Hey everyone! I'm on the lookout for a new job in web development and just had an interview where I was unexpectedly asked a bunch of behavioral questions instead of the technical ones I anticipated. The questions included things like 'Why do you want to be a web developer?', 'Tell me about your greatest professional mistake', and 'Tell me about a time you dealt with an angry customer'.
I'm curious to know what other common behavioral interview questions are out there for web developers and how I should approach answering them. What makes a response good or standout? For instance, why would some answers to 'Why do you want to be a web developer?' be better than others? I also struggled with how to answer the mistake and angry customer questions. Any tips on what to do when you're stuck or don't have a solid answer?
4 Answers
Honestly, it’s best to just relax during these interviews. They typically want to see how you handle pressure and interpersonal situations. You don’t need to have a flamboyant response; sometimes a straightforward, honest answer is all it takes. Just be authentic!
When you say you can’t think of any mistakes, it can come off as concerning. It’s crucial to show you can reflect and learn from experiences. For someone working in web development, think about how you’d handle a client or team member who's upset over a project issue, even if it hasn’t happened to you directly. Frame how you WOULD approach it instead.
It’s helpful to use the STAR method when answering behavioral questions: Situation, Task, Action, Result.
It’s important to understand that while 'Why do you want to be a web developer?' isn’t strictly a behavioral question, it is still key to showcase your motivation and passion for the field. Being prepared with specific examples can really make your answers pop!
These are pretty standard questions for interviews, not just in web development but all jobs. I remember being asked why I wanted to fry burgers at a fast food place, which I couldn’t answer well at all! It sounds like you might need to practice your storytelling a bit to hit these questions out of the park. Just keep it real and don’t overthink it.
I get that it’s tricky to pull an example out of thin air, but everyone makes mistakes. Maybe focus on smaller, less significant errors and how they helped you grow. Saying you’ve never had major issues could raise eyebrows.