What do behavioral questions ask a candidate to discuss?

Behavioral questions are designed to elicit information about how a candidate has handled specific situations in the past. The underlying premise of these questions is that past behavior is a good predictor of future behavior in similar circumstances. By asking candidates to discuss specific past situations, interviewers can gauge various competencies and soft skills, such as problem-solving abilities, teamwork, leadership, and conflict resolution.

For example, a typical behavioral question might be, "Can you describe a time when you faced a challenging project deadline? How did you handle it?" This prompts the candidate to provide a concrete example from their work experience, allowing the interviewer to assess how they managed stress, prioritized tasks, and collaborated with others.

This focus on actual experiences sets behavioral questions apart from those that inquire about future expectations or hypothetical scenarios, which address different aspects of a candidate's potential fit for a role.