No Prior Tech Experience? Here’s How to Pass a Behavioral Interview

As you pursue a new tech career, you might ask yourself, “Will I have enough experience and knowledge to pass an interview and get a job?” If you decide to go with a creditable bootcamp that is designed to see you succeed and land a tech job after graduation, the answer is yes. 

Let’s look into what kind of interviews you should expect when applying for a tech job, how to pass one, and how joining a TripleTen bootcamp can help you cross the finish line.

What is a behavioral interview?

Behavioral interviewing is based on the assumption that past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior. During behavioral interviews, an interviewer asks open-ended questions that prompt the candidate to describe specific situations they have encountered in the past, and how they responded to those situations. The answer shows if a candidate possesses the skills or traits important for the role. For example, if the role requires strong leadership skills, the interviewer may ask the candidate to describe a time when they had to lead a team through a challenging project.

Here is a typical scenario of how a behavioral question and answer could go.

Sample question: Have you ever handled a project delay?

Example answer: At my previous job, we encountered a situation when development took longer than initially planned, and we were preparing for a delay in delivering the application. During a sprint planning meeting, our team prioritized the most important tasks and set them as deliverables. I contributed by highlighting the work in progress that could’ve been sacrificed for the important features. Eventually, the product team explained the delay to the customer, and we delivered an agreed product scope on time.

Is it possible to pass a behavioral interview in a field where I have zero experience?

In short, yes! Everyone is equal at behavioral interviews - both experienced employees and those just starting their careers in tech. The interviewer doesn't care where you’ve worked before, they care how you did it. Even if you feel that your technical experience is limited, you can impress the recruiting manager by showing your course of action and the reasons behind it. 

Talk about your bootcamp experience. Focus on presenting your role in situations where you practiced teamwork and communication. (Also, presenting your leadership skills and ability to help others as a Senior Student at a TripleTen bootcamp is relevant to mention in a behavioral interview!) 

This is confirmed by TripleTen grads, who, after training and preparation, successfully get hired. 

Rebecca Burch, a former doctor and TripleTen Software Engineering bootcamp grad, shared how the Career Prep course helped her succeed in landing a job: “[In the interview], I talked about problem-solving with other students, learning together, and teaching each other. Not being afraid to ask questions is very important, especially in tech, where no one knows everything. So, you have to be okay with asking people for help.”

How can I prepare for a behavioral interview?

By preparing ahead of time and practicing responses to common behavioral interview questions, candidates can overcome their fears and present themselves in the best possible light. There are a few techniques to keep in mind when preparing for a behavioral interview. 

1. Read the job description carefully and write down which skills and responsibilities are essential – they are usually highlighted in separate sections. 
2. Recall your experience in any previous work that involved these. 
3. Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure your responses. Describe the situation, the task you were assigned, the action you took, and the result you achieved. This will help you provide a concise response highlighting your transferable skills and experiences.

The typical behavioral interview questions can be found online. Search for “behavioral interview questions and answers” to run through a list of sample questions, practice the STAR method, and then check the sample answer. This will help you think about various situations and possible responses, so next time you hear a similar request, you will be fully prepared.

Sample question: Can you give an example of a time when you demonstrated leadership skills?

Situation: At my previous job, I was tasked with leading a team of five on a new project.

Task: The project had a lot of requirements and a short deadline.

Action: I assigned tasks based on each team member's strengths and communicated expectations clearly. I held regular meetings to make sure everyone was on the same page and addressed any issues that arose. 

Result: As a result of my leadership, we completed the project on time and under budget, and our client was delighted with the results.

How will TripleTen help me? 

Each TripleTen bootcamp student gets early access to the Career Prep course, so they can come fully prepared for the first interviews upon graduation. At TripleTen’s Career Prep course, you will have time to practice behavioral interviews to start feeling confident about your responses.

“One of the [Career Team] tutors works as a mock interview host,” says TripleTen Career Product Lead Ana Mineeva. “They ask questions, evaluate the student’s knowledge, and then write a report indicating which points should be improved. Sometimes we also hold webinars on additional topics that are not covered by the program.”

Study with us and secure yourself a great future in tech. Over 87% of our graduates land a job within 180 days after graduation, and more than 50% of them get an offer even before they finish the bootcamp.