Mastering Behavioral Interviews : The Guide to Storytelling in Tech
Language: English
Published by Behavioral, The, 2025
- Softcover
- Used
Seller: Better World Books: West, Reno, NV, U.S.A.Better World Books: West
AbeBooks seller since March 14, 2016
Condition: Used - Very good
£ 68.46
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
Pages intact with possible writing/highlighting. Binding strong with minor wear. Dust jackets/supplements may not be included. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.
Seller Inventory # 67920357-75
- Title
- Mastering Behavioral Interviews : The Guide to Storytelling in Tech
- Author
- McDonald, Austen
- Publisher
- Behavioral, The
- Publication year
- 2025
- Condition
- Very Good
- Binding
- Soft cover
- Language
- English
- ISBN 13
- 9798993294308
- Item weight
- 2 pounds
- Dimensions
- N/A
Master the conversation that actually gets you hired, with an experienced FAANG hiring committee chair as your guide.
In today's AI-powered world, technical skills are table stakes. What separates software engineers, PMs, and designers who land $500K+ roles at FAANG companies from those who don't? The ability to tell their story.
After conducting over 1,000 big tech behavioral interviews, serving as Meta's Hiring Committee Chair, and coaching 200+ candidates into top tech roles, Austen McDonald reveals the frameworks that determine who gets hired—and who gets passed over.
Behavioral interviews are where careers are made or broken:
- They determine your level—and your compensation package
- They're often the reason strong technical candidates get rejected
- They're the primary filter for senior roles (L6+) and all leadership positions
- Yet most candidates prepare for them wrong (or not at all)
This isn't another "STAR method" handbook.
Mastering Behavioral Interviews exposes both the structured evaluation system (signal areas like Ownership, Conflict Resolution, and Ambiguity) and the intuitive cultural patterns (Silicon Valley's mythology of the "Builder") that interviewers use to assess you.
Inside, you'll discover:
The Decode-Select-Deliver Framework that transforms how you respond to any behavioral question.
- How to identify the "question behind the question" and give interviewers exactly the signal they need
- How to choose the best story from your career
- Structuring stories in an engaging way and why the CARL method beats STAR
- How to discuss failures, conflicts, and weaknesses without tanking your candidacy
A step-by-step preparation system that ensures you never blank on a question.
- Progressive journaling exercises to excavate your career's most illustrative stories
- How to extract signal-rich details interviewers actually care about
- Example responses calibrated to FAANG/MAANGO expectations
- How to practice efficiently, starting by yourself and how to best leverage mock interviews
Advanced communication strategies used by candidates who get multiple offers.
- The "Halo Effect" for demonstrating breadth when you lack depth
- "Thinking Defensively" to protect yourself from uncharitable interpretations
- How to handle difficult interviewers who interrupt, rush, or seem disengaged
- Calibrating technical detail for hiring managers
Specialized guidance you can't find elsewhere
- Breaking into big tech from startups or traditional companies (and avoiding the cultural traps)
- Leadership interview strategies for managers and senior ICs (L6–L7+)
- How to handle deep dive interviews and project retrospectives
- Team matching conversations and cross-functional partner interviews
Whether you're:
- A new grad compensating for limited scope
- A mid-level PM or engineer targeting your next role
- A startup founder transitioning to Big Tech
- An experienced leader moving between companies
...this book provides the frameworks, examples, and practice scripts to present your authentic capabilities with confidence.
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Better World Books: West
Reno, NV, U.S.A.
AbeBooks seller since March 14, 2016
Shipping rates within U.S.A.
| Item | 4 to 8 business days | 3 to 5 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 0.00 | £ 9.72 |
Payment methods
Store description
Better World Books is a for-profit, socially conscious business and a global online bookseller that collects and sells new and used books online, matching each purchase with a book donation. Each sale generates funds for literacy and education initiatives in the U.S., the UK, and around the world. Since its launch in 2003, Better World Books has raised over $35 million for libraries and literacy, donated over 38 million books, and reused or recycled more than 475 million books.
Seller's business information
Better World Books Marketplace, Inc.
55742 Currant Road
Mishawaka, IN U.S.A. 46545
Terms of sale
Better World Books (BWB) values your satisfaction and offers you returns within thirty (30) days after the estimated delivery date on most items. All returned items must be in the original condition; used items should include the SKU sticker located on the spine or back of the product.
If you have an incomplete, incorrect, or damaged shipment, please contact our Customer Care team via Abebooks contact seller options before proceeding with the return.Please keep in mind that because we deal mostly in used books, any extra components, such as CDs, DVDs, figurines, or access codes are not included.
Right of withdrawal
If you are a consumer you can withdraw from the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.
Information regarding the right of withdrawal
Statutory right to withdraw
You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.
The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the last good or the last lot or piece.
To exercise the right of withdrawal, electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". We will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.
To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.
Effects of withdrawal
If you withdraw from this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).
We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.
We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract.
We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.
We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back, or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.
You shall send back the goods or hand them over to Better World Books: West, Mishawaka, Indiana, U.S.A., without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.
Exceptions to the right of withdrawal
The right of withdrawal does not apply to:
- The delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
- The supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not withdraw once delivery had started.
Shipping terms
Please allow 1-2 business days for order fulfillment.