I went through the Airbnb loop as a returner (2-year gap for caregiving), and the behavioral rounds were the part I was most anxious about. Posting what I learned because the "Airbnb core values" framing is real and you need to know it.
Airbnb structures its behavioral interview around what they publicly call their core values. In practice the interviewer asks real-life STAR-method questions, but they're mapping your answers to specific values. The ones that came up for me, across two behavioral rounds:
"Be a host" is their biggest one. They want concrete examples of you anticipating someone else's needs, removing friction for a colleague, going beyond your job description for a customer or teammate. Generic "I help my team" won't cut it. Have a specific story.
"Champion the mission" comes up as a variation of "tell me about a time you cared about more than just your immediate task." They want genuine connection to the product or company, not a rehearsed line.
"Be a cereal entrepreneur" (yes, like the cereal, there's a story behind the brand). They're looking for bias toward action, moving with limited information, not waiting for permission. I got: "Tell me about a time you started something without a clear mandate."
Actual questions from my rounds: Tell me about a time you had a conflict with a coworker and how you resolved it. Describe a situation where you took ownership of a problem outside your role. Tell me about a time you had to make a decision with limited information. What happened? Tell me about something you built or started that you're proud of.
For the gap: I got one question about my time away. I was honest. They were gracious. The interviewer said career gaps don't factor into the evaluation, and nothing in the feedback I got suggested it hurt me. I passed to offer.
Overall the behavioral bar felt high but human. They're actually listening to the story, not just checking format.