Interviewer Asks, “Tell Me About A Challenge You Faced And How You Overcame It”
This is a common behavioral interview question. Such questions are often signaled by introductory phrases such as “Tell me about a time when…” or “Describe a situation where…”. The interviewer is looking to understand–based on the theory that your past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior–how you are likely to respond in certain situations. The key to answering these questions is always to “show your work”. This question isn’t so much about the challenge itself as it is about how you responded to it and how you describe meeting the challenge.
Where to begin?
As with most behavioral questions, I recommend you use the STAR method and break your response into three parts:
ST – Situation (or situation/task)
A – Action
R – Result
What type of challenge should you use?
Ideally, you have a success story that you can draw on to illustrate facing and overcoming a challenge.
A personal challenge you chose for yourself – to train for and run a marathon
A challenge with which you were presented – for example an illness or the illness of a family member
A work challenge – for example working with a very difficult boss or client
A work goal – making partner
Situation/Task
This is where you set the context. Summarize the situation you found yourself in and the task you were faced with. Do not spend a lot of time here - simply outline the challenge. For example:
“I have always wanted to run a marathon and decided to “just do it”. I hadn’t run anything more than a 5k up to this point.”
“When I was in law school I was in a bad car accident. I broke both my arms and had a concussion. I determined that I wanted to graduate with my class if possible.”
“During my first year I worked for a boss who was verbally abusive and screamed at me and the other associates.”
“I set myself the goal of making partner at my firm even though I am a first-generation graduate.”
Action
This where you want to spend your time and show your work. Tell the story of what you did to address the challenge and accomplish your goal.
Discuss the process of training for and qualifying for and running the marathon.
Outline the challenges of keeping up with your classes while recovering, having to ask for help and perhaps having to make the difficult decision of taking a leave of absence.
Explain how you handled the abusive boss. Who did you turn to? How did you do to try to resolve the situation?
Walk through the process and intermediate goals you set for yourself to make partner step-by-step.
Result
This is your opportunity to finish strong. To do this, be clear as to outcomes. How did it turn out? What did you learn? What are your takeaways from the situation? If things didn’t entirely work out as planned, what would you differently if faced with a similar situation. Feel free to brag!
You completed the marathon and were proud that you set and stuck to the goal over many months of training.
You graduated from law school even though it took longer than anticipated. You are proud of yourself for physically pulling yourself through a difficult situation and even prouder for finding a way to finish law school despite the pain and adversity of your experience and your injuries.
You were able to switch to a different practice group after flagging the issues to other partners. You settled in and have been successful in your new team.
You made it!
As employers continue to incorporate behavioral questions as a part of their interviewing process knowing how to spot a behavioral question and understanding why they use this method will help you feel confident as you prepare for and ace the interview. “Showing your work” and remembering the STAR method are the keys to mastering behavioral interviewing.
