# Behavioral Job Interviewing: Hire the Best Course (Self-Paced)

Canonical URL: <https://www.graduateschool.edu/courses/behavioral-job-interviewing-hire-the-best-course-self-paced>

## Overview

This course provides practical guidance on how to plan, conduct, and evaluate behavior-based structured interviews in support of effective hiring decisions. Participants examine the purpose of employment interviews, the role interviews play in the federal selection process, and the advantages of using behavior-based techniques to assess candidate competencies. The course emphasizes how past behavior can be used to evaluate future job performance and how structured interviews support consistency, fairness, and merit-based selection.

Throughout the course, participants learn how to develop job-related behavioral interview questions, create scoring mechanisms and rating scales, conduct interviews using a standardized approach, and assess candidates against established criteria. The course also addresses interview preparation, note-taking, common rating errors, bias risks, and inappropriate interview topics to avoid. By the end of the course, participants will be better prepared to carry out interviews that are more objective, legally appropriate, and aligned with sound hiring practices.

## What you'll learn

- Identify the major purposes of the employment interview and its role in the selection process.
- Explain how behavior-based structured interviews support more objective and job-related hiring decisions.
- Distinguish between traditional interview questions and behavior-based interview questions.
- Develop open-ended, job-related behavioral interview questions aligned to position requirements.
- Apply job analysis concepts to identify the competencies, knowledge, skills, and abilities to be assessed during an interview.
- Create an interview scoring mechanism using rating scales and behavioral anchors.
- Plan and conduct a structured interview using consistent questions, note-taking practices, and interview procedures.
- Assess candidate responses against established rating criteria to support fair and defensible hiring decisions.
- Recognize common rating errors, bias risks, and inappropriate interview topics that can undermine interview validity.

## Curriculum

#### Module 1: Interview Purpose and Objectives

- Identify the major purposes of the employment interview and its role in the hiring process.
- Explain the organizational costs and consequences associated with poor hiring decisions.
- Discuss the advantages and limitations of employment interviews within the federal selection process.
- Recognize the typical steps in the federal hiring process and the preparation required to conduct an effective interview.

#### Module 2: Behavior-Based Interviews

- Identify the key elements of a behavior-based interview and how it differs from traditional interview approaches.
- Explain how past behavior can be used to assess future job performance.
- Develop behavior-based interview questions designed to evaluate job-related competencies.
- Practice using probing and follow-up questions to obtain complete and relevant candidate responses.

#### Module 3: Creating a Scoring Mechanism

- Develop an interview scoring mechanism to evaluate candidate responses consistently and objectively.
- Use job analysis concepts to identify the competencies, knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for a position.
- Create rating scales and behavioral anchors that distinguish levels of candidate performance.
- Apply standardized scoring criteria to support fair and defensible hiring decisions.

#### Module 4: Planning, Conducting the Interview, and Assessing Candidates

- Plan and organize a structured interview using behavior-based interview techniques.
- Conduct interviews using consistent questions, effective note-taking practices, and a structured format.
- Assess candidate responses against established rating scales and job-related criteria.
- Recognize common rating errors, bias risks, and inappropriate interview practices that can affect interview validity.

#### Optional Module 5: Training Interviewers

- Explain the importance of interviewer training to support consistency, fairness, and merit-based hiring decisions.
- Identify best practices for preparing interviewers to use behavior-based interview techniques and scoring systems.
- Discuss strategies for improving interview reliability and reducing bias through structured interviewer training.

## Pricing

**Tuition:** $649