Behavioral interviewing is designed to gather insight into how you handled a specific situation in the workplace. The interviewer will want examples of what happened, what you did and how you achieved a positive outcome. The approach is fact-finding and focuses on your past actions and experiences versus what you should or would have done, which fosters a more interactive interview.

From a candidate perspective, it can result in some of the most challenging questions to answer on the spot. Here are some common behavioral interviewing questions and how best to respond.

Ten common behavioral interviewing questions:

1. Give an example of a goal you reached and tell me how you achieved it.
2. Give an example of a goal you didn't meet and how you handled it.
3. Describe a stressful situation at work and how you addressed it.
4. Tell me about a time you were under pressure to complete a task. What did you do to achieve it?
5. Think about a time when you were working on multiple projects. How did you prioritize what was most pressing?
6. Describe an instance where you had to meet a tight deadline. How did you handle it?
7. Give an example of how you have set goals and achieved them.
8. Give an example of how you've worked on a team effectively.
9. Have you handled a difficult situation with a colleague? If so, how?
10. Share an example of how you were able to motivate other colleagues.

What’s the best approach to answering behavioral interviewing questions?

Practice the STAR method to ensure you are providing specific information.