The STAR framework
Situation → Task → Action → Result. Keep each ~30 seconds, and weight 60% of the answer on Action + Result.
The 8 stories that cover 80% of questions
- A time you led a team through ambiguity
- A time you disagreed with a senior stakeholder
- A time you missed a deadline
- A time you delivered impact you're proudest of
- A time you failed and what you learned
- A time you had to make a decision without data
- A time you mentored or developed someone
- A time you turned around a struggling project
Mock interview cadence
Do 1–2 mock interviews per week starting 3 weeks before the real one. Record yourself. The first listen is uncomfortable; the second is gold.