Technical interviews often focus heavily on assessing a candidate's coding skills and problem-solving abilities. However, behavioral questions are just as critical for evaluating soft skills, cultural fit, thought processes, and motivations.
Even at top technology companies like Google, Amazon, and Facebook, recruiters devote a significant portion of the interview to asking behavioral questions. This is your chance to showcase not just your technical competency, but also your communication skills, integrity, and ability to work in a team.
In this comprehensive guide, we will explore strategies to help you craft winning responses to common behavioral interview questions, so you can highlight your unique talents and stand out from the competition.
Do Your Research on the Company
Many behavioral questions will revolve around why you want to work for the particular company or team you are interviewing with. To answer these effectively, thoroughly research the company's mission, culture, values, products, projects, and recent news or announcements.
Check their website, LinkedIn page, Glassdoor, and any connections you have to current or past employees. Understand what excites you about their work and tie it back to your own career motivations. Speaking knowledgeably about the company’s specifics will impress the interviewers.
Prepare Examples of Challenges and Achievements
Interviewers often ask you to describe a time you faced a particular situation, like dealing with conflict, overcoming an obstacle, solving a difficult problem, or meeting a tight deadline.
Have a variety of stories ready that showcase both your technical expertise and soft skills in responding to workplace challenges. Focus on the process you took to address the issue systematically and always highlight the positive outcome.
Practice Articulating Your Strengths and Development Areas
Be ready to share your biggest strengths and areas for improvement. Avoid generic traits and back up claims with real examples and outcomes. You can mention what colleagues, managers, or mentors have specifically complimented you on. Just be sure to stay humble and honest. Also be prepared to discuss skills or knowledge you’d like to develop in the role you’re applying for. This shows a growth mindset and enthusiasm for the position.
Explain Your Career Goals and Aspirations
Interviewers want to understand your short and long-term career ambitions to assess your level of drive, purpose, and fit with the company’s objectives. Explain how the role aligns with your goals and interests, both in terms of hard technical skills and soft skills you’d like to hone.
Discuss How You Handle Ambiguity
Software development often involves dealing with unclear requirements, frequent changes, and unpredictable challenges. Share how you smartly approach ill-defined problems, whether it’s through asking clarifying questions, splitting complex tasks into iterative steps, prototyping solutions to elicit feedback, or other strategies.
Ask Insightful Questions
The behavioral portion is a two-way street. When the interviewer asks if you have any questions, be ready with thoughtful queries that show your understanding of the company, role, projects, culture, career growth, etc. Avoid questions easily found online.
Highlight Alignment with Company Values and Culture
Each company has a unique mission and set of values they operate by. Research these in advance and explain how your own principles, work style, and motivations align. Use specific examples of how you’ve demonstrated relevant values like innovation, collaboration, transparency, diversity, etc.
With the right preparation, you can leverage behavioral interview questions as an opportunity to showcase your interpersonal abilities beyond just technical skills. Use these tips to craft compelling stories and responses that impress interviewers and lead to exciting new career opportunities. Show them you have both the coding chops and the human skills to thrive on their team!