Behavioral Interviewing
An interview technique that uses past behavior as a predictor of future performance.
Definition
Behavioral interviewing is a method where interviewers ask candidates to describe specific past experiences, operating on the principle that past behavior predicts future performance. Questions are framed as "Tell me about a time when…" rather than hypotheticals like "What would you do if…". The method was developed by industrial psychologists in the 1970s and became widely adopted in corporate hiring after landmark validity studies.
Why It Matters in Interviews
Behavioral interviews are the dominant format at top tech companies. Harvard Business Review notes that nearly every modern hiring loop now leans on past-behavior questions as the primary assessment method. At Amazon, behavioral questions assessed against Leadership Principles account for a substantial portion of the hiring decision — often weighted equally to technical performance for non-engineering roles. Performing poorly on behavioral rounds can eliminate candidates even when technical scores are strong.
How to Use It
Prepare a bank of 10–12 strong stories that can be adapted to different competencies. Map each story to multiple potential questions before your interview. Use the STAR method to structure every answer.
Quick Tips
- Prepare stories from the last 1–2 years for maximum relevance.
- Include at least one story that demonstrates failure or learning — every top company asks about it.
- Know which Leadership Principle or value each of your stories maps to for the specific company.
- Practice saying your stories out loud — reading them mentally feels very different from speaking them.
FAQ
What is the difference between behavioral and situational questions?
Behavioral questions ask about what you actually did ("Tell me about a time…"). Situational questions ask what you would do ("What would you do if…"). Most top companies prefer behavioral, but many include both.
How many stories do I need to prepare?
Prepare 10–12 distinct stories. This gives you enough coverage for 6–8 interviews without repeating yourself to the same hiring panel.