Behavioral Interviewing
This is a technique that is used by more than half of on-campus recruiters. The behavioral interview is based on the premise that the best way to predict future behavior is to determine and evaluate past behavior. This type of interview is different, and takes special preparation and skill to perform well.
First, an employer determines a profile of desired behaviors, such as:
| customer service |
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stress tolerance |
| initiative |
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planning |
| organization |
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problem-solving |
| teamwork |
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leadership |
| flexibility |
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motivation |
Next, the interviewer asks a question designed to stimulate recollection of a situation that would lead to a desired behavior. For example:
- Balancing/prioritizing several tasks within a short period of time
- Dealing with an unproductive or uncooperative colleague
- Finding better ways to perform a task
The interviewer asks for an overview of the situation, the candidate's role, other players involved, key events and the outcome. The acronym "STAR" provides the formula for this questioning process.
- S – Describe the situation in which you were involved.
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- T – Describe the task to be performed.
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- A – What was your approach to the problem?
- R – What were the results of your actions?
The interviewer documents your responses and compares actual behaviors in a situation to the desired behaviors he is seeking.
In a behavioral interview, make sure the answers you give are honest, concise, and reflect positively on you (even if the event did not have a positive outcome). Remember that you are selling yourself, and the interview is the first place to prove your value to a company.
Differences Between Behavioral and Traditional Interviews
- The behavioral interviewer will ask you to provide details and will not allow you to theorize or generalize about events and actions.
- The behavioral interviewer is fact-finding and will focus on your actual past actions, not what you "should" or "would" have done. Some interviewers, however, will follow-up with questions such as, "Looking back on this experience, what would you have done differently?"
- The behavioral interviewer is more interactive with you and will continue probing with follow-up questions or refocusing in order to get the information needed.
- The behavioral interview may be longer and the interviewer will likely be taking notes.
