How to prepare for behavioral job interviews | Interview Prep Series

Securing an interview at a prestigious consulting firm or a top tech company is an exciting step forward. Yet, the thought of a behavioral interview often brings a mix of nerves and uncertainty. How do you stand out when you’re up against the best of the best?

This article lays the foundation of our job interview preparation series. It’s designed to give students and young professionals a clear and detailed plan to confidently navigate the often-intimidating behavioral interview.

With this guide, you'll go from feeling lost to knowing exactly how to prepare your stories and impress your interviewers.

Behavioral interviews are a critical part of the hiring process at top consulting firms like McKinsey, BCG, Bain, and Accenture, as well as at tech companies and startups. They assess a candidate's fit for the company culture, soft skills, and potential to succeed in the role.

Here’s a detailed framework for preparation:

1. Understand the STARLF Method:
   1. Situation: Set the context for your story.
   2. Task: Explain the task you were faced with.
   3. Action: Describe the specific actions you took to address the task.
   4. Result: Share the outcomes of your actions.
   5. Learnings: Share your learnings of your story.
   6. Follow-ups: Ask any follow up questions.
2. Research the Company:
   1. Know the company’s values, culture, and recent news.
   2. Understand the industry and the firm’s position within it.
   3. Look for “fit” factors that connect your background to the company ethos.
3. Reflect on Your Experiences:
   1. Identify the competencies: Leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, initiative, and client management are key areas.
   2. Create an inventory of experiences: Reflect on past work, internships, volunteer work, team sports, or projects.
   3. Develop stories using STARLF: Aim for 5-7 solid stories that showcase different competencies.
4. Align Your Stories with the Role:
   1. Understand the job description and identify the key competencies required.
   2. Match your STARLF stories with these competencies.
5. Practice Your Delivery:
   1. Be concise and structured in your responses.
   2. Practice out loud, ideally with a peer or mentor.
   3. Avoid technical jargon unless it’s industry-appropriate and the interviewer understands it.
   4. Show enthusiasm and passion for the work and company.
6. Prepare for Common Questions:
   1. “Tell me about yourself”: Have a brief, compelling narrative ready.
   2. “What is your greatest weakness?”: Identify a real weakness and show how you’re addressing it.
   3. “Describe a challenge/failure and how you dealt with it”: Employers are looking for resilience and learning ability.
7. Prepare Questions to Ask the Interviewer:
   1. Inquire about the role, team dynamics, and expectations.
   2. Ask about the interviewer's experience with the company.
   3. Show interest in the company's future and how you can contribute to it.
8. Review and Reflect Post-Interview:
   1. Note what went well and what could be improved.
   2. Develop a list of new experiences that you can discuss in future interviews.
9. Follow-Up:
   1. Send a personalized thank you email within 24 hours of the interview.

Sample Preparation Timeline:

• 3 weeks before: Start by researching the company and role.
• 2 weeks before: Create your inventory of experiences and develop STARLF stories.
• 1 week before: Match your stories to key competencies.
• 5-6 days before: Begin practicing your delivery, refining stories, and prepare questions for the interviewer.
• 1-2 days before: Review your prepared material and rest well.

Specific Tips for Consulting Firms and Tech Companies:

• Consulting and tech firms are looking for structured thinking and problem-solving skills. Be extra meticulous in framing your stories.
• Tech companies may also include a component assessing your comfort with ambiguity and innovation. Highlight stories where you navigated uncertainty or drove new initiatives.
• Startups value agility and versatility. Emphasize experiences where you wore multiple hats or rapidly adapted to changing circumstances.

Advanced Tip: Leverage LinkedIn to connect with current employees at these firms. Conduct informational interviews to gain insider insights and possible mentorship, which could inform your preparation and demonstrate genuine interest.

By following this framework, you can systematically prepare for behavioral interviews and position themselves strongly to secure job offers from top firms.

In the next upcoming articles, we will dive deeper into each element of the behaviorial interview so you can be fully prepared when the interview finally arrives.

I’ll see you in the next installment.

Best,
Raheel