The key to acing a behavioral interview isn’t memorizing answers—it’s preparing a collection of versatile stories you can adapt to a wide range of questions. This article provides the ultimate list of common behavioral interview questions, categorized by the skill the interviewer is trying to assess.

Use this behavioral questions list to brainstorm your own experiences. For each question, think of a specific example and structure it using the STAR method.

Teamwork & Collaboration Questions

These questions assess your ability to work effectively with others.

1. Tell me about a time you had a conflict with a coworker. How did you handle it?
2. Describe a time you worked on a team project that was particularly challenging.
3. Give an example of a time you had to work with a difficult person.
4. Describe a time you collaborated successfully with another department.
5. Tell me about your most successful team project. What was your role?

For more on this topic, see our deep dive: Top Behavioral Questions for Teamwork & Collaboration .

Leadership & Management Questions

These questions explore your ability to lead, motivate, and guide others.

1. Tell me about a time you had to motivate a team or coworker.
2. Describe a time you delegated a task and how you ensured it was completed successfully.
3. Give an example of a time you led a project from start to finish.
4. Have you ever had to give someone difficult feedback? How did you approach it?
5. Describe your leadership style and give an example of it in action.

For more on this topic, see our deep dive: Top Behavioral Questions for Leadership & Management .

Problem-Solving & Decision-Making Questions

These questions gauge your analytical skills and judgment.

1. Describe a situation where you had to solve a complex problem.
2. Walk me through a time you had to make an important decision with limited information.
3. Tell me about a time you identified a potential problem and took steps to prevent it.
4. Give an example of a time you used data to make a decision.
5. Describe a time when you had to think on your feet to solve a sudden problem.

For more on this topic, see our deep dive: Top Behavioral Questions for Problem-Solving & Decision-Making.

Handling Pressure, Stress, and Failure Questions

These questions assess your resilience, adaptability, and ability to learn from mistakes.

1. Tell me about a time you had to work under a tight deadline.
2. Describe a stressful situation at work and how you handled it.
3. Give me an example of a time you failed at something. What did you learn?
4. Tell me about a time you had to juggle multiple competing priorities.
5. Describe a time you received difficult or negative feedback.

For more on this topic, see our deep dive: Top Behavioral Questions for Handling Pressure & Stress .

This list of popular behavioral interview questions is a starting point. Your goal is to prepare 4-5 powerful stories that can be adapted to answer many of these questions. To see how to turn your stories into compelling answers, review our Sample Answers to Behavioral Interview Questions for Every Scenario.

Return to the main hub: The Ultimate Guide to Behavioral Interviews .