Competency-based interview questions require candidates to give specific examples of times when they have demonstrated competencies or attitudes required by the employer.
Employers like competency-based interview questions because they can easily evaluate an employee’s mindset and determine whether they have the experience and skills required for the position.
There are several core competencies which are often tested in interviews. When preparing for an interview, it’s a good idea to make a note of these common competencies as you may be asked about them.
Common competencies include:
- Communication skills
- Teamwork
- Decision making
- Motivation
- Adaptability
- Reliability
- Planning and organizing
- Problem solving
So, without further ado here are four steps to help you ace your competency-based interview.
Know what competencies the employer is looking for
Start your competency-based interview preparation by going back to the job posting. The posting will often have a list of skills or attributes the employer seeks in a candidate.
Sometimes the advert will specify which requirements are essential and which are desirable. You should make a note of all the competencies mentioned.
Use the competencies to plan what questions may be asked
You should be able to get a good idea of what questions may be asked by the employer based on the competencies mentioned. A top tip is to look at each skill separately and form a question for each one.
Here are some examples to get you started:
- Teamwork: Give me an example when you worked in a team with your colleagues?
- Communication: How have you previously used your communication abilities to resolve a specific problem faced by your team?
- Adaptability: Tell us about a time you had to use your initiative at work.
- Organization: Describe a time you had to balance multiple competing priorities on time.
Plan out your answers to each of the questions
Now that you have worked out what questions may be asked, you need to think of examples which show you have the required competencies.
Don’t think that all your examples must relate to being work-related. Some of your answers can come from other experiences, such as studying or volunteering.
A great way to structure your answers is by using the STAR interview response technique. The STAR method is a useful technique because it structures your responses in such a way so that you show prospective employers your experience and skills relevant to the job efficiently.
STAR stands for
Situation: this is where you explain the situation which led to the task in question.
Task: this is the second part of your answer and is where you describe what your role was in that situation.
Action: this is the stage where you explain in detail what you did and should take up 70% of your response.
Result: this is the final part of your answer where you explain what the impact of your actions was, ensuring that it’s clear how your actions contributed towards the result.
Most of your answer should focus on the actions you took and then the results. As although it’s important to give the interviewer information about the situation, so they understand the context, they’re more interested in what you did.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Now that you have planned out the questions and your examples, you need to practice your answers, so you have a confident delivery on the day.
If you have a family member or friend you can practice with, ask them to act as the interviewer and ask you the questions. If you don’t have anyone to help you, you can still say the answers out loud.
After practicing, you might find that you want to change your answers. Now is the time to make those changes and then practice your revised answer.
Top 3 tips to bear in mind
Don’t panic if you’re asking some questions you haven’t completely prepped for. Just answer the questions you are asked as best as you can, keeping the STAR method in your mind at all times.
Make sure that your answers aren’t too long-winded; otherwise, the employer will lose interest. Each response should be around two minutes long.
When explaining the results part of your answers, be clear about how you played a key role as the interview is the only time you have to sell yourself to the employer. When answering questions about teamwork, you can easily fall into the trap of talking about what your team did, rather than your actions.
If you follow the above steps, you should be well prepared for any competency-based questions the interviewer throws at you.
Remember competency-based interviews are a good way for you to show how you’re the ideal candidate, so boost your chances of getting the job by following this complete guide.
About the author: Shilpa Nayyar is an ex-recruiter turned CV Writer and offers CV Writing, LinkedIn Writing and Cover Letter writing assistance. Shilpa is currently offering free CV reviews where she will personally review your CV and give you clear recommendations to improve your CV. Connect with Shilpa on LinkedIn.
