What is a series of job-related questions that focuses on a candidate's behavior in specific situations called?

The appropriate term for a series of job-related questions that focuses on a candidate's behavior in specific situations is known as a behavioral interview. In this type of interview, candidates are asked to recount past experiences and how they handled various issues, which helps interviewers assess their skills, judgment, and reactions in real-life work scenarios. This methodology is based on the premise that past behavior is the best predictor of future performance in similar situations.

Behavioral interviews typically include questions that begin with phrases like "Tell me about a time when..." or "Give an example of how you handled...," emphasizing the candidate's past experiences and actions. This approach encourages candidates to provide specific instances that reveal their competencies and align with the requirements of the role they are applying for.

In contrast, a structured interview involves asking all candidates the same predetermined questions in the same order, which may include a mix of general and situational questions but does not focus solely on past behavior. A situational interview, while similar, generally presents hypothetical scenarios to candidates and asks how they would handle them rather than relying on their actual past experiences. The term "candidate interview" is too vague and does not specifically refer to the behavior-focused methodology used in behavioral interviewing.