Interview Glossary

Plain-English definitions for the terms recruiters use. Each entry includes a short definition, an in-depth explanation, FAQs, and links to related concepts.

• STAR Method

  The STAR method is a four-part framework for answering behavioral interview questions: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Candidates set the context (Situation), clarify their personal accountability (Task), describe the specific actions they took (Action), and quantify the outcome (Result). Recruiters use STAR to grade behavioral answers consistently.

• Behavioral Interview

  A behavioral interview probes past behavior to predict future performance, using questions like 'Tell me about a time…' or 'Describe a situation where…'. Recruiters look for specific stories with measurable outcomes, scored against a competency rubric. Behavioral interviews dominate FAANG, consulting, and German graduate-program loops.

• Forensic Interview Question

  A forensic interview question is a behavioral question generated from a specific bullet on the candidate's CV or motivation letter, rather than a generic prompt. Forensic questions probe details only the candidate can know, making rehearsed or fabricated answers easy to detect.

• Mock Interview

  A mock interview is a simulated job interview used for practice. It replicates the format (voice, time pressure, question style) of a real loop and produces feedback on the candidate's answers. AI mock interviews use a candidate's CV to generate role-specific questions and score answers against a rubric.

• Gold-Standard Answer

  A gold-standard answer is a model behavioral interview answer rewritten to maximize rubric scores — STAR-complete, quantified, and tied to the candidate's actual CV. AI prep tools generate gold-standard answers as a target shape for the candidate to internalize, not memorize.

• Personal Experience Interview (PEI)

  The Personal Experience Interview (PEI) is McKinsey & Company's behavioral interview format. Candidates tell one detailed story across three dimensions: Personal Impact, Entrepreneurial Drive, and Inclusive Leadership (formerly Courageous Change). Stories must be 4-6 minutes, structured, and demonstrate quantified personal impact.