Fireside Chats – Hands on Interview (Behavioral  Questions) with Lina Van

Our Data for Hope™ Education Program students Joe, Dureti and Radhika have come an amazingly long way since their initial entry into our bootcamp, and even since their last mock interview. They’ve learned useful techniques to make sure that they are prepared for all aspects of the job search process, including behavioral interview questions which are designed to assess cultural fit and to learn more about a candidate beyond what is stated in the resume:

For behavioral interviews, here are a few tips!

• Take your time to listen to the question and ask clarifying questions if you are unsure. Use neutral, diplomatic language in your responses.
• Answer using job-relevant stories using the STAR format (Situation, Task, Action, Result) much as possible. 
• For EVERY experience on your resume, you should be able to answer questions in the major behavioral question categories – problem solving, working on a team, biggest failures, leadership, personal stress.
• Practice makes perfect. Set up mock interviews with people to practice how you do in an interview session. Record yourself to make sure that your delivery is smooth and confident.
• And remember, it’s a CONVERSATION, not a one-way interrogation. Companies want to make sure that you are mutually a good fit for one another. It’s important to know the company values coming in and how your own values align in order to have a successful transition on the job.