I haven’t written in a while. I actually got an interview last week, and I was too nervous and afraid of jinxing myself if I wrote before I heard anything.

I interviewed for two and a half hours with three different people. It was grueling, and I was exhausted - mentally and emotionally - when I finally left the office. One of the interviews used the “behavioral based” method. If you have ever experienced a behavioral interview, you know how difficult they can be.

The purpose of a behavioral interview is to 1) wear you out; 2) see how you perform under pressure; 3) see if you can think on your feet; and 3) gain insight into how you handle difficult situations. For example, the interviewer may ask “Tell me about a time when a project you worked on didn’t go like it should have. What did you do about the situation?”.

So, you have to quickly go through your Rolodex of experiences and think of a time that fits this scenario. The best way to answer these types of questions is with the STAR approach: You have to describe the situation or task (ST), explain the action you took (A), and then give the final result (R). It’s not easy. I think with this kind of interview, practice makes perfect. While I certainly wasn’t perfect, I know by practicing and role-playing before the interview, I was much better prepared.

Here is a link to a listing of some good behavioral interview questions. Practice your answers and try to use the STAR method.

Good luck and knock their socks off!