Cracking the Behavioral Interview for Software Developers

Summary

In this video, the speaker shares valuable insights on preparing for the behavioral portion of a technical interview. They emphasize the importance of strong communication skills and storytelling to effectively answer situational questions. Using personal examples, the speaker demonstrates how to structure responses to questions like 'Tell me about yourself,' 'Tell me about a time you persuaded someone at work,' and 'Tell me about a time you failed at work.' Key takeaways include keeping answers concise, focusing on problem-solving and action, and adjusting technical details based on the interviewer's expertise level. The video serves as a helpful guide for engineers looking to ace their behavioral interviews.

Takeaways

• 😀 Behavioral interviews assess how well you communicate and handle various work situations, not just your technical skills.
• 😀 Preparing for behavioral interviews involves brainstorming 8-10 examples from your career that address different situations (e.g., conflict management, decision-making).
• 😀 The 'Tell me about yourself' question should be answered concisely, keeping the focus on professional experience and its relevance to the job.
• 😀 Avoid sharing personal details (e.g., about pets) in response to the 'Tell me about yourself' question—keep it focused on career and skills.
• 😀 When discussing a situation where you persuaded someone at work, present the problem, the action you took, and the outcome to highlight your problem-solving and communication skills.
• 😀 When answering 'Tell me about a time you failed', acknowledge the mistake and emphasize the lesson learned and how you improved from it.
• 😀 Keep answers to behavioral questions around 1-3 minutes and ensure that each answer tells a clear story: situation, action, and result.
• 😀 Avoid going too technical in responses if the interviewer is not familiar with the technology or tools involved—simplify your explanations.
• 😀 Use the SAR (Situation-Action-Result) format to structure your answers, making them easier to follow and more impactful.
• 😀 Be aware that your interviewer might not be a developer, so tailor your responses to avoid jargon that could confuse them.
• 😀 The best answers in behavioral interviews are clear, concise, and demonstrate how your actions led to positive outcomes in the workplace.

Q & A

Why is it important to prepare for the behavioral interview, even if you're strong in the technical aspects?

The behavioral interview assesses your communication skills and how you handle situations at work. Even if you're technically skilled, being unable to convey your thoughts clearly or interact well with a team can lead to rejection. Preparation ensures you can demonstrate these key soft skills effectively.

How does the speaker suggest preparing for behavioral interview questions?

The speaker recommends brainstorming 8-10 examples from your career that can be used to answer different behavioral questions, such as conflict management, problem-solving, or technical suggestions. This allows you to respond confidently to various scenarios.

What is the ideal length for answers to behavioral interview questions?

The ideal length for answers is typically between 1 to 3 minutes. This ensures you give enough detail to cover the situation, your actions, and the results, while keeping the answer concise and focused.

What is the importance of storytelling in answering behavioral interview questions?

Storytelling is crucial because it helps interviewers understand your thought process and the context of your actions. A well-structured story that highlights the problem, the action you took, and the result tends to be more memorable and engaging.

What common mistake should candidates avoid when answering the 'Tell me about yourself' question?

Candidates should avoid going into irrelevant personal details, such as talking about their pets or unrelated hobbies. It's important to keep the answer focused on your professional background and experiences that are relevant to the job.

Can you give an example of how to answer the question 'Tell me about a time you had to persuade someone at work'?

An effective answer might include a situation where you identified a problem (e.g., inconsistency in front-end frameworks), proposed a solution (e.g., adopting a single framework), and persuaded your manager or team to implement the change. Showing how your suggestion improved efficiency and teamwork is key.

What is a key takeaway from the speaker's example of 'Tell me about a time you failed at work'?

The key takeaway is to demonstrate that you've learned from your mistakes. In the example, the speaker acknowledged using the wrong source control practices and then explained how they improved their process by using feature branches in Git to avoid future issues.

How does the speaker suggest answering questions involving complex technical topics?

The speaker advises simplifying your answers when dealing with complex technical topics. While it’s important to be accurate, avoid overwhelming the interviewer with technical jargon, especially if they may not be familiar with the technology in question.

Why should candidates avoid going too deep into technical details during a behavioral interview?

Going too deep into technical details can confuse the interviewer, particularly if they aren't familiar with the technology. It’s important to gauge the interviewer's level of technical expertise and focus on clearly communicating the key points of your experience.

What should you keep in mind when answering questions about technical failures or mistakes?

When answering questions about failures, it's essential to show what you learned from the experience and how you improved. Acknowledging the mistake and demonstrating personal growth or process improvement highlights your problem-solving skills and ability to learn from setbacks.