Behavioural Interview Guide

Behavioural interviews are a crucial part of the hiring process across industries. They allow employers to assess whether you have the right personality, motivation, and soft skills to thrive in their work environment.

Expect questions covering your interest in the industry, understanding of the company, and essential traits such as communication, resilience, and teamwork. The key to success? Proper preparation and structuring your responses effectively.

📋 Behavioural Interview Formats

Phone Screenings 📞

These are often conducted by HR or recruiters to confirm your motivation and background for the role. Expect questions such as:

• Why are you interested in this role?

• Why did you pick your degree?

• What do you get up to in your spare time?

• Do you have relevant experience?

One-Way Behavioural Videos 🎥

These are pre-recorded video interviews where you're typically provided with a question and have 60 seconds to prepare a response before filming starts. Companies use this format to assess your ability to think on your feet and articulate structured responses under time constraints.

In-Depth Behavioural Interviews 👥

These are typically video or in-person interviews that assess your culture fit by evaluating behavioural traits such as resilience, teamwork, and leadership. Expect to provide detailed examples of past experiences, challenges, and how you work under pressure.

🔥 Key Traits Recruiters Look For

1. Interest in the Industry & Role

Employers want to ensure you’re genuinely passionate about the field. They assess this through:

Why This Industry?

• Have a well-prepared, personal response showcasing your motivation.

• Research common challenges and trends in the industry.

General Knowledge of the Field

Candidates can expect questions such as:

• "Can you explain what we do?"

• "Can you tell me about a key industry trend?"

Where Else Are You Interviewing?

• Mention only related roles to demonstrate a focused interest.

• Avoid mentioning recent rejections to prevent negative bias.

2. Interest in the Company 🏢

Hiring managers want to see that you’ve done your homework and understand why you want to work at their firm specifically.

How to prepare:

• Visit the company’s website and review their values and career pages.

• Research employee experiences on Glassdoor and LinkedIn.

• Prepare a personalised response that highlights company-specific details.

🔥 Hot Tip: Avoid generic answers like "I want to work with smart people." Focus on what makes the company unique.

3. Communication Skills 🗨️

Effective communication is crucial in any role. Interviewers will evaluate your ability to:

• Structure responses clearly using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

• Explain technical concepts in a simple and concise manner.

• Avoid jargon or overly complex terms when describing ideas.

4. Other Behavioural Traits 🧠

Expect to be assessed on the following key soft skills:

• Growth Mindset: Willingness to learn and adapt.

• Resilience: Ability to handle setbacks and pressure.

• Teamwork & Leadership: Collaborating effectively while taking initiative.

• Problem-Solving: Tackling complex challenges logically and creatively.

👇 How They Assess You

Expect questions like:

• "Tell me about a time you made a challenging decision under pressure."

• "Describe a situation where you worked with a difficult teammate."

• "Give an example of when you had to learn something quickly."

👉 Check out our list of behavioural interview questions to prepare responses.

🔢 Preparation Tips

Preparing for behavioural interviews is easy if you put in the effort. Here's what we recommend:

✅ Tailor your resume for the role

A strong resume sets the foundation for behavioural interviews.

✅ Plan your responses using dot points

Read a wide range of practice questions and outline key stories.

✅ Practice answering aloud

This helps with fluency and confidence.

✅ Mock interviews

Practice with friends or an interview coach to get feedback.

✅ Be authentic

Interviewers value honesty and self-awareness over rehearsed responses.

🏁 Final Thoughts

Behavioural interviews are your opportunity to show that you’re not only technically competent but also the right cultural fit for a company. With the right preparation, structured responses, and a confident mindset, you’ll be well on your way to success.