Interviewing at BetterUp? You’re in for an exciting experience. As a fast-growing coaching and mental health platform, BetterUp is transforming the workplace. With an innovative people-first culture, BetterUp is committed to employee growth and well-being.
But that also means the interview process is rigorous. BetterUp interviews tend to focus heavily on cultural fit and soft skills over hard skills. After all they’re looking for coaches, content creators engineers, and professionals who can embody BetterUp’s mission to empower growth and transform lives.
So how do you prepare for a BetterUp interview? And what types of BetterUp interview questions should you expect? This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from researching the company to perfecting your answers.
Overview of the BetterUp Interview Process
The BetterUp interview process typically consists of
- A 30 minute phone screen with a recruiter
- A 1 hour technical interview focused on your skills
- A series of 1-2 hour interviews with various managers and team members
- A final interview with an executive
Some roles may also include a presentation or work sample as part of the process.
BetterUp interviews are behavioral-based. The questions are focused on learning about you as an individual – your work style, motivations, strengths, areas for growth, and cultural fit within the company.
You’ll be asked questions like:
- Tell me about yourself.
- Why BetterUp?
- Describe a time you overcame a challenge.
- Share a time you resolved a conflict.
- What energizes you?
Let’s look at how you can prepare stellar answers to common BetterUp interview questions.
Research BetterUp’s Mission and Culture
BetterUp’s mission is to empower growth and transform lives through personalized coaching and counseling. The company aims to make professional coaching accessible and effective for developing employees.
BetterUp has a people-first culture centered around empathy, learning, and transparency. They value collaboration, taking smart risks, and bringing your whole self to work.
- Do extensive research to understand BetterUp’s “why” before your interview. Read through their website, blog, press releases, and founder interviews.
- Follow BetterUp on social media to get insight into company culture and values. Look at posts highlighting employees, events, etc.
- Check out employee reviews on Glassdoor and Indeed to learn about the positives and potential challenges of working at BetterUp.
Thorough research will help you demonstrate your interest in the company and how you align with their mission and values.
Expect Behavioral Interview Questions
Behavioral questions ask you to share examples and anecdotes that demonstrate desired skills and competencies. They often start with “Tell me about a time…” or “Describe a situation when…”
These questions allow hiring managers to assess how you’ve handled situations in the past to gain insight into how you might perform in the future.
Some common behavioral questions you may get at a BetterUp interview include:
- Tell me about a time you exceeded expectations on a project or assignment.
- Describe a difficult work relationship or conflict you had to navigate. How did you handle it?
- Share an example of how you motivated a colleague or peer.
- Tell me about a time you received critical feedback from a manager. How did you respond?
- Have you ever had to push back on leadership? What was the situation and outcome?
Use the STAR method to structure your answers. Briefly summarize the Situation, explain your Task and Actions, and describe the Results.
Provide specific details and concrete examples to back up your answers. Quantify your results when possible.
Showcase Your Soft Skills
BetterUp prides itself on its coaching culture. So you can expect a heavy emphasis on soft skills including:
- Communication – How clearly and effectively you convey information
- Emotional intelligence – Your self-awareness, empathy, and ability to manage relationships
- Collaboration – How well you work on a team and with diverse groups
- Agility – How you embrace change and handle ambiguity
- Problem-solving – Your analytical abilities and creativity in overcoming challenges
- Reflect on past work experiences and choose examples that highlight these soft skills.
- Have a story ready to share for each – how you resolved a miscommunication, gained buy-in from a resistant client, spearheaded a new initiative on your team, etc.
- Use the STAR method to succinctly walk through each scenario.
Getting comfortable talking through examples will ensure you can speak to these soft skills during your BetterUp interview.
Ask Thoughtful Questions
Interviews at BetterUp are meant to be two-way conversations. The hiring manager will likely end with “Do you have any questions for me?”
Asking thoughtful questions shows your interest in the company and the role. It also helps you determine if BetterUp is the right fit.
Some questions you could ask include:
- How would you describe the culture here at BetterUp?
- What are the top priorities for this role in the first 3 months?
- What are some of the biggest challenges facing your department right now?
- What opportunities for growth or advancement exist for this role?
- What do you enjoy most about working here?
Avoid asking questions easily found online or ones related to salary or benefits too early. Focus on big picture and role-specific questions instead.
Jot down some questions as part of your interview prep so you’re ready when the time comes.
Practice Interviewing with a Friend
Practice makes perfect when it comes to acing those BetterUp interview questions.
- Have a friend conduct a mock interview with you via video chat. Treat it like the real deal.
- Work through your answers out loud to common behavioral and soft skills questions. Get feedback on your delivery.
- Ask them to incorporate additional curveballs or follow-ups to simulate an actual conversation.
- Practice keeping your answers concise – 1-2 minutes max per question.
The more you practice, the more natural and confident you’ll feel during the actual interviews. Don’t underestimate the power of preparation!
Send Thank You Notes
After each BetterUp interview, follow up with a thank you email to your interviewer within 24 hours.
Thank them for their time, reiterate your interest in the role, and mention something specific you appreciate learning about BetterUp from your conversation.
Following up shows appreciation and helps keep you top of mind as they make their hiring decision. It’s a small touch that could give you an edge over other candidates.
Ask for Feedback on Your Interview Performance
If you don’t end up landing the job at BetterUp, ask for feedback on your interview performance. Don’t be afraid to learn from the experience.
Ask questions like:
- What did you see as my strengths during the interview process?
- Were there any areas I could improve upon for future interviews?
- Is there anything else I could have done to strengthen my candidacy?
Feedback will enable you to continue improving and honing your interview skills. The lessons you learn will help you shine at the next opportunity.
Leverage BetterUp’s Coaching to Boost Your Interview Skills
Interestingly, you can leverage BetterUp’s own services to take your interview skills to the next level.
BetterUp provides virtual coaching tailored to your needs and goals. You’re matched with an expert coach who will help you build confidence, practice behavioral questions, and reduce interview anxiety.
Investing in yourself shows drive and initiative – two qualities that will serve you well at BetterUp. So don’t be afraid to enlist a coach as a secret weapon in your interview prep!
Ace Your BetterUp Interview with Preparation
While BetterUp’s interviews are rigorous, they’re also an exciting chance to showcase your talents. Bring your A-game by researching the company, practicing responses, highlighting soft skills, and asking thoughtful questions.
With the right preparation, you’ll feel ready to knock their socks off! Show BetterUp how your unique experiences and perspective can contribute to their mission.
Remember, interviews are a two way street. Pay attention to whether BetterUp seems like an environment where you can thrive and do your best work. At the end of the day, you want to make sure it’s the right mutual fit.
Now that you know what to expect, you can walk into your BetterUp interview feeling empowered, qualified, and authentically you. You’ve got this!
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BetterUp Interview Exercise
FAQ
Is it hard to get hired by BetterUp?
What is the STAR method in interviewing?
What should a good interview question look like?
With that in mind, interview questions should aim to communicate a company’s values and needs and give candidates a chance to show how they’d support the operation. Hiring managers have to prepare hard-hitting questions, and interviewees must be ready to provide in-depth answers.
What questions should you ask during a job promotion interview?
Here are a few common job promotion interview questions and sample answers to practice: 1. What do you enjoy about your current role? What are hiring managers really asking? Employers want to know your feelings about the organization and company culture, as well as how your skill set matches your current expectations.
How do you answer a job interview question?
The bulk of your answer should focus on your actions and results. Make sure the situation you’ve chosen clearly demonstrates the skill or capability you’re being asked about and is complex enough for the role you’re interviewing for.
How do you write a good interview question?
Keep your answer as positive as possible, limiting any complaints and highlighting takeaways. Use your answer as an opportunity to showcase your effective communication skills and avoid any conflicts involving serious personal topics to maintain your professionalism. 5. “Do you prefer to work independently or on a team?”
