Key Differences Between Traditional and Behavioral Interviews

Focus on Past vs. Focus on Future
One of the primary differences between traditional and behavioral interviews is their focus. Traditional interviews emphasize past experiences, while behavioral interviews focus on predicting future behavior based on past actions. Traditional interviews allow candidates to express their opinions and hypothetical approaches, whereas behavioral interviews demand specific examples from the past.

Question Types and Responses
In traditional interviews, questions are often broad and open-ended. Candidates can provide subjective answers based on their knowledge and opinions. Behavioral interviews, on the other hand, use structured behavioral questions that require candidates to provide specific examples of their past experiences. Responses are expected to follow the STAR format, providing clear descriptions of situations, tasks, actions, and results.