What is a behavioral interview question?

A behavioral interview question is designed to elicit information about a candidate's past experiences as a way to predict how they might behave in similar situations in the future. The underlying premise is that past behavior is a strong indicator of future performance. For example, an interviewer might ask, "Can you give me an example of a time when you faced a challenge at work? How did you handle it?" This type of question encourages the interviewee to provide specific examples that demonstrate their skills, problem-solving abilities, and how they align with the job requirements.

In contrast, questions focused on hypothetical scenarios typically ask the candidate how they would handle a situation that hasn’t occurred yet, which is not the same as behavioral questioning. Technical knowledge questions assess a candidate's expertise in a specific area rather than their past experiences. Similarly, inquiries about future job responsibilities tend to focus on what the candidate will do rather than how they have handled tasks or challenges previously. Thus, the correct choice captures the essence of what behavioral interview questions are designed to uncover about a candidate.