Mastering behavioural interviews with Austen McDonald

Coding Chats episode 61 - John Crickett interviews Austen about his new book and the significance of behavioural interviews in the hiring process, especially in today's competitive job market. Austen shares insights on what interviewers look for, how to tailor preparation for specific companies, and the importance of storytelling in interviews. He emphasizes the impact of AI on the interview process and discusses how candidates can effectively present their experiences, particularly in conflict resolution scenarios. The conversation also covers the different expectations for candidates at various career stages and the importance of preparation and practice in mastering behavioural interviews.

Chapters

00:00 The Importance of Behavioral Interviews

02:43 What Interviewers Look For

05:32 Understanding Company Expectations

07:48 Austen's Background and Expertise

09:59 The Impact of AI on Interviews

12:10 Behavioral Interviews Beyond Big Tech

14:11 Crafting Your Introduction

18:55 Selecting Stories for Interviews

24:32 Creating Compelling Interview Stories

28:38 The Difference Between Junior and Senior Engineers

29:50 Crafting Compelling Stories for Interviews

31:28 Timing and Length of Stories in Interviews

33:34 Selecting the Right Story for the Interview

37:05 The Importance of Scope and Relevance in Storytelling

37:52 Using the Menu Technique for Story Selection

40:37 Enhancing Conflict Resolution Stories

43:48 The Drama in Conflict Resolution

48:12 Improving Conflict Resolution Narratives

55:00 The Role of Escalation in Conflict Resolution

58:11 The Big Three Questions in Behavioral Interviews

59:54 Understanding Interview Dynamics

01:03:08 The Importance of Asking Questions

01:06:56 Feedback Loops in Behavioral Interviews

01:12:04 Navigating Different Career Stages

01:17:52 Adapting Stories for Different Organizations

01:23:02 Leveraging Personal Projects in Interviews

01:24:41 Key Takeaways for Interview Success

Austen's Links:

https://thebehavioral.substack.com/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G6CM9T87

John's Links:

John's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrickett/

John’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johncrickett

John's Twitter: https://x.com/johncrickett

John's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/johncrickett.bsky.social

Check out John's software engineering related newsletters: Coding Challenges: https://codingchallenges.substack.com/ which shares real-world project ideas that you can use to level up your coding skills.

Developing Skills: https://read.developingskills.fyi/ covering everything from system design to soft skills, helping them progress their career from junior to staff+ or for those that want onto a management track.

Takeaways

Behavioral interviews are crucial for differentiating candidates in a competitive job market.

Understanding what interviewers are looking for can significantly improve your chances of success.

Tailoring your preparation to the specific company and role is essential.

Your past experiences and stories are likely more valuable than you think.

Practice and preparation are key to performing well in interviews.