The STAR method
Structure each answer as Situation (brief context), Task (your goal/responsibility), Action (what YOU specifically did — most of the answer), and Result (the outcome, ideally quantified, plus what you learned). It keeps stories concise and impact-focused.
Build a story bank
Prepare 5–8 concrete stories covering the recurring themes: conflict, failure, leadership, ambiguity, tight deadlines, disagreement with a manager, and your proudest achievement. One strong story can be reframed to answer several questions.
Common pitfalls
Speaking in 'we' instead of 'I' (interviewers want YOUR contribution), rambling without structure, no measurable result, and choosing a trivial example. Practise out loud and keep answers to ~2 minutes.