In this conversation, Stefan Mai interviews Austen McDonald, a former senior engineering manager and hiring committee member at Meta, about the how behavioral interviews are assessed, what you should do to prepare, and common red flags.
Check out Austen's substack here: https://thebehavioral.substack.com/
For preparing behavioral anecdotes with AI, use Story Builder for free: https://www.hellointerview.com/learn/behavioral/story-builder
Schedule mock interviews with real interviewers at top companies: https://www.hellointerview.com
00:00 Introduction to Behavioral Interviews
02:15 The Importance of Behavioral Interviews
06:00 Evaluating Candidates in Behavioral Interviews
12:43 Understanding Interviewer Signals
18:11 Presenting Your Experience Effectively
24:13 The Importance of Authenticity in Interviews
25:35 Common Candidate Mistakes and Red Flags
30:50 Making a Strong First Impression
37:00 Team Match and Asking Questions