Sample Behavioral Questions

Tell me about the time when you...

• achieved a great deal in a short amount of time.
• were disappointed in your performance.
• made a major sacrifice to achieve an important goal.
• were unwilling or unable to make the necessary sacrifice to achieve a goal.
• worked effectively under a great deal of pressure.
• did not handle a stressful situation.
• were really bothered by the actions of another coworker.
• were especially creative in solving a problem.
• organized or planned an event that was very successful.
• were unable to complete a project on schedule despite your best efforts.
• really had to remain flexible.
• had to deal with a personality conflict with a boss or coworker.
• felt really good about the decision you made and the process you went through.
• were very effective in your problem-solving ability.
• used facts and reason to persuade someone to accept your recommendation.
• utilized your leadership ability to gain support for what initially had strong opposition.
• were able to build team spirit in a time of low morale.
• were able to gain commitment from others to really work as a team.
• were particularly perceptive regarding a person's or group's feelings and needs.
• built rapport quickly with someone under difficult conditions.
• wrote a report that was well received by others.
• were particularly effective on prioritizing tasks and completing a project on schedule.
• identified potential problems and resolved the situation before it became serious.
• were highly motivated and your example inspired others.
• found it necessary to tactfully but forcefully say things that others did not want to hear.
• were particularly effective in a talk you gave or a seminar you taught.
• had to make an important decision quickly even though you did not have all the information you wanted.
• had to make a decision you knew would be unpopular.
• made a mistake and learned from it.
• made an intentional effort to get to know someone from another culture.
• were able to sell your idea to a key person.
• were unable to sell your idea to a key person.