Dear job seeker

I will keep this page short and to the point. Here’s what I have for you today:

In the eBook, you will find multiple great answers to each of the following questions:

  • Describe a situation when you were under pressure in work.
  • Describe a conflict you had with a colleague.
  • Tell us about a time when you went above and beyond.
  • Tell me about an obstacle you overcame.
  • Describe a time when you had to deal with an angry or upset client (customer).
  • Describe a situation when you did not agree with the opinion (or decision) of your superior or supervisor, and knew that they were wrong. How did you handle that?
  • Describe the most difficult decision you’ve ever made.
  • What is the biggest mistake you’ve made in your career?
  • Give an example of a time you showed initiative at work.
  • Describe a time when you faced an ethical dilemma.
  • Give an example of an occasion when you used logic to solve the problem.
  • Tell me about a time when you had to make a decision without all the information you needed.
  • When you worked on multiple projects, how did you prioritize?
  • Tell me about a time when you were overwhelmed with work.
  • … and 40 other tough behavioral-based questions, questions that form the core of interviews in Fortune 500 corporations (the biggest and most successful companies in the world)

* Our original list included “only” 30 questions, but following the feedback from customers and the latest trends in the interviews, we added 24 questions to the latest edition of the eBook, making sure not a single questions will surprise you in your next interview.

Check the sample to see how this eBook can help you:

Sample from the eBook


Q: When you worked on multiple projects, how did you prioritize?

Hint: Corporate managers love to bury their employees under a heavy workload. They assign you yet another client, or one more project. You are working overtime already–they know it. But why wouldn’t you take some work home, or manage your time better while in the office?

You can prioritize your work according to deadlines, importance of each task, or even according to how you feel, and what task you can realistically do at a certain time of the day.

Each of that is fine, as long as you have a system, some criteria, and can decide on your own. Ensure the hiring managers that you do not rely on luck, coincidence, or a flip of a coin. You have your way of prioritizing work, and just as you followed it in your last job, you can do so in their place…

 

Sample answers

I always try to have a to do list in work. I assign low, mid, or high priority to each task on the list–not to the entire project. And then I work accordingly–taking care of the tasks with highest priority first, regardless of the project they belong to. Of course, when I got a call from a manager, or a specific deadline was set for me to deliver some report, or some analysis, I prioritized it to other tasks. In my opinion, the most important thing is to have a meaningful system in your work, something you can rely on when you aren’t sure what to do next.

This is my first job application, so I have not experienced this situation before. But I recall my school times, when we had to prepare for different exams, plus of course I had my duties outside of school. I think it is important to set your priorities clear–for me school was my first priority, and hence I prioritized my student duties to everything else. In the workplace probably my manager will set the priorities, or I will decide about them, based on certain criteria. Once it is clear what has a priority, it’s easy to decide on which project I should work each day in the job.

To be honest, I actually struggled to prioritize, and that’s one of the reasons why I am here today. They assigned me to many projects in my last job, one too many I’d say. I was getting 100+ emails daily, from different people involved in different projects. I also had to participate on several short meetings, almost daily. And to tell the truth, most of them were pointless. When you sum everything up, I actually didn’t have time to do the real work–I was just attending meetings or answering emails. Prioritization was out of question. I tried to explain this to my manager, but they did not get it. Hence I left them, and I am looking for work in some place with a better management.

I divided my day in work to three parts. Early morning was the most productive time. I arrived before anyone else, nobody bothered me with anything, and I could work on some tasks that demanded creativeness, or a lot of thinking, or a quiet office. That’s when I worked on the most important tasks in all my projects. Later during the day when the office was buzzing with people and everyone wanted something from me, I spent time responding to emails and internal communication, and taking care of easier administrative tasks. Later in the afternoon when the atmosphere calmed down again, I focused on more creative tasks again, working always on the one with the closest deadline.

I’ve never worked anywhere, but I guess the entire life is about prioritization. We try to juggle our roles in life–a son, a father, a colleague, a friend, a husband and perhaps even a lover… depends on how many of them you have. The more balls you have in the air, the more difficult it gets. My personal philosophy is to try to find balance in life. I mean, you should not give…………

 

Q: Tell me about a time when you had to comply with a policy or procedure you did not agree with.

Hint: Not every rule makes sense, and not each procedure is the most effective one. Yet there are higher goals we have to keep in mind–public safety, environment, justice. Once you start your own business, you can set at least some rules. But as long as you enjoy the comfort of regular monthly paycheck, you have to adhere to the rules of your employer.

It is fine to share your opinion with your superiors, if you consider a rule ineffective, or outright stupid. Feedback should flow freely in all directions in a successful company.

An excellent manager should welcome your critical feedback, they should even thank you for telling them that something can be done in a more effective manner (it is not always the case though).

But this is basically where your role ends. You share the feedback, you suggest the improvement, but it’s someone else’s responsibility to decide, and to perhaps change the policy for better. At the end you should accept the decision, comply with the policy, or leave the company—if you find something unacceptable from ethical or other point of view.

These are two options you can refer to in your answer. Hiring managers will be satisfied in both cases.

 

Sample answers

In my last job in a warehouse I did not agree with the way we organized the stock in the place. I’ve been working with stock for ten years, and could clearly see that it wasn’t the most effective way of organizing it. As a result, we often did not have enough space for incoming supplies. I shared my concerns with the logistics manager. They heard me out and said they’d look into it. But nothing changed. I pointed out the issue again, but it was quickly dismissed. So I continued to do my job, as well as I could, though I knew it wasn’t the most effective way of work. But someone else was responsible for making decisions, and I accepted it as a fact.

There was so much bureaucracy in my last job. We had to report exactly what we did during each 30 minutes block. In my opinion, it was a stupid policy. Because sometimes you spent 5 minutes from each working hour reporting, remembering what you did. At the end of the working day, you spent 1 hour reporting about things you did, instead of doing more things. It was actually one of the reasons why I left the company, but while I worked there I complied to the policy.

I’ve been in army for ten years, and I can assure you that I do not have a problem with obeying rules and procedures. To be honest, it is not my business to think about the internal policies of the organization or company, because it’s not my organization. Someone else set the rules and if I decided to work for them, I have to obey. I think that it is important to study the rules and to learn about everything important before you start the job. Once working, however, we should respect the rules.

We had a strict no mobile phones and no social media policy in my last job. This was something really hard for me to follow. I must admit I was addicted to looking at my phone and checking my Instagram and Facebook feed. But I did not realize how bad my addiction was, until I started to work for the company. It was hard to comply with the rules, but at the end of the day they helped me to beat my social media addiction. I am grateful that……………….

End of the sample


These were just two behavioral questions. You will find 54 in the eBook, with up to 7 sample answers to each one, including answers for people without any working experience.

Matthew Chulaw
Matthew Chulaw, author of the eBook, Founder of InterviewPenguin website

And that’s it. I do not want to waste your time with lengthy sales pages, and imaginary discounts, or fake reviews, just like most other people do on their websites, while trying to sell you their digital products or expensive consulting services.

You have read the samples, you know what the eBook is about, and surely you can tell whether it will help you or not to ace the most important part of each hiring process–the behavioral-based interview.

I sincerely believe it will help you. Question after question, I will show you exactly what the hiring managers want to hear from you, and then offer you up to 7 sample answers to each question, including unconventional and out of the box answers, to make sure you can choose one that fits your situation, values, and level of experience. In my opinion, that’s all you need to ace your behavioral-based interview…

Plus, like with everything else we sell here on InterviewPenguin.com, you have a risk free sixty days money back guarantee. If you don’t like this eBook for any reason, or no reason at all, just let me know (email me at matthew[at]interviewpenguin[dot]com) within 60 days, and we will give you a full refund, no questions asked.

Quick Summary

Brilliant answers to fifty-four most common behavioral-based questions, basically everything a hiring manager can throw at you in your behavioral-based job interview.

  • Originally published in 2020, latest update: March 2024.
  • Several sample answers to each question, so you can choose one that reflects your values and experience (including answers for people with no previous working experience and unconventional out of the box answers).
  • Instant download, .PDF format (you can read it on any device (mobile, kindle, PC), and you can easily print it).
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(After the payment you will be directed back to our website, to a protected page, to download your eBook. You will also receive a download link and instructions to your email, just to ensure that you will get the eBook without waiting, even if the redirect fails.)


That’s it. Your interview does not have to be stressful, or difficult. You can interview with confidence, give brilliant answers to all tough behavioral questions, and get an amazing and well-paid job. Download the guide today, and succeed in your interview.

Sincerely,

Matthew Chulaw,

Your personal job interview coach

P.S. Send me a message if you have any questions. I try my best to answer all emails within twelve hours (matthew[at]interviewpenguin[dot]com).

Matthew Chulaw
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