Don’t miss practicing this Q for your interview
“You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think.”
Recently, I had to confront a family member on an important topic. I started getting tensed as I have the tendency of running away from conflict.
I have quite a few friends that I love talking to. But all I could think of was to call Aditi, my best friend, who lives in India. Since she’s in a different time zone, I had to wait for her to wake up. I preferred waiting over talking to someone else.
Why?
Because she’s my best friend?
No, there’s something else too.
The main reason was her past behaviour! I had evidence that she would understand me, give me solid advice and calm me down as she had done that in the past, not once but multiple times!
This is the very reason companies lay a lot of importance on behavioural questions in interviews.
These questions aim to understand how you have behaved in specific situations in the past. The underlying idea is that past behaviour is a good predictor of future behaviour, giving them an idea if you would be a good fit for the role.
Let’s discuss how to answer any behavioural question to avoid giving unimpressive answers.
Use the CAR framework:
Context: Provide the necessary background of the situation you are about to describe.
Action: Describe the specific actions you took in response to the situation or challenge. Highlight any leadership, problem-solving, or collaboration skills demonstrated during this phase.
Result: Emphasize the benefits of your contributions and the value you brought to the organization or team. Quantify the impact whenever possible, such as improved efficiency, increased revenue, successful project completion, etc.
Example
Question: Can you provide an example of a challenging project you worked on?
Response (CAR):
Context: In my previous role at ABC Company, I was assigned to lead a cross-functional team in implementing a new software system to enhance our client services.
Action: Recognizing the complexity, I initiated weekly team meetings to address concerns and ensure transparent communication. I also conducted individual skill assessments to optimize team members' roles, providing additional training where needed. To mitigate potential risks, I implemented an agile project management approach, breaking down tasks into sprints with measurable milestones.
Result: Despite initial setbacks, our team successfully launched the software on schedule. Client satisfaction increased by 20%, and we saw a 15% improvement in internal efficiency, leading to positive feedback from both clients and management.
Using the CAR framework will help you deliver a well-structured response, and will aid in highlighting your skills and achievements.
Keep Blooming,
Bani Singh