Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML) Practice Test

Which type of interview focuses on past behavior as the best predictor of future performance?

1. Situational Interview

2. Behavioral Interview

3. Stress Interview

4. Panel Interview

The correct answer is: Behavioral Interview

The correct answer is the behavioral interview. This type of interview is built on the premise that past behavior is the most accurate predictor of future performance in similar situations. During a behavioral interview, candidates are asked to provide specific examples from their previous experiences that demonstrate how they have handled particular challenges or tasks relevant to the position they are applying for. This approach allows interviewers to assess how the candidate's past actions align with the skills and competencies required for the job. In a behavioral interview, questions often begin with phrases like "Tell me about a time when..." or "Give me an example of..." which encourage candidates to draw on real-life scenarios to illustrate their skills and decision-making abilities. This method emphasizes the importance of practical experience and gives a clearer understanding of how a candidate might behave in the future, based on their historical performance. While other interview types have their own purposes, they do not focus on past behavior in the same way. For instance, situational interviews involve hypothetical scenarios and assess how a candidate would handle future situations rather than drawing from their past. Stress interviews are designed to evaluate a candidate's response to high-pressure situations but do not focus on behavioral patterns. Panel interviews involve multiple interviewers assessing a candidate simultaneously and can use various question types,