What is a Behavioral Interview?

Behavioral Interviewing is a technique developed in the 70's to assess candidates by examining how the individual behaved in a variety of situations.  It is an increasingly common interview style. The basic premise of behavior-based interviewing is that past behavior is the most reliable predictor of future performance. 

Behavioral Questions are open-ended and require the candidate to tell a story.  The questions typically follow the "Tell about a time when you..." format. Each question will address one or more attributes that are important for the job. The questions help the interviewer determine how you measure up with the attributes required for the position.

Many companies use standard behavioral questions in their interviews.  This helps the hiring manager compare individuals, since everyone is asked the same questions.  A large part of the assessment becomes a comparison of the past accomplishments of each candidate. 

To interview effectively in a behavior-based interview, job seekers need to be able to discuss, very specifically, what they have done. The most effective method of preparing is to develop a selection of stories that you can adapt to any question.

You cannot "wing it" in a behavioral interview and have any chance of success. This style of interview requires thorough preparation. Unfortunately, few job seekers understand what a successful behavioral interview looks like, and as a result, overestimate their interview performance. To be successful in a behavioral interview, you must prepare. This first step of this process is learning what to prepare. The Palladian Interview Prep coaching programs teach specific techniques to show you how to get strarted and how to succeed.

Preparing for a behavioral interview takes a lot of work. Some job seekers wonder if it's worth the time, since they may not run into a behavioral interview. The techniques to make you successful in a behavioral interview are some of the most powerful interview techniques for traditional interview styles. A person who masters behavioral interviewing will excel in almost any interview format.