Preparing for Behavioral Interviews

Employers increasingly use behavioral interviews to evaluate candidates’ suitability for a specific position. Unlike technical interviews, which consider a candidate’s technical knowledge, behavioral interviews assess interpersonal, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.

This chapter will delve deeply into behavioral interviews and examine the six categories of commonly posed behavioral questions. We will also discuss effectively responding to these queries using the STARR method, a tried-and-true technique for organizing precise and concise responses.

In addition, we will discuss the significance of measuring cultural compatibility and how to prepare for this aspect of the interviewing process. Finally, we will provide examples of frequently posed behavioral interview questions and the most effective responses.

By the conclusion of this chapter, you will have a firm grasp of how to approach behavioral interviews,...

Identifying six main types of behavioral questions 
to expect

Behavioral interview questions are designed to elicit information about how a candidate has handled specific situations to predict how they may perform in similar cases in the future. Employers commonly ask six main types of behavioral interview questions:

• Situational: These questions present hypothetical scenarios and ask the candidate how they would respond—for example, “How would you handle a difficult customer who is demanding a refund for a product they damaged themselves?”.
• Behavioral: These questions ask the candidate to describe a specific situation they faced in the past and how they handled it—for example, “Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult coworker.”
• Goal-oriented: These questions ask the candidate to describe a specific goal they set for themselves and how they achieved it—for example, “Tell me about a time...

Assessing cultural fit during an interview

As organizations attempt to create diverse and inclusive work cultures that line with their values and mission, measuring for cultural fit has become an increasingly significant component of the recruiting process. Cultural fit entails more than just being courteous or getting along with coworkers. Identifying individuals who align with the company’s values, beliefs, and work style is essential.

Employers frequently examine candidates cultural fit during behavioral interviews by probing their work habits, communication style, and problem-solving approach. These inquiries may include the following:

• What strategy do you use for teamwork and collaboration?
• What drives you to come to work every day?
• How do you handle disagreements with coworkers or managers?
• Describe your perfect workplace or environment where you would feel most productive.
• How do you strike a balance between your professional and personal lives...

Utilizing the STARR method when answering questions

When it comes to behavioral interview preparation, it is essential to have a method for structuring your responses. This approach will not only help you deliver comprehensive and insightful answers but will also demonstrate your clarity of thought, ability to self-reflect, and organizational skills. This section will discuss one such strategy: the STARR method.

The STARR method is a highly effective framework for organizing your responses during behavioral interviews. It helps in narrating your professional experiences by focusing on specific situations you’ve encountered, tasks you’ve handled, actions you’ve taken, and the resulting outcomes, all while reflecting on what you’ve learned from these experiences. The acronym STARR stands for the following:

• Situation: Explain the context of your circumstance. This should contain information about where you worked, whom you worked with, and other...

Reviewing the most asked interview questions

Data engineering interviews typically involve technical and behavioral questions to assess a candidate’s technical knowledge, problem-solving skills, and ability to work effectively in a team.

The best approaches to answering these questions involve being specific about your experiences, highlighting your role in particular projects or tasks, discussing any challenges you faced and how you overcame them, and providing metrics that showcase your accomplishments.

Here are 10 of the most asked questions in a data engineering interview, along with how you might effectively respond to give better context:

• Question 1: What experience do you have with ETL processes and data pipelines?

  I have extensive experience with ETL processes and data pipelines. In my previous role, I was responsible for building a data pipeline that extracted data from various sources, transformed it, and loaded it into a centralized database. I used tools...

Summary

Preparing for behavioral interviews is critical to any job search, especially for data engineering positions. Candidates can better prepare for success by understanding the types of behavioral questions commonly asked in data engineering interviews and the skills that are measured during these interviews.

This chapter discussed six main types of behavioral questions, including those that assess cultural fit and the STARR method for effectively answering behavioral questions. We also reviewed the top 10 most frequently asked questions in a data engineering interview and provided detailed explanations of how to answer them.

By employing these strategies and best practices, candidates can increase their chances of success in a data engineering interview and effectively demonstrate their skills and qualifications. As the demand for data engineering roles grows, being well prepared for these interviews is more crucial than ever. We hope this chapter has provided candidates...