Behavioral Interviews
Behavioral interviews ask you to describe stories in your past that exhibit the behaviors the interviewer is discussing. For example:
- Describe a time where you had to make a critical decision.
- Describe a time you disagreed with a supervisor.
- Describe your biggest professional mistake.
All of these ask you about situations in your past. You have to search your memory for adequate examples to use for these questions. Your answer tells the interviewer:
– How well you prepared for the question (rambling is bad).
– Your thought process (what do you consider a mistake?).
– Your past behaviors (which are believed to indicate your future behaviors).
However, they have problems as well. The applicant selects the answers they choose to select. They may be lying or minimizing what really happened. Or they may ignore a worse story in favor of one that looks better on them as a candidate.
Situational Interviews
Situational interviews look at the future. Rather than “Tell me about a time…” you will be asked “What would you do if…” You are presented with a potential problem, and you supply what you would do in that situation. Employers are testing your:
– Ability to solve the problems they give you.
– Intelligence and knowledge.
– Expertise in the field.