Tell me about a time you solved a problem at work or university.

What the interviewer listens for. Thinks in steps: You show how you worked through the problem one step at a time. Takes the lead: You show that you started the fix yourself, not only the team. How to answer. 1. The problem. 2. Why it mattered. 3. What you tried. 4. The result.

Describe a time you disagreed with a team member. How did you handle it?

What the interviewer listens for. Stays respectful: You speak about the other person with respect. Listens first: You show you listened to their view before you gave yours. Finds a solution without blame: You reach a solution together and do not blame the other person. How to answer. 1. The disagreement. 2. You listened first. 3. The compromise. 4. The outcome.

Tell me about a time you made a mistake. What did you learn?

What the interviewer listens for. Owns the mistake: You say clearly that it was your mistake and you told someone. Fixes it: You say what you did to fix the mistake. Learns from it: You say what you do differently now. How to answer. 1. The mistake. 2. You told someone. 3. How you fixed it. 4. What you do differently now.

Give an example of when you went above and beyond for a customer.

What the interviewer listens for. Shows care for the customer: You show you understood what the customer needed. Takes an extra step: You describe an extra step you chose to take for them. How to answer. 1. The customer's need. 2. The extra step you took. 3. Their reaction.

Tell me about a time you had to learn something new quickly.

What the interviewer listens for. Adapts to something new: You show you were ready to learn something you did not know. Explains how you learned: You say how you learned, for example by asking, practising or taking notes. Says how soon you could do it: You say how quickly you could do the new task on your own. How to answer. 1. What was new. 2. How you learned (asked, practised, notes). 3. How soon you could do it.

Describe a time you worked to a tight deadline.

What the interviewer listens for. Plans the work: You show how you planned the work to meet the deadline. Prioritises under pressure: You say what you did first, what you dropped or what help you asked for. How to answer. 1. The deadline. 2. How you planned. 3. What you dropped or asked for. 4. Whether you finished on time.

Tell me about a time you had to follow a rule you did not agree with.

What the interviewer listens for. Follows the rule: You show that you followed the rule even though you did not agree. Raises the concern the right way: You say how you raised your concern with the right person. How to answer. 1. The rule. 2. You followed it. 3. You raised your concern the right way. 4. What happened.

Tell me about a time you received negative feedback.

What the interviewer listens for. Accepts the feedback: You show you listened to the feedback without arguing. Makes a change: You say what you changed after the feedback and what it led to. How to answer. 1. The feedback. 2. How you felt and what you did. 3. The change it made.

Describe a time you showed leadership without being the leader.

What the interviewer listens for. Takes initiative: You show that you stepped in when nobody asked you to. Organises others: You say what you organised and how others responded. How to answer. 1. The situation. 2. What you organised. 3. How others responded. 4. The result.

Tell me about a time you worked with people from a different culture.

What the interviewer listens for. Includes everyone: You show respect for people from a different culture. Adjusts how you work: You say what difference you noticed and how you changed your approach. Communicates clearly: You show how you made sure everyone understood each other. How to answer. 1. The team. 2. A difference you noticed. 3. How you adjusted. 4. What it achieved.

Tell me about a time you explained something to someone who did not understand.

What the interviewer listens for. Stays patient: You show you stayed patient while the person was confused. Makes it simpler: You say how you used simpler words or steps to explain it. Checks they understood: You say how you checked that the person understood. How to answer. 1. Who and what. 2. How you made it simpler. 3. How you checked they understood.

Tell me about a time you noticed a safety risk.

What the interviewer listens for. Puts safety first: You show you acted to make the area safe straight away. Reports it: You say who you told about the risk. How to answer. 1. The risk. 2. You made it safe. 3. Who you told. 4. What changed.

Behavioural interview questions and answers

12 questions employers ask, what they want to hear, and a free way to practise each one out loud.

Practise these questions

By Thanh Tran, co-founder and PTE instructor
Updated October 2026

The 12 questions, and how to answer

Answer each “tell me about a time” question with the STAR method: the Situation, your Task, the Action you took and the Result.

Tell me about a time you solved a problem at work or university.
Tell me about a time
What the interviewer listens for
- Thinks in steps. You show how you worked through the problem one step at a time.
- Takes the lead. You show that you started the fix yourself, not only the team.
How to answer
1. The problem
2. Why it mattered
3. What you tried
4. The result
Practise this question out loud
Describe a time you disagreed with a team member. How did you handle it?
Tell me about a time
What the interviewer listens for
- Stays respectful. You speak about the other person with respect.
- Listens first. You show you listened to their view before you gave yours.
- Finds a solution without blame. You reach a solution together and do not blame the other person.
How to answer
1. The disagreement
2. You listened first
3. The compromise
4. The outcome
Practise this question out loud
Tell me about a time you made a mistake. What did you learn?
Tell me about a time
What the interviewer listens for
- Owns the mistake. You say clearly that it was your mistake and you told someone.
- Fixes it. You say what you did to fix the mistake.
- Learns from it. You say what you do differently now.
How to answer
1. The mistake
2. You told someone
3. How you fixed it
4. What you do differently now
Practise this question out loud
Give an example of when you went above and beyond for a customer.
Tell me about a time
What the interviewer listens for
- Shows care for the customer. You show you understood what the customer needed.
- Takes an extra step. You describe an extra step you chose to take for them.
How to answer
1. The customer's need
2. The extra step you took
3. Their reaction
Practise this question out loud
Tell me about a time you had to learn something new quickly.
Tell me about a time
What the interviewer listens for
- Adapts to something new. You show you were ready to learn something you did not know.
- Explains how you learned. You say how you learned, for example by asking, practising or taking notes.
- Says how soon you could do it. You say how quickly you could do the new task on your own.
How to answer
1. What was new
2. How you learned (asked, practised, notes)
3. How soon you could do it
Practise this question out loud
Describe a time you worked to a tight deadline.
Tell me about a time
What the interviewer listens for
- Plans the work. You show how you planned the work to meet the deadline.
- Prioritises under pressure. You say what you did first, what you dropped or what help you asked for.
How to answer
1. The deadline
2. How you planned
3. What you dropped or asked for
4. Whether you finished on time
Practise this question out loud
Tell me about a time you had to follow a rule you did not agree with.
Tell me about a time
What the interviewer listens for
- Follows the rule. You show that you followed the rule even though you did not agree.
- Raises the concern the right way. You say how you raised your concern with the right person.
How to answer
1. The rule
2. You followed it
3. You raised your concern the right way
4. What happened
Practise this question out loud
Tell me about a time you received negative feedback.
Tell me about a time
What the interviewer listens for
- Accepts the feedback. You show you listened to the feedback without arguing.
- Makes a change. You say what you changed after the feedback and what it led to.
How to answer
1. The feedback
2. How you felt and what you did
3. The change it made
Practise this question out loud
Describe a time you showed leadership without being the leader.
Tell me about a time
What the interviewer listens for
- Takes initiative. You show that you stepped in when nobody asked you to.
- Organises others. You say what you organised and how others responded.
How to answer
1. The situation
2. What you organised
3. How others responded
4. The result
Practise this question out loud
Tell me about a time you worked with people from a different culture.
Tell me about a time
What the interviewer listens for
- Includes everyone. You show respect for people from a different culture.
- Adjusts how you work. You say what difference you noticed and how you changed your approach.
- Communicates clearly. You show how you made sure everyone understood each other.
How to answer
1. The team
2. A difference you noticed
3. How you adjusted
4. What it achieved
Practise this question out loud
Tell me about a time you explained something to someone who did not understand.
Tell me about a time
What the interviewer listens for
- Stays patient. You show you stayed patient while the person was confused.
- Makes it simpler. You say how you used simpler words or steps to explain it.
- Checks they understood. You say how you checked that the person understood.
How to answer
1. Who and what
2. How you made it simpler
3. How you checked they understood
Practise this question out loud
Tell me about a time you noticed a safety risk.
Tell me about a time
What the interviewer listens for
- Puts safety first. You show you acted to make the area safe straight away.
- Reports it. You say who you told about the risk.
How to answer
1. The risk
2. You made it safe
3. Who you told
4. What changed
Practise this question out loud

Questions for other jobs

Many questions repeat from job to job. Practise the common ones too.

More for your job search

Common questions

What is a behavioural interview question?

A question about something you did in the past, such as “Tell me about a time you solved a problem.” The interviewer uses how you acted before to judge how you will act in the job.

How do I answer a behavioural interview question?

Use the STAR method. Say the Situation in one sentence, then your Task, two or three Actions you took, and the Result. Use one real example from work, study or volunteering.

What if I have no work experience?

Use an example from university, a group project, volunteering, sport or your family. The interviewer wants to hear how you think and act, not where it happened.

How long should a STAR answer be?

About 45 to 90 seconds. Most of it should be the Action: what you did, said with “I”.

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