Remember: You don’t need perfect grammar to make a great impression. You just need a clear story, a little structure, and the confidence to be yourself.
– Intrepid English founder and CEO, Lorraine
Behavioural interview questions are designed to help employers understand how you’ve handled situations in the past – and how you might behave in the future. For English learners, they can feel especially challenging. You want to give a clear, confident answer, but you may worry about making mistakes or forgetting your vocabulary.
The good news? You don’t need to memorise a script to succeed. In fact, doing so can make you sound unnatural. Instead, you need a strategy that helps you think clearly, stay calm, and express yourself effectively in English.
Here’s how to do exactly that.
You can watch the full video on YouTube here.
What Are Behavioural Interview Questions?
Behavioural questions often begin with phrases like:
- “Tell me about a time when…”
- “Give me an example of…”
- “Describe a situation where you…”
They usually relate to soft skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, leadership, or communication. For example:
“Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult colleague.”
The employer wants to hear a real example from your experience – and understand how you approached the situation.
Why do employers ask these questions?
Employers believe that past behaviour is the best predictor of future behaviour. They want to know:
- How you react under pressure
- How you work with others
- Whether you take initiative
- If you can reflect and learn from experience
This means it’s not just what you did that matters – it’s also how you talk about it.
The STAR Method
The STAR Method is a simple and powerful structure for answering behavioural questions:
- Situation – Set the scene.
- Task – Describe your responsibility.
- Action – Explain what you did.
- Result – Share the outcome.
Here’s an example:
Question:“Can you tell me about a time when you were in charge of a project that had to be finished quickly?”
Answer (using STAR):
- Situation: Last year, our team had to deliver a client presentation in five days, after a colleague left unexpectedly.
- Task: I was responsible for coordinating the project and ensuring we met the deadline.
- Action: I created a new timeline, delegated tasks, and held daily check-ins to track progress.
- Result: We delivered the presentation on time, and the client gave us excellent feedback.
Notice how this approach keeps your answer structured and clear – even if your English isn’t perfect.
Tips for Answering in English (Naturally and Confidently)
Here are a few tips to help you shine:
- Don’t aim for perfection – aim for clarity.
It’s okay to pause, think, or self-correct. Focus on being understandable. - Practise out loud.
Speak your answers aloud, not just in your head. This helps your fluency and confidence. - Prepare 3-5 STAR stories in advance.
Think of examples from different situations: work, school, volunteering. You can adapt them to many questions. - Use natural, simple English.
Avoid memorised phrases that sound robotic. Be authentic and use vocabulary you’re comfortable with. - Learn key phrases and transitions.
Like:
– “One situation that comes to mind is…”
– What I learned from this was…”
-“The result was very positive because…”
Common Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
❌ Giving too much background
Keep your answer focused. Don’t spend too long on the situation – get to the action.
❌ Being too vague
Use specific details. Don’t just say, “I worked well in a team.” Show how.
❌ Forgetting the result
Always finish with a result, even if it was small or not perfect. Employers want to know what happened.
You Don’t Have to Do This Alone
At Intrepid English, we work with learners every day to build the confidence and skills to succeed in interviews.
Our Job Interview Preparation Course includes:
- Practice answering behavioural questions
- Personalised feedback from experienced teachers
- Realistic interview simulations
If you’re ready to stop memorising and start communicating naturally, we’d love to help.
You can book a £1 Trial Lesson and receive personalised feedback and a clear action plan.