Behavioral-Based Interview Questions
When interviewing for a new opportunity, the majority of your time should be spent preparing. Preparation
boosts confidence and helps you stand out from the competition. Here are some interview questions to
prepare for ahead of time. Meet with a career specialist to discuss interview preparation. Practice by
utilizing the StandOut mock interview tool in the Resources section of your UCR Handshake account.
Common Interview Questions
• Tell us a little about yourself.
• Why does this position appeal to you?
• Why do you want to work for this company/organization?
• What are your greatest strengths/weaknesses?
• What experiences have prepared you for this position?
• How would a colleague or previous supervisor describe you?
• What questions do you have for us?
Questions to End the Interview
Always have three to five questions prepared for your interviewer. They can include:
• What are the top goals for the first six months in this position?
• What is a typical day like in this role?
• What types of training and professional development opportunities are available?
• What are characteristics of the ideal candidate for this position?
• What is the best thing about working for this organization? What is the
greatest challenge?
• What is the next step in the selection process?
These questions determine if you have the skills needed for the job and what your reaction could be when faced with a similar situation in the
future. Themes typically include teamwork, leadership, conflict resolution, problem solving, failure, time management, and customer service.
To prepare, match your experiences (school/work/organizations) to the themes that appear in the job description. Below are examples:
Technical Questions
Specific companies/industries may ask questions to assess skills
and knowledge. Examples may include writing samples, computer
coding, and business case interview questions. Example: "What
new feature would you add to MS Word if you were hired?"
Situational Questions
Situational Questions put you in a theoretical situation and you are
expected to answer what action you would take. For example a
situation question can be: "How would you respond to a
dissatisfied customer?"
Team Player – Tell me about a team project on which you worked.
Leadership – Tell me about a time when you demonstrated leadership skills.
Conflict – Tell me a time when you dealt with a challenging person?
Problem Solving – Describe a situation in which you solved a dicult problem.
Failure – Tell me about a time you made a mistake. What did you learn from it?
INTERVIEW SKILLS
PREPARE TO ACE THE INTERVIEW
CONTINUED ON THE BACK
S
T
A
R
SITUATION
Detail in the background.
Provide a context.
Where? When?
Describe the challenge and
expectations. What needed
to be done? Why?
TASK
Specify the action taken.
What did you do? How?
What tools did you use?
ACTION
Explain and quantify the
results: accomplishments,
recognition, savings, etc.
RESULTS
Technique to Answer
Behavioral-Based
Interview Questions
CAREERS.UCR.EDU • career[email protected]
10 Tips For Successful Interviewing
1. Research the company/industry. Impress the interviewer with your knowledge of the organization's core products/service, clients, and
accomplishments. Online resources, such as CareerShift, oer this valuable information. Access these by
visiting careers.ucr.edu and logging in to UCR Handshake. Glassdoor.com oers company reviews, CEO approval ratings, salary reports,
interview reviews/questions, benefits reviews, oce photos, and more — all shared by those who know the companies best, the employees.
2. Review the job description for key skills and qualifications, and identify how your abilities and experiences are a good match for the job.
3. Practice, practice, practice answering typical interview questions. Be upbeat and use specific examples to demonstrate your skills. To get
started, practice by utilizing the StandOut mock interview tool in the Resources section of your UCR Handshake account. Then, make an
appointment with a career specialist for a mock interview critique.
4. Prepare questions for the interviewer. These demonstrate that you are interested in the company and the job. Avoid questions about
money/benefits.
5. Know what to expect. Ask the recruiting coordinator about the type of interview (group/panel/individual) and with whom you’ll be interviewing.
6. Wear a suit! Your attire and appearance will make a strong first impression. You want to be viewed, and remembered, as a professional.
7. Arrive five to ten minutes before your interview. Get good directions to the interview location and know how trac will impact
your travel time. If you will be interviewing virtually or over-the-phone, ensure that you are in a quiet space and that you have a stable
connection.
8. Turn o your mobile device. The interviewer should have your full attention. Distractions, such as calls and texts, demonstrate a lack of
interest in the company and the job.
9. Smile, relax, and be confident — even if you don’t feel like it. Interviewers want to connect with you as a professional and as a person.
Try to be yourself, even if you’re nervous.
10. Follow up with a thank-you note or email within 24 hours of the interview.
INTERVIEW SKILLS (CONT.)
Day of Interview Checklist
Dressed to impress
Mints
Portfolio:
• Extra resumes
• List of references
• Paper and pen
• Questions for the interviewer
• Recruiter contact information
Parking/emergency money
Mobile devices turned o
Ace the interview
Send a thank-you note
This information is accurate and reliable as of the date of publication, but may change without notice. Please contact the Career Center for the most up-to-date information. (09/21)
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