The Career Raven Weekly: Mastering Behavioral Questions: Tell Your Story Like a Pro.

Hello, Career Raven Coven!

You’ve prepped for the general interview questions, but what about those tricky behavioral questions that start with “Tell me about a time when…”? These can be tough, but with the right strategies, you can master them.

Why Behavioral Questions Matter

Behavioral questions are designed to assess how you’ve handled situations in the past, giving the interviewer insight into how you’ll perform in the future. They’re based on the idea that past behavior best predicts future behavior.

How to Master Behavioral Questions

1. Use the STAR Method
   The STAR method is a proven technique to answer behavioral questions clearly and effectively:

   • Situation: Set the context of the story.

   • Task: Explain the challenge or task you were faced with.

   • Action: Describe the actions you took to resolve the situation.

   • Result: Share the outcome of your actions, including any quantifiable results.

   Example Question: “Tell me about a time you faced a difficult challenge at work.” STAR Response:

   • Situation: “At my previous job, we had a major client threatening to leave due to dissatisfaction.”

   • Task: “I was tasked with turning the situation around and retaining the client.”

   • Action: “I personally met with the client, identified their concerns, and worked with my team to implement new solutions within a week.”

   • Result: “As a result, we not only retained the client, but also increased their contract value by 15%.”

2. Be Specific & Quantify Results
   When answering, don’t be vague. Focus on specific examples, and whenever possible, quantify the results to show the impact you made.

3. Stay Positive
   Even if the situation was challenging, focus on how you turned it around. Avoid speaking negatively about colleagues or employers.

Action Steps:

• Review common behavioral questions and prepare STAR answers for them.

• Practice your responses out loud—clarity and confidence are key.

This Week's Challenge:

This week, I challenge you to practice at least three STAR responses. The more you prepare, the smoother these questions will feel during the interview.

Need Help?

If you’re struggling with behavioral questions, I offer personalized coaching to help you craft powerful STAR responses that leave a lasting impression.

Coming Next Week:

Next week, we’ll talk about follow-up strategies, which are how to keep the momentum going after the interview and leave a positive lasting impression.

Stay tuned and keep soaring!

With Empowerment and Strategy,
Jen DeLorenzo
Career Coach & Reverse Recruiter