RC Behavioral Interview Questions Flashcards
Give me an example of a project or initiative that you started on your own. It can be a non-business one. What prompted you to get started?
Sure. A project that I started on my own was my freelance business. I started to make my presence online and then contacting people within my network. My initiative for starting my freelance business was that I wanted to make some money on the side while at the same time keeping all the aspects of web development sharp as well. What I have learned from my freelance business is that I am able to automate aspects of my business so that I don’t have to do everything myself while at the same time making sure that I okay any code that goes into production. That way I take responsibility for anything that is pushed.
Tell me about a time you had to work on several projects at once. How did you handle this?
While at my time at my last company, I was tasked with building some code that would be able to execute some specific action when a user would input data. While at the same time scripting the CSS for another application that I had been working on. The way that I handled this situation is by first tackling the more difficult of the two. Therefore I would be able to either finish the harder ticket first or be able to gauge how much engagement it would require. Then I would go ahead and tackle the easier project. What I learned from this specific example it is always better to take on the more challenging task at hand first therefore I am able to prepare my time accordingly.
Describe a situation in which you felt you had not communicated well enough. What did you do? How did you handle it?
Sure. So while at my last company we were building code for a custom calculator. We were working in a group in order to help build the calculator. Someone that was on our team was out one day while we continue to work on the project. While our teammate was gone we made some additional code to the program and did not inform our teammate while she was gone so when she got back, she was kind of confused as to what was going on with the code. What I did in order to handle the situation is that I got her up to date as quickly as possible because I knew that she would have valuable contributions to the project. What I learned from this is to make sure that you have dry code with good pseudo code in order that anyone can go back to the code and easily see what is going on.
Tell me about when you had to deal with conflict within your team. How was the conflict solved? How did you handle that? How would you deal with it now?
One of my coworkers was passively aggressive towards me while working on a project. While in this situation I did not understand where this was coming from. I had not done anything in order to receive this passive aggressiveness. The situation was smoothed out after a while when we went out for a coffee talk and spoke about how everything was going and it was that she was going through some medical issues. What I could have done differently is to be able to feel out situations as soon as possible and have any wrinkles smoothed out as soon as possible. This helps me to stay in front of anything that may happen. Helping me to always be proactive vs reactive.
Give me an example of a time you had to take a creative and unusual approach to solve coding problems. How did this idea come to your mind? Why do you think it was unusual?
A specific example of a time that I had to be creative in solving a coding problem is when I was working on a team and was having difficulty understanding why a string was not acting properly when I was put into a new team. I was trying to manipulate a string an it was not acting as expected. I thought that I might have been a syntax problem. But I reviewed all of the syntax and saw that there was no problem with it. I then to speak with some other coworkers about a problem they were facing. While in that conversation about what they were working on, I saw that it might have been possible that someone could have actually changed the prototype of strings. When I went to go and check on it it was true even though it is something that it is not encouraged. I learned that it is important while working on team or have a bug that you can not fix. You have to make sure that you leave no rock unturned.
Describe a situation in which you worked diligently on a project and it did not produce the desired results. Why didn’t you get the desired results? What did you learn from the experience?
Sure, so as I mentioned before I also have a freelancing company that I run on the side. While starting up my company I was focusing on getting as many small clients ans possible and pushing out as many sites as possible I was trying to build an effective machine. While not worrying too much about the quality of the clients that I was taking in. This seemed at the start like the best practice. After a while I saw that I was casting my net way to wide. That I had to try to find my specific niche. And make sure that I a lot more confused on the quality of my clients then on getting as many as possible. The reason for this is because I can be a lot more invested in one place then if I am spread out amongst many. This I have found to be a lot more successful. It has also helped me improve the quality of my work. But I have also learned is that I can pivot quickly if I see that there is a better bath to take. I think this is also important especially in programing where new tech is coming out constantly.
Give an example of an important project goal you reached and how you achieved it.
Sure so one of the things that I pride myself on is being able to get all of my ideas out for any project that I might have or for any ticket that may be assigned to me. So for example I had just made an application where people are able to see how home prices and gentrification has changed in a certain place over time in order to be able to showcase how Boston has changed over the last years. I was able to pull this project off because I knew that I wanted this to be mobile first. I knew that it had to be fast so that people could get the information as quickly as possible and that it had to be simple so that people could just put info and and receive there result. I was then able to build this full stack application by doing all the wire framing through some coding together, find the proper API, and a clear interface so that I can have an MVP (minum viable product) that I would then be able to tie up all the loose ends as time when on. I have been really pleased with this product because by getting the MVP out as soon as possible I was then able to work on all the details and make sure that they could be as dry as possible so that the application could run smoothly.
Describe a situation in which you experienced difficulty in getting others to accept your ideas? What was your approach? How did this work? Were you able to successfully persuade someone to see things your way?
Sure, so while I was working at my last company we were doing some brainstorming. On a project that we were assigned to work on. Everyone had really different ideas as to how we could tackle the project and we were not really making headway. Which is when I came up with the idea that everyone would quickly in about 5 to 10 min just through together there quickest MVP possible and then share it. We could then take a vote. Part of my idea behind this was to see who really had the maturest idea while at the same time could do the best job at communicating it. Also for me this really helped because I am good at getting my ideas all down on a white board or in pseudo code and then being able to go in piece by piece in order to get everything done. This is the way that my brain works.
Tell me a time when you failed.
When working on my freelance business I was building a site for client. During the whole discovery stage they told me that they only wanted a static site. That people could go on their computers and view their services, prices, and contact info. Two weeks after handing in the project the client came and asked why page was not easily visible on mobile devices. What I should have done in this scenario is always to make site mobile first. This is something that is common now in tech. But a lot of people still underestimate exactly how necessary it is to make all site mobile first.
What’s some critical feedback you’ve gotten recently?
Your code is not clear. I worked with other coders to make it a dryer. I then showed it to someone that does not work with JS to see if they can read it. I then become better at making my code dryer.
Tell me about a situation when you made a mistake at work. What happened exactly and how did you deal with it? What steps did you take to improve the situation?
Tell me about a time when you worked with someone who was not completing his or her share of the work. How did you handle the situation? Did you discuss your concern with your coworker? With your manager? If yes, how did your coworker respond to your concern? What was your manager’s response?
Describe a situation when you worked effectively under pressure. How did you feel when working under pressure? What was going on, and how did you get through it?
What do you know about our company?
Why do you want to work for us?
Tell me about your dream job? What do you really want to do with your career?
What do you read on a regular basis?
Hacker News
What’s some critical feedback you’ve gotten recently?
