Behavioral Based Interviewing
Behavioral based interviewing (BBI) is questioning to determine how the candidate acted in specific employment-related situations. The way that a candidate behaved or performed in the past often predicts how he or she will behave or perform in the future (i.e. past performance predicts future performance).
Examples of BBI questions include:
- Give an example of a goal you reached and tell me how you achieved it.
- Describe a decision you made that was unpopular and how you handled implementing it.
- Tell me about a time you had a problem with a co-worker. How did you manage it?
- Tell me about your experience managing a large-scale project. What was the outcome?
Candidate answers should:
- Be specific examples of how they behaved or performed in previous employment situations.
- Indicate knowledge and understanding regarding the question's subject area.
Red Flags:
- Candidate cannot provide specific examples of previous behavior or performance.
- Candidate's response demonstrates a lack of attention to detail and accuracy.
- Candidate has no experience, but "feels he/she can pick up anything very quickly.”
- Candidate's answer reflects the expectation that someone other than himself/herself should address conflicts or difficult situations.