Master Behavioral Interviews - Destination FAANG.pptx.pdf

Behavioral interviews are a popular technique used by employers to assess a candidate’s past behavior as a predictor of future performance. Unlike traditional interviews that focus on hypothetical questions, behavioral interviews delve into real-life scenarios to understand how candidates have handled specific situations.

Key Points:

Purpose: To evaluate how past experiences and actions align with the job requirements.
Common Questions: Often start with “Tell me about a time when…” or “Describe a situation where…”
STAR Method: A structured approach to answering questions by outlining the Situation, Task, Action, and Result.
Benefits:

Provides a deeper insight into a candidate’s problem-solving, teamwork, and leadership skills.
Helps employers gauge a candidate’s fit for the company culture and role.
Preparation Tips:

Review the job description and identify key skills.
Reflect on past experiences and prepare stories using the STAR method.
Practice articulating your responses clearly and concisely.

1. Master
Behavioral
Interviews
By
Parth Vyas

2. What’s In it For You.
•Introduction and importance - Behavioral Interviews.
•The STAR method.
•How to Prepare, Research and Present.
•Categories of Behavioral Interviews.
•50 Behavioral Questions and their Answers.
•Dealing with easy and difficult questions.
•Non-verbal communication.
•Resources and follow ups.

3. About me
•Name: Parth Vyas
•10+ years in the IT industry.
•Run my own YouTube channel : Destination FAANG
•Hobbies: Movies, COD, Hiking.
•Fun facts:
•Masters in Computer Science.
•Recently became dad of twin daughters.
•Born and raised in India, now in Canada.

4. Types of Interviews
Technical
System
Design
Behavioral
Data Structure
Algorithms
Building complex
distributed systems
Are you a good
culture fit

5. Understanding Behavioral
Interviews
•Explanation: Interviews focused on past behavior as a
predictor of future performance.
•Purpose: To assess suitability based on real-life examples.

6. Behavioral vs. Traditional Interviews
•Focus on real-life experiences vs. hypothetical questions
•Assess soft skills and problem-solving abilities
•Example-driven vs. general questioning.

7. Why Behavioral Interviews Matter
•Accurate predictor of job performance
•Helps identify candidates with the right Mind set.
•Reduces hiring biases.

8. The STAR Method Explained
•Situation
•Task
•Action
•Result

9. Breaking Down the STAR Method
•Situation: Setting the context for your story,
•Task: Describing the challenge or responsibility.
•Action: Detailing the steps, you took.
•Result: Highlighting the outcomes and learnings.

10. Identifying Your Strengths and
Weaknesses
•Methods to identify personal strengths
•Acknowledging and addressing weaknesses

11. Reflecting on Relevant Past
Experiences
•How to recall and select job-relevant experiences
•Structuring your experiences for interview storytelling

12. Dive Deep into Job Requirements
•Analyzing the job description
•Matching skills and experiences with job requirements

13. Company Culture and Values
•How to Research
•How company values align with personal values

14. Case Study 1: Netflix
•What is unique.
•Elite Sports team mentality
•Keeper’s test.
•Feedback culture.

15. Case Study 2: Amazon
•What is unique.

16. Categories
Teamwork
Problem
Solving
Adaptability
Communication Leadership

17. Teamwork & Collaboration
•Cooperation
•Empathy
•Open-Mindedness

18. Problem Solving
•Critical Thinking
•Analysis
•Creativity
•Logic

19. Adaptability
•Resiliency
•Flexibility
•Agility

20. Communication
•Interpersonal skills
•Listening
•Articulation
•Diplomacy

21. Leadership
•Responsibility
•Initiative
•Accountability
•Vision

22. 50 Behavioral Interview Questions
•10 Questions each for all 5 Categories
•Covers most of topics
•Create your own answer
•Be prepared for the follow up

23. Teamwork & Collaboration
1.Give an example of a challenging & successful team project you were
a part of.
•What made it successful and what made it challenging?
2.Tell a time when you had to deal with a difficult client or coworker.
3.Can you describe a time when you had to deal with a team member
who wasn't pulling their weight?
4.How do you handle a situation where you disagree with a supervisor?
5.Describe when you had to use your understanding to lead a team.

24. Teamwork & Collaboration
6.Can you talk about a time when you had to coordinate with different
departments to complete a project?
7.Tell me about a time when you had to rely on your presentation skills
to influence someone's opinion.
8.Describe a situation where you had to resolve an interpersonal
conflict at work.
9.How do you approach working in a diverse and inclusive team
environment?
10.Can you give an example of how you have motivated others?

25. Problem Solving
11.Describe a project where you had to use your problem-solving skills.
12.Tell about a time when you made a mistake. How did you handle it?
13.Describe a situation where you had to be particularly attentive to
details. How did you handle that?
14.Can you talk about a time when you had to persuade others to see
things your way?
15.Tell me about a time when you showed initiative at work.

26. Problem Solving
16.Describe a situation where you had to take the lead on a project.
17.Can you give an example of a time when you went above and beyond
your job duties?
18.Tell me about a time when you had to innovate to solve a problem.
19.Describe a time when you had to make a tough decision quickly.
20.How do you approach learning new skills or technologies? Provide an
example.

27. Adaptability
21.Tell me about a time you had to adapt to a significant change in the
workplace.
22.Describe a situation where you had to gather information from
multiple sources. How did you determine which information was
most relevant?
23.Can you talk about a time when you had to work under pressure?
24.How do you handle meeting tight deadlines?
25.Describe a time when you had to learn something new in a short
period. How did you manage?

28. Adaptability
26.Tell me about a time when you had to adapt your communication
style to suit a particular audience.
27.Describe an instance where you had to work with limited resources.
28.Can you talk about a long-term project you managed? How did you
keep everything moving along in a timely manner?
29.Tell me about a time when you had to balance competing priorities
and how you handled it.
30.Describe a situation where you had to be patient in order to achieve
your goal.

29. Communication
31.Describe a situation where you had to use your communication skills
to resolve a conflict.
32.Tell me about a time when you had to give critical feedback to
someone. How did you approach it?
33.Describe a project where you took a creative approach to solve a
problem.
34.Can you provide an example of a time when you had to juggle several
projects at the same time?
35.How do you prioritize your work when you have multiple projects to
handle?

30. Communication
36.Describe a time when you had to use your negotiation skills.
37.Tell me about a time when you had to manage conflicting priorities.
38.How do you handle constructive criticism?
39.Can you describe a time when you had to communicate complex
information clearly?
40.Describe a situation where you had to actively listen to someone to
understand their perspective.

31. Leadership
41.Give an example of a goal you set and how you achieved it.
42.Have you ever had to make an unpopular decision? How did you
handle the feedback?
43.Have you ever worked on a project that failed? What did you learn
from that experience?
44.Can you give an example of how you have handled a high-stress
situation?
45.Tell me about a time when you had to take responsibility for an error
made by someone else.

32. Leadership
46.How do you assess the success of a project? Give an example.
47.Tell me about a time when you had to decide without all the
information you needed.
48.Describe a situation where you had to analyze data and make a
recommendation. What approach did you take?
49.Have you ever faced an ethical dilemma at work? How did you
handle it?
50.Describe a situation where you took a risk and it paid off.

33. Dealing with Difficult Questions
•Understanding Difficult Questions:
•Weaknesses or Failures:
•Strategies for Thinking on Your Feet:
•Stay calm and composed.
•Use the pause to organize thoughts.
•Apply the STAR for structure.
•Example

34. Incorporating Emotional Intelligence
•Importance of Emotional Intelligence
•Demonstrating Empathy and Self-Awareness
•Balancing Professional and Personal Anecdotes
•Emotional Intelligence in Action

35. Non-verbal communication
•Body Language
•Eye Contact
•Facial Expression
•Use of Space
•Virtual Interview

36. Preparation Strategies
•Write some stories and experiences.
•Practice STAR.
•Do Mock.
•Be in the moment.

37. Resources
•Book:
•Cracking The Coding Interview
•101 Great Answers to the Toughest Interview Questions
•Online Courses: LinkedIn learning, Coursera, Udemy
•Website: Levels.fyi, Glassdoor
•Reddit: r/jobs, r/interviews, r/cscareerquestions

38. Thank you