Behavioral Interview Prompt: 5‑Minute Self‑Introduction + Challenge (STAR)
Context
You are interviewing for a Software Engineer role and have an HR screen focused on behavioral and leadership competencies.
Task
-
Give a five-minute self-introduction that covers:
-
Background and experience level
-
2–3 key projects or achievements with measurable impact
-
Core strengths (technical and behavioral)
-
Career goals and what you’re looking for next
-
Describe one significant work challenge using STAR:
-
Situation and Task: Brief context and the goal/constraints
-
Actions: Your specific, concrete contributions (focus on I-statements)
-
Result: Outcomes with metrics and trade-offs
-
Reflection: What you learned and how you’ve applied it since
Guidance
-
Keep it concise, structured, and free of confidential details.
-
Use clear metrics (latency, cost, reliability, growth, quality) where possible.
-
Minimize jargon; explain acronyms once.
-
Time-box: aim ~5 minutes for the intro; 2–3 minutes for the challenge story.