BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEW WORKSHEET
HOW TO USE THIS WORKSHEET
1. Make a copy to your own drive by clicking this link
2. Research the company/position thoroughly using Glassdoor, LinkedIn, website, blog posts, Twitter, etc.
3. Tailor and complete worksheet/interview study guide based on your research
a. Know your audience
■ Who are you speaking to? What is their position? What is their motivation?
b. Guess the questions you may be asked
■ Clues: Twitter, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Social Media, company website, press releases,
Google News alerts
c. Prepare questions to ask your interviewer: Each question you ask should do 1 of 3 things
■ Demonstrate research
■ Sell yourself
■ Connect to interviewer
4. Study and rehearse the “stories” you developed on this worksheet without memorizing answers
COMPANY/ROLE RESEARCH
ABOUT INTERVIEW:
● When is it? How long?
● Where is it? Zoom*/phone?
*Some tips for choosing Zoom background
ABOUT INTERVIEWER:
● Who is it with? What is their title?
● Link to their LinkedIn
● Do they have a technical background or not?
ABOUT COMPANY (DESCRIPTION):
ABOUT JOB (POSTING):
● Highlight strong points to emphasize in green
● Highlight things to work on/add into application
● Highlight weaknesses in red
WHAT ARE MY TOP 3 (AND MOST UNIQUE) SELLING
POINTS BASED ON THE COMPANY AND THE ROLE:
STANDARD QUESTION PREP
INTRO: TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF. Sample: “I’m a junior Computer Science student at
● Present + Past + Future (align with company) ____ where I’ve recently completed some advanced
OR coursework in ________ and a side project where I
● Past + Present + Future (align with company) utilized [their company’s] API and documentation. I
● Additional help with this answer here. chose to pursue a career in software because I love
● Origin story: What are your superpowers? How finding innovative tech solutions to complicated
did you get them? What would they mean for the social problems, and that is why I jumped at the
company? chance to apply for a spot on [company’s] team for
this summer internship.”
WHY DO YOU WANT TO WORK FOR [COMPANY]?:
● Why do you like them and their product?
● What are their values?
● Why are theirs the problems you want to solve?
WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS?:
● Feature + Example + Benefit
● Have at least 3 examples that relate to the top
skills they are seeking.
WHY SHOULD WE HIRE YOU?:
● Feature + Example + Benefit
● How are you uniquely qualified? This answer
could relate to your strengths or your specific
motivation for applying to the company.
BEHAVIORAL/SITUATIONAL QUESTION PREP>> STAR STORIES!
WALK ME THROUGH A RECENT PROJECT OF YOURS. Situation:
(at least 2 project examples) Task:
● Situation Action:
● Task/Obstacle/Problem Result:
● Action
● Result
TELL ME ABOUT SOMETHING YOU ACCOMPLISHED
THAT YOU ARE PROUD OF.
● Situation
● Task
● Action
● Result
TELL ME ABOUT A TIME YOU HAD TO LEARN
SOMETHING NEW FOR A PROJECT.
● Situation
● Task
● Action
● Result
TELL ME ABOUT A TIME YOU DISAGREED WITH A
COWORKER.
● Situation
● Task
● Action
● Result
TELL ME ABOUT A TIME YOU HAD TO DEAL WITH
AMBIGUITY.
● Situation
● Task
● Action
● Result
TELL ME ABOUT A CHALLENGE THAT YOU
OVERCAME.
● Situation
● Task
● Action
● Result
TRICKY QUESTION PREP
WHAT ARE YOUR SALARY EXPECTATIONS? The range I’m aiming for is around 90-110k which is
● Strategy #1: “I don’t see salary being an issue as in line with what I’ve seen for many of the other
long as it’s within the market rate.” opportunities I’m interviewing with. However, I could
● Strategy #2: “I expect to be paid in line with other be flexible depending on the total compensation
employees of my background and skill set.” package.
● Strategy #3: Give a well-researched range of at
least 20k.
TELL ME ABOUT A TIME YOU HAD A CONFLICT WITH
A COLLEAGUE.
● This can be a miscommunication. The key IS to
showcase problem-solving, empathy,
understanding.
WHAT’S YOUR LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE WITH
[TOOL/SKILL YOU DON’T HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH]
● Don’t try to fake it.
● Don’t say “no”.
● Talk about your level of experience and how you
would go about getting more experience or
learning what you need to learn on the job.
WHAT ARE YOUR WEAKNESSES?:
● Feature + Example + Opportunity
● Have at least 2 examples. Include either how you
are overcoming them or how you are repurposing
your weakness into a strength.
TELL ME ABOUT A TIME YOU FAILED:
● Use a failure that demonstrates continued
learning, commitment, and is something you can
change moving forward.
WHAT DO YOU DO OUTSIDE OF CODING?:
● Something that can often be asked to determine
cultural fit.
WHAT’S A RECENT BOOK YOU’VE READ:
● This one always trips me up. Don’t hesitate to use
one of the tips for buying time to think.
QUESTIONS AT THE END:
You want these questions to do 1 (or more) of 3
things: demonstrate research you have done in the
company, gain insight for future interview rounds, or
connect with your interviewer.
● What are the most exciting challenges facing
your company in the next 6 months and how
would this role help you meet those challenges?
● Let’s say you were to hire me for this position. 30
days into the role, what would I have
accomplished that would tell you that you had
made the right decision in hiring me?
● The best questions to ask!
POST INTERVIEW
THANK YOU EMAIL:
● Don’t forget to send one to every person you interacted with for that interview round, if possible.
IF YOU DON’T HAVE INTERVIEWER’S EMAIL:
● Send thank you email to interview coordinator (likely someone in recruiting or HR) and, in that thank you
email, either ask them for the email address of your interviewer or if they’d be willing to pass along your
appreciation to the person who interviewed you.
[optional] REACHING OUT TO EMPLOYEES FOR ADVICE/INSIGHTS
CONTACT + CONNECTION MESSAGE DATE
1. Pre-app
2. Post-app
3. Pre-interv
iew
RESOURCES:
● Behavioral interview questions + sample answers
● Behavioral interview questions categorized by skill
● Practice interview prep with LinkedIn
● Thank you email template