Behavioral Interview

A behavioral interview is an interview technique where candidates are asked to describe how they handled specific situations in the past. The underlying principle: past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior.

Recognizing Behavioral Questions

Behavioral questions typically start with phrases like:

• "Tell me about a time when..."
• "Describe a situation where..."
• "Give me an example of..."
• "Walk me through how you handled..."

Why Companies Use Behavioral Interviews

Traditional interviews often test how well someone says they would handle situations. Behavioral interviews test what someone actually did. This approach:

• Reduces candidates' ability to give rehearsed ideal answers
• Reveals patterns of behavior across different situations
• Provides concrete evidence of competencies
• Gives insight into decision-making processes

The STAR Method

The gold standard for answering behavioral questions:

Situation: Set the context briefly

Task: Explain your responsibility

Action: Describe what YOU specifically did (this should be 60% of your answer)

Result: Share the outcome, ideally with metrics

Common Behavioral Interview Topics

• Leadership and taking initiative
• Problem-solving and analytical thinking
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Handling conflict and difficult people
• Adapting to change
• Failure and learning from mistakes
• Working under pressure
• Communication and influence

Preparation Strategy

Build a "story bank" of 8-10 stories that demonstrate different competencies. Practice telling them concisely (2-3 minutes each) using the STAR format. The same stories can often be adapted to answer different questions.

Behavioral interviews reward preparation. Candidates who have reflected on their experiences and can articulate them clearly significantly outperform those who try to think of examples on the spot.