Tool 05 · Interview Prep
Behavioral Answer Pacing Timer
Practice a behavioral answer. Set your target window (60s for a quick STAR, 90s for a full story, 120s for a multi-part answer). The timer counts down and tracks filler words as you type.
Target:
90.0s
Why pacing matters
Most candidates either race through behavioral answers (160-180 wpm, nervous energy) or crawl through them (110-120 wpm, sounding rehearsed). Both flag the interviewer. The pacing sweet spot in NYC interviews — based on recruiter debriefs — is 145-160 wpm with fewer than 5 fillers per 100 words.
This tool doesn't speak for you. It just gives you the same timing feedback a coach would, free and judgment-free.
What this is good for
- Catching your filler-word habit before the interviewer does
- Forcing a 90-second answer when you tend to ramble
What this cannot do
- Replace real spoken practice (the real thing has breath, eye contact, mic anxiety)
- Detect "um" in your head — only what you type counts