The behavioural interview (sometimes also referred to as "criteria-based" interview) is a type of structured interview, where the interviewer's questions aim at mapping the characteristics (competences) most important in terms of the position.

The interviewer will ask open-ended questions that will cause the applicant to describe real circumstances and their response to them. From the answers of the candidate it can be established if the candidate showed the required behavioural pattern. The interviewer will build up the order of the questions systematically so that they can obtain a valid picture of the strengths and weaknesses relating to the given competence of the applicant.

The behavioural interview can be listed among the moderately structured selection methods, where the questions aim at obtaining information relating to a specific competence and in order to have a more detailed picture the interviewer may ask further questions spontaneously. The responses of the candidate are assessed separately in case of each competence. The behavioural interview is more structured than a typical job or biographical interview. However, it is less defined than a situational interview.