Top 30 Most Common Performance Based Interview Questions You Should Prepare For

Top 30 Most Common Performance Based Interview Questions You Should Prepare For

Top 30 Most Common Performance Based Interview Questions You Should Prepare For

Top 30 Most Common Performance Based Interview Questions You Should Prepare For

most common interview questions to prepare for

Written by

James Miller, Career Coach

Introduction

Preparing for job interviews can feel daunting, but understanding the types of questions you'll face is crucial for success. Increasingly, employers are using performance based interview questions, also known as behavioral interview questions, to gain deeper insight into candidates. Unlike hypothetical questions, these questions ask you to describe how you handled specific situations in the past. The logic is simple: your past performance is often the best predictor of your future performance. Mastering the art of answering these questions effectively can significantly boost your confidence and chances of landing the job. This guide breaks down 30 common performance based interview questions and provides a framework for crafting winning answers.

What Are performance based interview questions?

Performance based interview questions are a type of interview question that asks candidates to provide specific examples from their past experiences to demonstrate skills and competencies. They operate on the principle that past behavior is the most reliable indicator of future performance. Instead of asking "How would you handle a conflict?", a performance based question asks "Tell me about a time you had a conflict with a coworker and how you resolved it." These questions delve into your real-world actions, thought processes, and the results you achieved, providing interviewers with concrete evidence of your abilities in various situations. Performance based interview questions are a staple in modern hiring processes.

Why Do Interviewers Ask performance based interview questions?

Interviewers ask performance based interview questions for several key reasons. Primarily, they want to assess how you've handled real-world challenges and situations, providing tangible evidence of your skills like problem-solving, communication, leadership, and adaptability. These questions help verify the claims on your resume and uncover how you react under pressure, collaborate with others, and approach difficult tasks. By focusing on past actions, interviewers can gauge your behavioral tendencies and determine if your work style and values align with the company culture. Effectively answering performance based interview questions allows interviewers to predict how you would perform in similar situations if hired, making them a powerful predictive tool in the hiring process.

Preview List

  1. Tell me about a time when you had to explain a complex concept to someone with no knowledge in the area. How did you approach this?

  2. Give an example of a time when you received negative feedback about your communication style. How did you respond?

  3. Tell me about a time when you had to persuade a group to take action that they were resistant to.

  4. Give an example of a successful presentation you gave. What made it successful?

  5. Tell me about a time when you had to deliver bad news. How did you go about it?

  6. Give me an example of a time you managed numerous responsibilities. How did you handle that?

  7. Describe a long-term project that you kept on track. How did you keep everything moving?

  8. Tell me about a time your responsibilities got a little overwhelming. What did you do?

  9. Tell me about a time you set a goal for yourself. How did you ensure you’d meet it?

  10. Tell me about a time an unexpected problem derailed your planning. How did you recover?

  11. Tell me about a time when you had to establish priorities for yourself.

  12. Describe your management style. How do you successfully delegate tasks?

  13. Describe a time when being organized helped you meet a tight deadline.

  14. Give an example of a problem you identified and took the initiative to solve.

  15. Tell me about a time you made a bad decision and what you learned from it.

  16. Describe an instance when you sacrificed short-term benefits for a long-term goal.

  17. Share an instance where you realized you were working toward the wrong objective. What did you do?

  18. Can you describe a situation where you had to take a risk? What did you do to minimize it?

  19. Tell me about a time your work outcome was not what you expected. Why?

  20. Describe the biggest change you have had to deal with. How did you adapt?

  21. Tell me about a time you had to learn a new skill quickly. How did you approach it?

  22. Are you a self-starter? Give an example of achieving something without much supervision.

  23. Describe a time you had to work with a difficult team member. How did you handle it?

  24. Give an example of when you led a team to achieve a goal. What was your leadership approach?

  25. Tell me about a time you had to motivate others. What did you do?

  26. Describe a successful collaboration with a cross-functional team. What made it work?

  27. In your opinion, what is your greatest personal achievement?

  28. Recall a time you made a commitment you couldn't fulfill. How did you communicate this?

  29. Give an example of when you were given creative freedom. Did you enjoy it or prefer structure?

  30. Tell me about a time you delivered results under pressure. How did you manage?

1. Tell me about a time when you had to explain a complex concept to someone with no knowledge in the area. How did you approach this?

Why you might get asked this:

This tests your ability to simplify complex information and communicate effectively with diverse audiences, a key skill in many roles requiring clear explanations.

How to answer:

Use the STAR method. Describe the Situation and Task. Explain your Action: how you broke down the concept, used analogies, checked understanding. Detail the positive Result.

Example answer:

Situation: Needed to explain data analysis methods to a non-technical client. Task: Ensure they understood the report's basis. Action: Used simple analogies, avoided jargon, created a visual guide, paused for questions. Result: Client grasped the concepts, trusted the report, and approved the project based on the findings.

2. Give an example of a time when you received negative feedback about your communication style. How did you respond?

Why you might get asked this:

Evaluates your openness to feedback, humility, and commitment to personal and professional growth. Shows self-awareness and resilience.

How to answer:

Describe the Situation receiving the feedback and the Task of improving. Explain your Action: listening non-defensively, asking clarifying questions, reflecting, and taking concrete steps. State the positive Result.

Example answer:

Situation: A colleague said my emails were sometimes unclear. Task: Improve clarity. Action: Thanked them, asked for specifics, reflected on my writing, and started proofreading more carefully, using clearer language. Result: My emails became more effective, reducing miscommunication.

3. Tell me about a time when you had to persuade a group to take action that they were resistant to.

Why you might get asked this:

Assesses your influence, negotiation, and consensus-building skills, important for leadership or collaborative roles.

How to answer:

Outline the Situation and Task. Detail your Action: understanding resistance, presenting benefits, using data, addressing concerns openly. Share the positive Result of gaining buy-in.

Example answer:

Situation: Team resisted adopting new software. Task: Get team buy-in for efficiency gains. Action: Held a meeting to hear concerns, demonstrated benefits with real data, offered training, and addressed objections patiently. Result: Team agreed to pilot, later adopted, improving workflow.

4. Give an example of a successful presentation you gave. What made it successful?

Why you might get asked this:

Tests your public speaking ability, preparation, and ability to engage an audience and convey information effectively.

How to answer:

Describe the Situation and Task (the presentation). Explain your Action: preparation, tailoring content, engaging methods used. Detail the successful Result and audience reception.

Example answer:

Situation: Presented quarterly results to senior management. Task: Communicate key performance indicators and strategic recommendations. Action: Researched audience, used concise slides, practiced delivery, incorporated storytelling. Result: Presentation was well-received, recommendations approved, and stakeholders provided positive feedback on clarity.

5. Tell me about a time when you had to deliver bad news. How did you go about it?

Why you might get asked this:

Evaluates your empathy, honesty, and ability to handle difficult conversations with professionalism and sensitivity.

How to answer:

Describe the Situation requiring bad news delivery and the Task. Detail your Action: planning the message, being direct yet empathetic, providing context and support. Share the Result of how it was received and managed.

Example answer:

Situation: Had to inform a client their project timeline was delayed. Task: Deliver news professionally and manage expectations. Action: Called them directly, explained the unavoidable issue clearly, apologized, offered solutions, and set a new realistic timeline. Result: Client was disappointed but appreciated the honesty and proactive solutions.

6. Give me an example of a time you managed numerous responsibilities. How did you handle that?

Why you might get asked this:

Assesses your multitasking, prioritization, and organizational skills, vital for roles with varied demands.

How to answer:

Describe the Situation with multiple responsibilities and the Task of managing them. Explain your Action: prioritization methods, using tools, possibly delegating. Detail the Result of successfully meeting obligations.

Example answer:

Situation: Juggled three major projects and daily tasks simultaneously. Task: Meet all deadlines effectively. Action: Created detailed lists, prioritized tasks by deadline and impact, blocked time, and delegated where appropriate. Result: All projects were completed on time and to high standards, without compromising quality.

7. Describe a long-term project that you kept on track. How did you keep everything moving?

Why you might get asked this:

Evaluates your project management, planning, and execution skills over an extended period.

How to answer:

Describe the Situation and Task of the long-term project. Detail your Action: setting milestones, regular check-ins, proactive problem-solving, communication. Share the successful Result of completion.

Example answer:

Situation: Managed a six-month system implementation project. Task: Ensure project stayed on schedule. Action: Broke it into phases, set clear milestones, held weekly status meetings, used a project tracker, addressed roadblocks quickly. Result: Project completed within the original timeline and budget.

8. Tell me about a time your responsibilities got a little overwhelming. What did you do?

Why you might get asked this:

Tests your ability to handle stress, ask for help when needed, and adapt under pressure without sacrificing quality.

How to answer:

Describe the Situation where responsibilities became overwhelming and the Task of managing the workload. Explain your Action: assessing priorities, communicating with manager/team, seeking support. Detail the Result of regaining control and achieving goals.

Example answer:

Situation: Unexpected urgent tasks piled up on top of existing deadlines. Task: Manage the workload effectively without burnout. Action: Assessed all tasks, spoke to my manager about priorities, and requested help on one less critical item. Result: The most important tasks were completed on time, and the overall workload became manageable.

9. Tell me about a time you set a goal for yourself. How did you ensure you’d meet it?

Why you might get asked this:

Evaluates your self-motivation, proactivity, and goal-setting discipline.

How to answer:

Describe the Situation prompting the goal and the specific Task (the goal itself). Detail your Action: how you made it SMART, planned steps, tracked progress, overcame obstacles. Share the successful Result of achieving the goal.

Example answer:

Situation: Wanted to improve a specific technical skill. Task: Become proficient within three months. Action: Found online courses, allocated dedicated study time daily, practiced on personal projects, tracked learning milestones weekly. Result: Gained proficiency and applied the skill successfully in my work.

10. Tell me about a time an unexpected problem derailed your planning. How did you recover?

Why you might get asked this:

Assesses your adaptability, problem-solving under pressure, and ability to adjust plans quickly and effectively.

How to answer:

Describe the Situation with the unexpected problem and the Task of getting back on track. Explain your Action: assessing the impact, quickly replanning, communicating changes. Detail the Result of recovery and successful completion.

Example answer:

Situation: Key vendor had a major delay impacting my project schedule. Task: Get the project back on track quickly. Action: Immediately assessed impact, contacted alternative vendors, adjusted the timeline slightly, and communicated changes to stakeholders proactively. Result: Minimized the overall delay and kept the project moving forward.

11. Tell me about a time when you had to establish priorities for yourself.

Why you might get asked this:

Tests your ability to organize your workload effectively, identify what's most important, and align your efforts with objectives.

How to answer:

Describe the Situation requiring prioritization and the Task of setting priorities. Detail your Action: evaluating urgency/impact, consulting goals, using prioritization frameworks. Share the Result of effective workload management.

Example answer:

Situation: Faced a list of ten tasks with varying deadlines and importance. Task: Determine the correct order of execution. Action: Used a matrix to rank tasks by urgency and project impact, consulted project goals, and sequenced them logically. Result: Completed high-priority tasks first, meeting all key deadlines and contributing most effectively.

12. Describe your management style. How do you successfully delegate tasks?

Why you might get asked this:

If for a leadership role, this assesses your approach to leading and empowering others. Tests trust and communication.

How to answer:

Describe the Situation where you needed to manage/delegate and the Task. Detail your Action: assessing team strengths, clearly communicating expectations, providing resources/support, trusting the team. Share the Result of successful delegation and team performance.

Example answer:

My style is collaborative and results-oriented. Situation: Needed to distribute work on a new project. Task: Delegate tasks effectively. Action: Assessed team members' skills and interests, assigned tasks based on strengths, provided clear instructions, set check-ins, and offered support. Result: Tasks were completed efficiently, developing team members' skills.

13. Describe a time when being organized helped you meet a tight deadline.

Why you might get asked this:

Evaluates your practical application of organizational skills under pressure.

How to answer:

Describe the Situation with the tight deadline and the Task of meeting it. Detail your Action: how your prior organization, planning, or systems specifically helped. Share the successful Result.

Example answer:

Situation: Received a critical report request with only a few hours deadline. Task: Compile and submit accurately and on time. Action: Because I maintained well-organized files and data systems, I could quickly locate necessary information without searching. Result: Was able to gather data, draft the report, and submit it minutes before the deadline.

14. Give an example of a problem you identified and took the initiative to solve.

Why you might get asked this:

Tests your proactivity, observation skills, and ability to go beyond your assigned duties to improve things.

How to answer:

Describe the Situation and the Problem you identified. Explain your Action: analyzing the problem, proposing a solution, and implementing it without being asked. Share the positive Result or improvement.

Example answer:

Situation: Noticed a repetitive manual process causing delays for the team. Task: Find a more efficient way. Action: Researched automation tools, learned a basic scripting language, built a small tool to automate the process, and trained the team. Result: Reduced task time by 80%, freeing up hours weekly for more valuable work.

15. Tell me about a time you made a bad decision and what you learned from it.

Why you might get asked this:

Evaluates your honesty, self-reflection, ability to learn from mistakes, and resilience.

How to answer:

Be honest about the Situation and the bad Decision (Task implies rectifying/learning). Explain your Action: recognizing the mistake, analyzing why it went wrong, and the steps you took afterward. Focus heavily on the Result - the specific learning and how you applied it.

Example answer:

Situation: Chose a vendor based solely on cost for a critical component. Task: Deal with the consequences and learn. Action: The component failed; I took responsibility, quickly found a reliable vendor at a higher cost, and ensured future decisions included quality assessment alongside cost. Result: Learned that short-term savings aren't always worth the long-term risk; now balance cost with quality.

16. Describe an instance when you sacrificed short-term benefits for a long-term goal.

Why you might get asked this:

Tests your strategic thinking, patience, and ability to see the bigger picture beyond immediate gratification.

How to answer:

Describe the Situation involving a choice between short-term gain and long-term potential, and the Task of deciding. Detail your Action: weighing pros/cons, making the difficult choice based on rationale. Share the eventual Result or outcome of pursuing the long-term goal.

Example answer:

Situation: Had a chance for quick wins on a minor project. Task: Decide between easy wins or focusing on a challenging strategic initiative. Action: Prioritized the strategic project despite slower progress initially, as it aligned with long-term company growth. Result: The strategic project eventually delivered significant, sustainable value, far exceeding the minor project's potential.

17. Share an instance where you realized you were working toward the wrong objective. What did you do?

Why you might get asked this:

Evaluates your adaptability, critical thinking, and ability to recognize errors and adjust course professionally.

How to answer:

Describe the Situation and the original incorrect Objective (Task was to redirect). Explain your Action: recognizing the misalignment, investigating why, communicating with stakeholders, and pivoting. Share the Result of correcting the path and focusing on the right goal.

Example answer:

Situation: Three weeks into a project, new market data showed our target feature was unnecessary. Task: Pivot the project focus. Action: Analyzed the data, confirmed with stakeholders, proposed a new feature aligned with market needs, and rapidly adjusted the project plan and tasks. Result: We developed a product feature that was actually valuable to users, avoiding wasted effort.

18. Can you describe a situation where you had to take a risk? What did you do to minimize it?

Why you might get asked this:

Tests your decision-making under uncertainty, courage, and ability to assess and mitigate potential downsides.

How to answer:

Describe the Situation requiring a risk and the Task of taking it safely. Explain your Action: assessing the potential risks/rewards, taking calculated steps, implementing mitigation strategies. Share the Result and outcome.

Example answer:

Situation: Proposed investing budget in an unproven technology platform. Task: Get approval and manage the risk. Action: Researched thoroughly, conducted a small-scale pilot first, identified potential failure points, and built contingency plans. Result: The pilot was successful, minimizing the financial risk of a full rollout, which later proved highly beneficial.

19. Tell me about a time your work outcome was not what you expected. Why?

Why you might get asked this:

Assesses your analytical skills, ability to identify root causes, learn from outcomes, and improve future processes.

How to answer:

Describe the Situation, the expected Outcome (Task was likely achieving it), and the actual Outcome. Explain your Action: analyzing why it differed, identifying factors (internal/external). Share the Result - the key learning and how you adjusted going forward.

Example answer:

Situation: A marketing campaign didn't generate expected lead numbers. Task: Understand the performance gap. Action: Analyzed the data, reviewed targeting and messaging, conducted A/B tests, and surveyed sales feedback. Result: Found the messaging was unclear; used the learning to refine copy for future campaigns, significantly improving results.

20. Describe the biggest change you have had to deal with. How did you adapt?

Why you might get asked this:

Evaluates your flexibility, resilience, and ability to navigate uncertainty and new environments.

How to answer:

Describe the Situation of the significant change and the Task of adapting. Detail your Action: understanding the change, seeking information, adjusting your approach, remaining positive. Share the Result of successfully navigating the transition.

Example answer:

Situation: My company underwent a major restructuring, changing reporting lines and processes. Task: Adapt quickly and effectively. Action: Focused on understanding the new structure, proactively connected with my new manager/team, remained flexible with changing tasks, and focused on maintaining productivity. Result: Integrated smoothly into the new team and continued to meet performance expectations throughout the transition.

21. Tell me about a time you had to learn a new skill quickly. How did you approach it?

Why you might get asked this:

Tests your initiative, learning agility, and resourcefulness, especially in fast-paced or evolving roles.

How to answer:

Describe the Situation requiring rapid skill acquisition and the Task. Detail your Action: identifying resources, structured learning approach, practice methods, seeking help. Share the Result of mastering the skill and applying it.

Example answer:

Situation: Needed to use a new software tool for a project starting next week. Task: Learn the software quickly. Action: Found online tutorials, dedicated evening hours to practice, used the tool for personal tasks, and asked experienced colleagues specific questions. Result: Became proficient enough to use the tool effectively for the project deadline.

22. Are you a self-starter? Give an example of achieving something without much supervision.

Why you might get asked this:

Evaluates your initiative, motivation, and ability to work independently.

How to answer:

Describe a Situation where supervision was minimal but a need/opportunity existed. The Task was recognizing and pursuing it. Detail your Action: identifying the goal, planning, executing independently. Share the positive Result achieved through self-direction.

Example answer:

Situation: Noticed inconsistent data entry across the department affecting report accuracy. Task: Standardize the process. Action: Developed a standardized entry template and guidelines, proactively trained colleagues, and created a simple verification system, all without being asked. Result: Data accuracy significantly improved, streamlining reporting.

23. Describe a time you had to work with a difficult team member. How did you handle it?

Why you might get asked this:

Tests your interpersonal skills, conflict resolution, patience, and ability to maintain professionalism in challenging team dynamics.

How to answer:

Describe the Situation with the difficult team member and the Task of collaborating effectively. Detail your Action: focusing on behavior, not personality; seeking to understand; professional communication; focusing on shared goals. Share the Result of managing the relationship and achieving team objectives.

Example answer:

Situation: A team member consistently missed deadlines, impacting project progress. Task: Ensure their contributions met deadlines without causing conflict. Action: Had a private conversation to understand potential roadblocks, offered support and resources, and proposed breaking their tasks into smaller, trackable steps. Result: They improved their timeliness, and the project stayed on track, maintaining a professional relationship.

24. Give an example of when you led a team to achieve a goal. What was your leadership approach?

Why you might get asked this:

Evaluates your leadership style, ability to motivate, delegate, and guide a group towards a common objective. Relevant for leadership or project lead roles.

How to answer:

Describe the Situation and the Team Goal (Task). Detail your Action: defining the vision, motivating members, delegating effectively, providing support, communicating progress. Share the successful Result of achieving the goal together.

Example answer:

Situation: Led a project team to launch a new product feature. Task: Successfully launch the feature on time. Action: Clearly defined roles/responsibilities, set clear milestones, held daily stand-ups, removed roadblocks for the team, and celebrated small wins to keep morale high. Result: We launched the feature successfully on the planned date, meeting all initial objectives.

25. Tell me about a time you had to motivate others. What did you do?

Why you might get asked this:

Tests your influence, emotional intelligence, and ability to inspire enthusiasm and drive in others.

How to answer:

Describe the Situation where motivation was low and the Task of boosting it. Detail your Action: understanding what motivated individuals, setting clear goals, recognizing contributions, fostering a positive environment. Share the Result of improved morale and performance.

Example answer:

Situation: Team morale dropped after a project setback. Task: Re-energize the team. Action: Acknowledged the difficulty, reminded them of our goal's importance, highlighted individual contributions, facilitated a brainstorming session to find new solutions, and emphasized our collective strength. Result: Team members felt re-engaged and tackled the remaining challenges with renewed determination.

26. Describe a successful collaboration with a cross-functional team. What made it work?

Why you might get asked this:

Evaluates your teamwork skills across different departments, communication, and ability to work towards shared goals despite diverse perspectives.

How to answer:

Describe the Situation involving a cross-functional team and the collaborative Task. Detail your Action: focusing on clear communication, respecting different expertise, finding common ground, shared goal emphasis. Share the successful Result of the collaboration.

Example answer:

Situation: Collaborated with marketing and sales on a new lead generation strategy. Task: Create a unified approach. Action: Facilitated open communication channels, ensured mutual understanding of departmental goals, focused discussions on shared objectives, and established clear handover processes between teams. Result: Developed a cohesive strategy that significantly improved lead quality and conversion rates for both teams.

27. In your opinion, what is your greatest personal achievement?

Why you might get asked this:

Reveals what you value, your definition of success, and your proudest moments, offering insight into your character and drive.

How to answer:

Choose an achievement (Situation/Task) that is genuinely meaningful and ideally showcases skills relevant to the job. Detail your Action to achieve it and the significant Result and impact.

Example answer:

My greatest achievement is completing my degree while working full-time. Situation: Worked full-time while pursuing my degree. Task: Balance demands to succeed academically and professionally. Action: Developed strict time management, sacrificed leisure, stayed disciplined, and leveraged online resources effectively. Result: Graduated with honors while consistently performing well in my job, demonstrating discipline and perseverance.

28. Recall a time you made a commitment you couldn't fulfill. How did you communicate this?

Why you might get asked this:

Tests your integrity, responsibility, and ability to manage expectations professionally when things go wrong.

How to answer:

Describe the Situation leading to the unfulfilled commitment and the specific Commitment (Task was communicating failure). Detail your Action: identifying the issue early, communicating promptly and honestly, explaining why, offering solutions/alternatives. Share the Result of managing the fallout professionally.

Example answer:

Situation: Committed to delivering a report by Friday but unforeseen data issues arose. Task: Inform stakeholders I couldn't meet the deadline. Action: Immediately informed my manager and the relevant team on Thursday, explained the specific data problem preventing completion, apologized, and provided a revised timeline (Monday). Result: While not ideal, my proactive communication allowed them to adjust plans, minimizing disruption.

29. Give an example of when you were given creative freedom. Did you enjoy it or prefer structure?

Why you might get asked this:

Assesses your working style preference – whether you thrive in ambiguity and innovation or prefer clear guidelines.

How to answer:

Describe the Situation with creative freedom or structure and the Task of completing it. Detail your Action within that environment. Clearly state your preference and why, using the example Result to illustrate your point. Be honest about your preference.

Example answer:

Situation: Asked to design a new training program from scratch with minimal guidelines. Task: Develop the program effectively. Action: Enjoyed the freedom to research best practices and tailor content. While challenging, I created my own structure by setting milestones and seeking input. Result: The program was successful, and I found I thrive on creative freedom as long as I impose my own structure and accountability.

30. Tell me about a time you delivered results under pressure. How did you manage?

Why you might get asked this:

Tests your ability to perform effectively under tight deadlines or high stakes.

How to answer:

Describe the Situation with pressure and the Task of delivering results. Detail your Action: staying calm, prioritizing, focusing, managing stress, maybe seeking support. Share the successful Result achieved despite the pressure.

Example answer:

Situation: Our team's Q4 report was delayed, and I had to finalize key sections in one day for a critical executive review. Task: Complete my sections accurately and on time under immense pressure. Action: I blocked out distractions, prioritized tasks, focused intensely, and double-checked calculations meticulously, taking short breaks to manage stress. Result: Delivered my sections accurately and on time, contributing to the successful executive review.

Other Tips to Prepare for a performance based interview

Preparing thoroughly is key to mastering performance based interview questions. Start by reviewing the job description and identifying the core competencies required. Then, brainstorm specific examples from your past experiences that showcase these skills. The STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is your best friend here; practice structuring your answers using this format. "Practice helps you articulate your experiences clearly and concisely," notes one career coach. Don't just recall events; analyze your role, your decisions, and the impact. Quantify results whenever possible. Consider using interview preparation tools like the Verve AI Interview Copilot (https://vervecopilot.com) to practice your responses and receive feedback. Prepare 2-3 examples for each key skill area. Using a tool like Verve AI Interview Copilot can simulate performance based interview questions and help refine your delivery. Remember, the interviewer wants to hear about your specific actions. Be honest and authentic in your responses. Leverage resources like Verve AI Interview Copilot to build confidence and prepare for common performance based interview questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is the STAR method? A1: A structure for answers: Situation, Task, Action, Result.

Q2: How many examples should I prepare? A2: Aim for 2-3 strong examples per key skill mentioned in the job description.

Q3: What if I don't have a specific example? A3: Draw from volunteer work, academics, or projects. Explain why a direct example is unavailable, then describe how you would handle it.

Q4: Should I always use the STAR method? A4: It's highly recommended for performance based interview questions as it provides structure.

Q5: How long should my answers be? A5: Aim for 1-2 minutes per answer. Be concise and impactful.

Q6: Can I reuse examples? A6: Yes, one experience can often demonstrate multiple skills, but tailor the focus to the specific question asked.

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