Behavioral Interview Questions

1. Tell me about yourself.

Thank you for allowing me to be interviewed for this position today. My name is Ivan, and I am a full-stack developer. Before submitting my resume, I read the job description and am confident I have the skills, qualities, and knowledge to excel in the role. I recently graduated with a CERTIFICATION in Web Development. I am a fast learner; I possess excellent problem-solving capabilities and can manage a significant workload.

I have an impressive track record of achievement. For example, in my previous role, my supervisor praised me for helping the company increase productivity by improving operations following the standard of work. The type of person I am means I always act as a positive role model for the company and will take responsibility for my ongoing professional development.

I’m excited to apply my skills and continue learning professionally. If you hire me for this position, you will quickly see a positive return on your investment.

2. Why do you want to be a developer?

I’ve always been fascinated by technology and its potential to impact people’s lives significantly. I love the idea of creating solutions to real-world problems through coding. During my early programming courses at Flatiron School, I discovered how much I enjoyed the logical thinking and creativity required in software development, which solidified my decision to pursue a career in this field.

3. Why do you want to work on Cybersecurity?

I am deeply passionate about working in cybersecurity for several reasons. Firstly, the field is constantly evolving, which means there is always something new to learn. This continuous learning and the challenge of staying ahead of potential threats are both exciting and intellectually stimulating for me.

Secondly, I am driven by a strong sense of purpose and the desire to make a positive impact. In today’s digital age, cybersecurity is crucial in protecting individuals, organizations, and even nations from cyber threats. By working in this field, I can contribute to safeguarding sensitive information, maintaining privacy, and ensuring the integrity of critical infrastructure.

Additionally, I have a background in computer science and have always been fascinated by the intricacies of network security, cryptography, and ethical hacking. My educational and professional experiences have equipped me with the technical skills needed to excel in cybersecurity, and I am eager to apply these skills in a practical setting.

Finally, cybersecurity offers a dynamic and rewarding career path. The demand for cybersecurity professionals is high and continues to grow, providing ample opportunities for career advancement and specialization. I am excited about the potential for growth and the prospect of working with cutting-edge technologies in this field.

In summary, my passion for continuous learning, desire to make a meaningful impact, technical background, and the promising career prospects make cybersecurity the perfect field for me.

4. What intrigued you about this role or company?

“I want this job because it is a role and industry I am passionate about, and my research tells me you are a forward-thinking company with an inclusive workplace culture where there is opportunity for all.

My dedication, enthusiasm, and skills make me a strong fit for this role. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to your team’s success and thrive in an inclusive and collaborative workplace.

5. How can your previous background add value to [this company/role]?

I will quickly add value to your business in this role. I am a self-starter and can be left alone to complete tasks quickly, diligently, and on time. I will bring a positive attitude to the position that will rub off on my co-workers and always take responsibility for my professional development.

You should also hire me because I have a track record of achievement. For example, in a previous role, my supervisor praised me for my work speed and how I would get more tasks done than the average person.

6. What did you learn in your Flatiron School’s program?

The Flatiron School’s curriculum covered a variety of technologies and tools, focusing on Python using Flask for back-end development and JavaScript for front-end development.

Throughout the program, I improve my web development skills. I learned to design and implement robust databases, create RESTful APIs, and develop responsive user interfaces.

The hands-on projects and collaborative learning environment at Flatiron School equipped me with the practical experience and problem-solving skills necessary for a successful career in web development.

7. What did you learn in your Full Stack School’s program?

The cyber bootcamp provided comprehensive training in offensive and defensive cybersecurity strategies. Offensively, we learned to identify and exploit web vulnerabilities, execute social engineering attacks, and use tools like Metasploit for exploitation and credential collection, along with privilege escalation and lateral movement techniques. Defensively, we focused on strengthening systems against attacks by parsing logs, creating Splunk visualizations, and conducting digital forensics to investigate and mitigate security incidents.

Additionally, the program emphasized Python programming for automating tasks, parsing logs, and analyzing data, and honed system administration skills in both Windows and Linux environments. This balanced approach equipped us to effectively address real-world cybersecurity challenges.

8. Walk me through one of your projects that you are most proud of. (Web Development 1/2)

One of the projects I’m particularly proud of is the Database Tool, which I developed during Phase 3 of my Flatiron School program.

The reason I built this app is intensely personal; I wanted to create an educational app for my children. Database Tool allows users to study US entities, including a fun and engaging game to test their knowledge.

Database Tool is a command line interface (CLI) built using PYTHON tools like SQLALCHEMY, SQLITE3, and CLICK. Its primary purpose is to manage US entities such as states, cities, and counties, focusing on making CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations intuitive and user-friendly.

One unique aspect of Database Tool is that it comes with a game that challenges users to guess the capitals of the US states.

In the future, I plan to expand the scope of Database Tool by adding new topics such as math, science, and history. Additionally, I have plans to translate the app into Spanish, making it accessible to a broader audience.

9. Walk me through one of your projects that you are most proud of. (Web Development 2/2)

10. Walk me through one of your projects that you are most proud of. (Cybersecurity)

11. Tell me about a time when you successfully solved a problem/resolved a difficult situation and how you did that.

Situation: When I started in a previous role, my manager asked me to do a simple administrative task. I’d completed this type of work many times before, so I thought I knew what to do.

Task: However, I listened only partially to his brief and missed an essential part of the task. I failed because I hadn’t completed everything as per his instructions.

Action: As soon I realized this, I apologized unreservedly and took action to make things right. I then decided to make changes to how I worked. I wrote down all the instructions, confirmed them with my manager, and double-checked everything.

Result: I always succeeded because of my new systematic approach to working.

12. What are your salary expectations?

“I researched the salary range for this position and industry on GlassDoor.com before the interview.

The salary range is between $40,000 and $53,000. Based on my knowledge, expertise, work ethic, and the value I can add to your team, I am worth the upper end of that salary range.

However, I also appreciate that you do not know me, and I need to prove to you my worth. Therefore, I would be comfortable with a salary of $51,000, and for that amount, I will ensure you see a positive return from your investment.”

13. What questions do you have for me?

• Please tell me more about the team I would be a part of in this role.
• What qualities and attributes make for a successful employee in this company?
• What do you think is the most challenging aspect of the job?

14. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

My greatest strengths are flexibility and adaptability, taking ownership of my self-development and problem-solving capabilities.

I am flexible and will carry out tasks outside my job description and work overtime to assist the company.

I am a good problem solver who will not shy away from a difficult challenge. Finally, I will always take ownership of my ongoing development to be a valuable asset to my team.

My biggest weakness is that I need to improve my public speaking skills. However, this is a skill I want to develop, so if there are any opportunities in this position for me to practice, I would like to give it a try.

My weakness is I find it hard to say no to people, which sometimes means I take on too many responsibilities.

15. What motivates you?

Several factors are my primary motivators. First and foremost, delivering exceptional performance for my employer is a driving force, providing financial rewards and job security.

My motivation sources are also maintaining a healthy lifestyle and supporting my family.

Finally, self-development is another motivator. If I am developing professionally, I feel good about myself, am adding value to my team, and will get more opportunities in the company.

16. How do you respond to criticism?

I respond to criticism positively. I see constructive criticism and feedback as valuable information and advice to help me improve and add value to my employer. When someone offers me feedback, I will listen to what they say and determine if it can help me improve. I will take positive action to quickly develop the skills and qualities needed to reach my goal.

17. What to say when you cannot answer an interview question

I am very sorry, I don’t know the answer to that question. However, as soon I get back from the interview, I will conduct some research and contact you by email to let you know.

SOFTWARE ENGINEER Behavioral Interview Questions

References

• CareerVidz. “CareerVidz YouTube Channel.” YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@CareerVidz.