Prepare For
The Behavioral Interview

The behavioral interview is a proven and widely-used method of exploring a candidate's suitability for the position.

It goes beyond just looking at the candidate's educational and work history to determine the right fit, asking the candidate for specific examples of past behavior as they relate to the job requirements.

Five job candidates waiting in reception for an interview

This type of job interview is based on the premise that past behavior predicts future behavior and seeks previous evidence of required job-related behaviors.

What is a behavioral interview?

Behavioral interviewing explores the workplace competencies that are required for successful job performance.

If the job requires a person to be able to analyze and find solutions to problems the interviewer will ask the candidate to provide an example of when they previously displayed that behavior.

"Tell me about a problem you uncovered in your previous job. What steps did you take to sort it out?"

It is often difficult to think of good examples within the time constraints and stressful context of a job interview.

Know which behaviors (sometimes referred to as competencies) are required in the position by reviewing the job description and requirements.

How do you prepare for a behavioral interview?

Behavioral interview questions can be tricky and it is essential to prepare beforehand.

  • go through the job posting to determine the type of competencies and behaviors the employer is looking for in a successful job candidate
  • this list of core behaviors for common job types will help you with this
  • prepare good behavioral examples for the top key behaviors using the STAR method.

What is the STAR method used in behavioral interviews?

Looking back at your past jobs, prepare good behavioral examples using the following STAR technique:

  • S - Describe the specific situation
  • T -  Describe the task you were involved in
  • A - Detail the action and steps you took in the situation
  • R - Outline the results and outcome of your actions. What happened, what was accomplished, what did you learn

Listen carefully to the questions asked and, if need be, ask for further clarification. Answer with an appropriate and specific example. Often the interviewer will ask follow-up questions to get more information.

"Tell me why you did that"

"Take me through your decision process"

"How did you feel about that"

so it is essential to have a complete, actual example to draw on. 

Behavioral Interview Questions and Answers

Click on the required behavior to view job interview behavioral questions and excellent sample behavioral interview answers.

BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEW Q&a

Problem Solving

BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEW Q&a

Integrity

BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEW q&a

Attention to Detail

BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEW Q&a

Decision Making

BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEW Q&a

Negotiation Skills

BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEW q&a

Work Standards

BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEW Q&a

Planning/Organizing

BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEW Q&a

Leadership

BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEW q&a

Adaptability

BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEW Q&a

Teamwork

BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEW Q&a

Persuade/Influence

BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEW q&a

Resilience

Behavioral Interview Questions and Answers for Different Jobs

Interview Behavioral Questions for Managers

Supervisor Interview Questions

Behavioral Questions for Accounting

Administrative Behavioral-Based Interview Questions

Sales Behavioral Interview Questions

Customer Service Behavioral Interview Questions

Behavioral Social Work Interview Questions

Teacher Behavioral Interview Questions

For a complete list of behavioral based interview questions for specific jobs go to this job interview guide.

Behavioral Interview Tips

Keep in mind that there are no right or wrong behavioral answers, it is an attempt to see how you behaved in a given situation. It is not possible to fabricate an example. The interviewer's in-depth probing will quickly expose this.

Use these expert tips for behavioral job interviews to give you the confidence that you know exactly how to handle this type of interview

Competency Based Interview Questions

Get help with preparing on-target answers to competency based interview questions asked to determine the candidate's:

  • reliability
  • integrity
  • energy levels

View examples of frequently asked situational interview questions with answers.

What are the top behavioral interview questions?

Find all the help you need answering the most common behavioral-based interview questions that explore the 9 core job-related behaviors at answers to behavioral job interview questions

Behavioral Job Interview Question Database

The 12 Core Competencies

Find out more about the core competencies identified as critical for job success. Different jobs require specific competencies or behaviors but these 12 core competencies are required for acceptable job performance in nearly all career fields.

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