How to Prepare for Competency Based Interviews!!
November 22nd, 2021
What are competency based interviews?
You have secured your dream job interview hurray! The recruiter briefs you that the interview will be a competency-based interview. Goodness me!!! Do you go green with worry? Worry not!!! Vardey Recruitment have prepared a few pointers on competency-based interviewing and how to combat those nerves, by preparing for the process.
Firstly, what does competency-based interviewing mean? It can also be known as “structured, behavioural or situational” interviewing. It's designed to test on one or more skills or competencies. It’s a systematic approach to an interview and each question targets a skill set needed for the job.
Key competencies regularly sought after by employers include:
Adaptability, Commercial Awareness, Communication, Conflict Resolution, Decisiveness, Independence, Flexibility, Leadership, Problem Solving, Organisation, Resilience, Teamwork.
You should expect questions opening with 'Tell us about a time when you…', 'Give an example of…' or 'Describe how you…'
Common competency questions you may be asked at interview include:
- Describe a situation in which you led a team or worked well as part of a team?
- Give an example of a time you handled conflict in the workplace.
- How do you maintain good working relationships with your colleagues?
- Tell me about a big decision you've made recently. How did you go about it?
- What has been your biggest achievement to date?
- Describe a project where you had to use different leadership styles to reach your goal.
- Tell me about a time when your communication skills improved a situation.
- How do you cope in adversity?
- Give me an example of a challenge you faced in the workplace and tell me how you overcame it.
- Tell me about a time when you showed integrity and professionalism.
- How do you influence people in a situation with conflicting agendas?
- Give an example of a situation where you solved a problem in a creative way.
- Tell me about a time that you made a decision and then changed your mind.
- Describe a situation where you were asked to do something that you'd never attempted previously.
- Tell me about a time when you achieved success even when the odds were stacked against you.
How to answer competency questions
Vardey Recruitment recommends using the S.T.A.R (Situation, Task, Action and Result) method to structure your answers. It’s a useful way to communicate important points clearly and concisely. For every answer you give, identify the:
- Situation and Task - describe the task that needed to be completed or the situation you were confronted with. For example, “It was my first audit with my new employer and we were tasked to complete the year end within a very tight deadline.”
- Action - explain what you did and how and why you did it. For example, “We presented our accounts to the auditors because it was our year end and I led the team to complete the work required which was XYZ”.
- Result - describe the outcome of your actions. For example, “As a result of this hard work, delegation and team effort we passed the audit with flying colours!
- Where possible, try to relate your answers to the role that you're interviewing for. While your responses to the interview questions are prepared try to avoid sounding like you're reading from a script. Don't attempt to wing it by thinking on your feet, preparation is the key to success. Also, avoid embellishing the truth at all costs - any untruths or invented examples can be easily checked.
Preparing for a competency-based interview
- The key to providing successful answers to competency questions is preparation, and the good news is that this is relatively easy to do. Firstly, it's essential that you read and understand the job spec.
- Next, from the job description or person specification pick out the main competencies that the employer is looking for and think of examples of when and how you've demonstrated each of these.
- Try to draw on a variety of experiences from your studies, previous employment or any work experience you've undertaken.
- Familiarise yourself with the S.T.A.R approach to answering questions and practice your responses in front of a mirror, with a friend or family member or a recruiter like me!
If you have a competency-based interview coming up and need additional help, do not hesitate to reach out, as we would be delighted to support you.
If you are an employer and looking to get the best out of the process we would highly recommend this approach. Happy to chat through if you are looking for support. Contact Clare on 07816 873747 clare@vardeyrecruitment.com.
By Clare Dear
November 2021