Interviews can feel like navigating a maze, but with the right map, you’ll never lose your way. Imagine breaking down every question into five distinct ‘buckets,’ each designed to reveal a different facet of the candidate. Whether you’re an interviewer looking to refine your approach or a candidate prepping for success, mastering these buckets can be the key to unlocking the perfect hire — or landing that dream job. All of your interview questions can be divided broadly into these 5 buckets.
1️⃣. Leadership:
Tell me about a time when you made a decision that wasn’t popular and how you handled implementing it.
Tell me about a time when you had to sell another person or team on your idea.
Tell me about a time when you successfully built and led a team.
Tell me about a time when you had to motivate employees or coworkers.
Tell me about a time when you had to make an unpopular decision.
Tell me about a time when you showed initiative in a challenging situation.
Tell me about a time when you had to give a presentation to people who disagreed with you.
2️⃣. Teamwork:
Tell me about a time when you had a difficult interaction with a coworker.
Tell me about a time when you were assigned a task you didn’t want to do.
Tell me about a time when you mentored or supported a coworker.
Tell me about a time when you faced a disagreement at work.
Tell me about a time when you were responsible for resolving a conflict.
Tell me about a time when you had to reach a compromise.
Tell me about a time when you collaborated across teams to achieve a goal.
3️⃣. Successes:
Tell me about a time when you went above and beyond your responsibilities.
Tell me about a time when you demonstrated innovation.
Tell me about an accomplishment you’re particularly proud of.
Tell me about a time when you achieved an important goal.
Tell me about a time when you solved a problem using a creative approach.
Tell me about a specific insight you gained from an experience outside of work.
Describe a time when you resolved an issue before it escalated.
4️⃣. Failures:
Tell me about a time when you felt disappointed in your own performance.
Tell me about a time when you experienced failure.
Tell me about a time when you made a significant mistake.
Tell me about a time when you misjudged a situation.
Tell me about a time when you struggled to manage all your responsibilities.
5️⃣. Challenges:
Tell me about a time when you faced a significant challenge and how you overcame it.
Tell me about a time when you had to analyze a large amount of data in a short timeframe.
Tell me about a time when you had to manage shifting priorities.
Tell me about a time when you had to make a quick decision or work with limited information.
Tell me about a time when you couldn’t meet a deadline.
Describe a major change in a job you held and how you adapted to it.
Tell me about a time when you managed a risky situation
Create the below answers around these categories from your work experience, internships or academics:
> A short 60-second answer
> A 3 min story around these categories from your work experience, internships or academics using the STARL framework
