Behavioral Interviewing

While some large corporations have been using the behavioral interviewing methods for many years, it is a relatively new method for most employers. A lot of companies are switching to behavioral interviewing because it has been proven to be successful in the employee selection process. The traditional interview questions tend to be too broad and do not focus on the individuals’ “real life” experiences. Behavioral interviewing focuses on specific behaviors. Behavioral interviewing techniques require candidates to provide examples of “real” situations and how they reacted in certain circumstances. Behavioral questions help the interviewer determine behaviors, knowledge, skills and abilities that are desired for a particular job.

A behavioral interview question will generally start with “describe a time when…” or “tell me about a situation where…” For example, if the job requires a person to be a self-starter, possess critical thinking skills, be a team player and have self-confidence, then the questions asked during the interview will focus on examples demonstrating those skills specifically. The best way to answer a behavioral question is to tell the interviewer about a particular situation that relates to the question. Your answer should include how you handled the situation and the positive outcome that resulted from your actions.