How to Pass 90% of Your Interviews

Jeff -

Over 90% of non-technical interview questions are either behavioral or situational, and mastering these can set you apart from other candidates.

This blog post breaks down two tried-and true frameworks to help you prepare for any interview scenario, blending traditional methods with modern AI tools for effective preparation.

Watch it in action

Resources

Behavioral Interview Questions

  • These delve into how you've handled past situations, often starting with prompts like "Tell me about a time when..."
  • They assess your experience and problem-solving skills

Situational Interview Questions

  • These are hypothetical and test your critical thinking. They typically begin with "Imagine if..." or "What would you do if..."
  • They gauge your ability to anticipate and strategize

Mastering Behavioral Questions with CARL

The CARL framework stands for Context, Action, Results, and Learning.

It's a step beyond the traditional STAR method, emphasizing not just your achievements but also your capacity for growth and future success. Here's how to use it effectively:

  1. Context: Describe the background of the situation.
  2. Action: Explain your specific actions.
  3. Results: Highlight outcomes with quantifiable metrics.
  4. Learning: Share insights gained from the experience.

Streamlining Preparation with AI

AI tools, particularly ChatGPT and Google Bard, can expedite your interview preparation.

CARL + ChatGPT Prompt

Based on my resume, write me an answer to the behavioral interview question “Tell me about a time when you handled a difficult team member”

Use one specific example from my work experiences.

Use the CARL answer format: Context (project background), Action (what I did), Results (include quantifiable metrics), and Learning (what I learned from the project)

Keep the answer concise and do not go above 260 words.

Here’s my resume:(paste your resume)

By inputting tailored prompts based on your resume, you can generate structured answers fitting the CARL format. This not only saves time but ensures your responses are personalized and relevant.

The RCS Framework for Situational Questions

RCS stands for Rephrase the question, Clarify the problem, and Structure your thoughts.

It's a method to approach situational questions thoughtfully, allowing time to consider a well-structured response.

Here’s how it works:

  1. Rephrase: Confirm your understanding of the question.
  2. Clarify: Ask questions to understand the scenario better.
  3. Structure: Organize your thoughts before responding.

RCS + ChatGPT Prompt

I'm preparing for the situational interview question "Imagine an irritated customer demands an impossible request. What would you do?"

I know the right way to approach situational interview questions is through the RCS Framework (Rephrase, Clarify, Structure) to buy myself some time and show the interviewer my thought process

1. What is a good way to rephrase the interview question back to the interviewer to confirm my understanding?

2. What clarifying questions should I ask?

3. How should I structure my answer?

Finally, put all that together and give me a strong answer to the interview question.

Identifying Relevant Interview Questions

Use AI to generate a list of potential behavioral and situational questions tailored to specific job descriptions.

ChatGPT prompt to find role-specific interview questions

You are a seasoned hiring manager with over 20 years of experience.

You are responsible for this job posting.

Based on this job description, what are the 10 most common BEHAVIORAL interview questions you will ask job applicants?

Here’s the job description: (paste job description)

This ensures you're preparing for questions most relevant to the role you're aiming for.

If you found this helpful

You probably want to check out my playlist on the most common interview questions and answers!