In Theory: The Pros and Cons of Behavioral Based Interviewing

[sandsthetime]

Originally Posted by tnff

The problem is, this kind of question provides no insight into experience or anything else. All it provides insight into is how well the person can BS the answer. I mean, what do you expect them to say:


A. "My most difficult experience with X was I didn't know how to program the fram-a-stan valve and had to get Joe to do it after causing a week delay in the project."


OR


B. "My most difficult experience with X was when I discovered the fram-a-stan valve didn't properly interface with the doohickey software so I quickly formed a team and led the problem resolution effort to minimize impact to the thing-a-ma-*** project.


So you hire "B" while overlooking the person who never had the problem in the first place, but got stuck on how to describe a problem they never had.

Advocates might claim that asking the inexperienced candidate A about something which he/she hasn't yet experienced can give great insight as to how they handle unfamiliar situations. What is their thought process, how do they react to it, etc.

[tnff]

Originally Posted by sandsthetime

Advocates might claim that asking the inexperienced candidate A about something which he/she hasn't yet experienced can give great insight as to how they handle unfamiliar situations. What is their thought process, how do they react to it, etc.

Sorry I wasn't clear. What I was trying to say is the same candidate could answer with either answer A if honest or answer B if not. Those advocates would pick the person who answered B even if it was a total lie because it fits what they want the answer to be. That's why so many of us are against the question type because it doesn't actually provide more information; it only provides the illusion of it.

[sandsthetime]

Originally Posted by tnff

Sorry I wasn't clear. What I was trying to say is the same candidate could answer with either answer A if honest or answer B if not. Those advocates would pick the person who answered B even if it was a total lie because it fits what they want the answer to be. That's why so many of us are against the question type because it doesn't actually provide more information; it only provides the illusion of it.

Ah gotcha, makes sense.