Behavioral questions you should know

Foundation questions

1. Tell me about yourself.
2. Why do you want this job / why are you interested in this role?
3. What are your greatest strengths?
4. What is your biggest weakness?
5. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
6. Why are you leaving your current job?
7. Why should we hire you?
8. Tell me about your greatest professional achievement.
9. How do you handle stress and pressure?
10. What motivates you at work?
11. Describe your ideal work environment.
12. What are your salary expectations?
13. Do you prefer working alone or in a team?
14. How would your colleagues describe you?
15. Do you have any questions for us?

Behavioral questions

16. Tell me about a time you led a team through a difficult challenge.
17. Describe a situation where you failed and what you learned from it.
18. Tell me about a conflict with a coworker and how you resolved it.
19. Give an example of a goal you set and how you achieved it.
20. Tell me about a time you went above and beyond for a project.
21. Describe a situation where you had to adapt to a major change.
22. Tell me about a time you worked with a difficult team member.
23. Give an example of when you had to prioritize multiple competing deadlines.
24. Tell me about a time you influenced someone without formal authority.
25. Describe a time you made a mistake. How did you handle it?
26. Tell me about a time you took initiative on a project.
27. Give an example of delivering critical feedback to a colleague or junior.
28. Describe a time you had to make a tough decision with limited information.
29. Tell me about a time you disagreed with your manager and how you handled it.
30. Describe a situation where you had to learn something quickly under pressure.
31. Tell me about a project where you collaborated across teams or departments.
32. Give an example of when you identified a problem before it became serious.
33. Describe a time you had to manage stakeholder expectations.
34. Tell me about a time you motivated a demotivated team or colleague.
35. Describe how you handle working under tight deadlines and high pressure.
36. Tell me about a time your communication skills made a significant difference.
37. Give an example of receiving difficult feedback. How did you respond?
38. Describe a time you successfully drove a process improvement.
39. Tell me about a time you had to deal with ambiguity in a project.
40. Describe a situation where you built trust with a skeptical stakeholder.
41. Tell me about a time you had to say no to a request from a senior person.
42. Give an example of when you had to recover a failing project.
43. Describe a time when you had to mentor or coach someone.
44. Tell me about a situation where you had to juggle multiple stakeholders with conflicting interests.
45. Give an example of a time you used data to drive a decision.
46. Describe a time you worked in a cross-functional team with unclear ownership.
47. Tell me about a time you had to quickly pivot your strategy mid-project.
48. Describe a time you introduced a new idea or innovation at work.
49. Tell me about a time you had a disagreement within your team and how it was resolved.
50. Give an example of when you went out of your way to help a colleague succeed.
51. Describe a time when you had to handle a very unhappy client or stakeholder.
52. Tell me about a project that did not go as planned. What did you do?
53. Give an example of setting high standards and ensuring your team met them.
54. Describe a time you had to influence a culture or process change.
55. Tell me about the most complex technical or professional problem you solved.
56. Describe a time you collaborated with someone who had a very different work style.
57. Tell me about a time you proactively addressed a risk before it materialized.
58. Give an example of stepping up when leadership was needed but your role didn't require it.
59. Describe a time you had to balance short-term pressure with long-term goals.
60. Tell me about a time you had to deliver bad news to your team or management.
61. Give an example of how you built relationships with a remote or distributed team.
62. Describe a time you had to make an unpopular decision. How did you manage it?
63. Tell me about a time you showed resilience in the face of setbacks.
64. Give an example of aligning your team around a shared vision during uncertainty.
65. Describe a time you managed your own emotions in a high-stress, high-stakes situation.