Frequently Asked Behavioral Interview Questions

Behavioral interviewing is still the most popular approach to assessing a candidate’s worth. Essentially, the premise is that past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior. In my work as head of recruiting for a bank, consumer products company, and retail company, and in advising many recruiters while at Stanford, I have found these to be my favorite frequently asked questions across industries:

Give me an example of a time when you ______. (Fill in the blank with what the job requires, hat the interviewer is evaluating you for. Possible fill-ins are: handled a crisis; dealt with a conflict; handled a stressful situation; made a mistake or failed at something; had to become an expert at something quickly; had to influence people who did not report to you; implemented an idea; managed a large-scale project; solved a problem; implemented a creative solution; took a risk; worked on a team; accomplished something against the odds …)
Tell me about yourself (in two minutes).
Why did you decide to get your MBA, and why did you choose to do it at this school?
What have you learned, or what’s your favorite course and why?
Describe a time you failed and what you learned from that failure.
What do you know about us, and why are you interested in working with us?
How does your experience/background relate to this job? Or, why are you the best candidate for this job. Or, why should we consider you for this role?
What would your former boss, coworkers, and staff tell me about you?
Everyone has developmental areas–what are yours?
What do you see yourself doing in three to five years?