Tell me about a time you dealt with a major production incident

Last updated: August 22, 2025

Quick Overview

Use the STAR method to answer. Be specific about the situation at Expedia, your actions, and measurable outcomes.

Expedia
Behavioral & Leadership
Software Engineer
Expedia
August 22, 2025
Software Engineer
Behavioral Round
Behavioral & Leadership
Medium

38

7

448 solved


Use the STAR method to answer. Be specific about the situation at Expedia, your actions, and measurable outcomes.

Behavioral questions at Expedia are weighted heavily in the hiring decision. This question appears in the Behavioral Round and is designed to assess your past experiences and how they align with Expedia's leadership principles and culture.

What the Interviewer Expects
  • Share a compelling story with specific details and measurable outcomes
  • Demonstrate leadership skills: influence without authority, mentoring, decision-making
  • Show empathy and emotional intelligence in conflict situations
  • Reflect on lessons learned and how you applied them going forward
  • Quantify your impact with concrete metrics where possible
Key Topics to Cover
STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result)
Leadership and influence without authority
Cross-functional collaboration
Handling ambiguity and making decisions with incomplete information
How to Approach This
  1. Use the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, Result.
  2. Be specific about YOUR actions, not just the team outcome.
  3. Quantify your impact whenever possible (e.g., "reduced latency by 40%").
  4. Prepare stories for: conflict, failure, ambiguity, leadership, and technical trade-offs.
  5. Show growth mindset. Explain what you learned and how you changed your approach.
Possible Follow-up Questions
  • What would you do differently if you faced this situation again?
  • What frameworks do you use for making similar decisions now?
  • What was the most challenging part of this experience?
  • How did you support your team through this situation?
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Sample Answer
What the Interviewer is Really Asking

The interviewer is assessing your ability to handle high-pressure situations, particularly in dealing with production incidents. They want to evaluate your leadership skills, particularly your capacit...

Strong Answer Structure
  1. Situation: Describe the production incident at Expedia, providing context and scale.
  2. Task: Explain your role and responsibilities during this incident.
  3. Action: Detail the spec...

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