Interview Prep

Behavioural questions

Every interviewer opens with a few of these. Prep answers using the STAR framework (see the sidebar).

1. Tell me about a time you had to make a decision with incomplete information.
   Write STAR answer ↓
2. Describe a conflict with a colleague and how you resolved it.
   Write STAR answer ↓
3. Walk me through a project where you missed a deadline. What did you learn?
   Write STAR answer ↓
4. When have you had to push back on a stakeholder? How did that go?
   Write STAR answer ↓
5. Tell me about a time you took ownership of something that wasn't formally your responsibility.
   Write STAR answer ↓

Mid-level probes

Sharper questions calibrated to what's expected at your level.

1. How do you prioritise when you have three competing deadlines?
2. Describe how you would ramp up in your first 30 days here.
3. What's a signal to you that a project is not working?

Practice mode: talk-and-time

Pick a question. Hit start. Talk out loud until the timer hits 2 minutes. Repeat until every answer clicks in under 90 seconds.

How to prepare for a Nigerian job interview

A Nigerian interview usually has three phases: culture-fit and behavioural (30 minutes), role-specific competency (45-60 minutes), and negotiation / expectations (15 minutes). Prep for all three. Most candidates over-prepare technical and under-prepare behavioural, which is where senior hires get filtered out.

Use the STAR framework for behavioural answers: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Keep each answer to 60-120 seconds - long enough for the story to land, short enough to keep the interviewer engaged. Have 3-4 STAR stories ready that you can flex to answer 15+ different behavioural questions.

For role-specific technical questions, read the JD closely and prepare one concrete example per requirement listed. If they ask "have you worked with X" and you have, be ready to walk them through how, not just say yes. Have 2-3 sharp questions ready to ask them at the end - the quality of your questions signals more about you than most of the interview.

Frequently asked questions