did you ever make a risky decision? Why? How did you handle it?
- How did you handle meeting a tight deadline?
- Tell me about the most demanding boss you’ve worked for and how you handled them.
- Describe how you’ve completed projects and still maintained high quality.
- Give me an example of a time when you took on additional responsibility knowing your plate was already full, and what the outcome was.
- Describe how you handle high-pressure situations with customers.