How to Approach Behavioral Interviews Early in Your Career
Behavioral interviews are designed to uncover how you’ve handled situations in the past to predict how you might handle them in the future. Learn how to turn class projects and other experiences into clear stories that impress recruiters using the STAR or CAR methods.
After “Tell me about yourself,” most behavioral interview questions begin with “Tell me about a time when…” They’re meant to reveal how you’ve tackled challenges or put your skills to work.
“When asked about something you’ve handled in the past, it helps to demonstrate how you would act in a similar situation in the future,” said Sam Brown, lead university relations recruiter at Cox.
The goal is to share a story that shows your abilities in action, and you already have plenty to pull from: group projects, part-time jobs, internships, volunteer work or student organizations. After all, work is really just one big group project: collaborating with different people, juggling responsibilities and figuring out how to get things done together.
Cox recruiters recommend organizing your thoughts using the STAR or CAR methods. These will help you turn any experience into compelling stories and memorable answers that show employers what you can do.
The STAR method vs. CAR method
The STAR method is a structured approach that helps you tell your story clearly by outlining the situation, task, action and result. The CAR method works similarly to the STAR method, focusing on three key components: context, action and result.
Cox university recruiters will often teach students to use CAR as a simpler approach to storytelling. “It’s important to put your examples in a format that has a beginning, a middle and an end, just like in a regular story,” Sam explained.
Here’s a breakdown of how you can use the CAR method when answering questions:
- Context: set the scene and briefly explain the situation. Was it a class project, an internship, a volunteer opportunity or a campus club? What was the challenge you were facing?
- Action: what specific steps did you take to address the challenge or task? Highlight your skills: communication, problem-solving, critical thinking or leadership. Focus on your contribution, even if it was part of a team effort.
- Result: share what you accomplished or learned from the experience.
Whenever possible, quantify your results using numbers and objective data. For example, saying you “increased traffic” sounds too vague compared to saying you “increased traffic by 115%.”
“Think about interviewing as making a case in a court of law,” Sam said. “To make a strong case (‘I can do this job’), you need evidence to support your claim. Having objective data sets you apart, boosts your communication skills and strengthens your application.”
How to prepare (when you don’t know what you’ll be asked)
Although there are some common topics you can plan for (more on that later), you can’t predict every single interview question that may come your way. Instead, focus on identifying experiences you want to highlight and preparing strong, flexible examples that you can adapt on the spot.
“Start by thinking of at least three examples of work that you are proud of, and then put those stories into your CAR format,” Sam said.
Aim for a mix that covers common themes interviewers tend to ask about:
- A time you had to solve a conflict or challenge.
- A time you made a mistake and learned from it.
- A time you achieved something meaningful or demonstrated key skills.
“These are the backbone of your behavioral interview,” Sam said. “All of this can be practiced ahead of time and used in lots of interviews.”
Also keep in mind the types of skills and qualities interviewers are often listening for:
- Communication skills: can you influence others with clear, confident, and thoughtful language?
- Organizational skills: do you show the ability to prioritize and balance multiple projects or demands at once?
- Curiosity: do you proactively seek answers and teach yourself new things, or do you wait to be told what to do?
Once you’ve mapped these stories out, practice walking through them at a high level. Keep your delivery conversational and aim to tell each example in about two and a half minutes or less.
You don’t need years of professional experience to shine in a behavioral interview. When you start applying the STAR or CAR methods to your interview prep, you’ll realize you have plenty of great stories to share with recruiters.
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