Competency-Based Interview Questions

Competency-Based Interview QuestionsCompetency-Based Interview QuestionsCompetency-basedvorstellungsgesprch questionsrequire interviewees to give specific examples of times in which they demonstrated particular skills or attributes. Generally, thesequestionsrequire interviewees to describe a problem or situation, the actions they took to handle it, and the end results. They allow the employer to quickly evaluate a candidates mindset, and gauge how a candidate handles certain situations. Competency-Based Interview Questions Often, these types of questions begin with the phrases Describe a time when... or Give me an example of a situation where... Interviewers may ask questions about a variety of competencies depending on the skills requiredfor the specific job. For example, while an interviewer for a retail job may ask competency-based questions about communication and teamwork, an interviewer for an upper management job may ask questions about leadership, independence, and creati vity. How to Prepare for Competency-Based Interview Questions To prepare for competency-based interview questions, make a list of aptitudes and attitudes that you think are important for the job for which you are interviewing. Check the job listing for examples of required skills and abilities. For example accountability, ambition, approachability, compliance, conflict management,critical thinking, delegation, flexibility, inclusiveness, influencing, initiative, resourcefulness, risk taking, etc.Next, list situations in which you have demonstrated each of these competencies. Once you have prepared a list of situations, review it. By thinking of examples before the interview, you will be able to answer questions quickly and concisely. For each skill, write down the situation, the actions you took to handle the problem, and the ultimate results. This is a modified version of theSTAR interview review response technique. STAR stands for situation, task, action, result. Using this te chnique will help you give a brief, coherent, and structured response to interview questions. How to Answer Competency-Based Interview Questions Choose Your Example Before answering the question, think of a specific example of a past situation that answers the situation given. Try to use an example that is relevant to the job youre applying for. For example, while problem solving can be a skill you use in a variety of situations, focus on a time when you had a specific work-related issue in the office, and how you managed it. Be Concise It is easy to wander when answering a competency-based interview question, particularly if you do bedrngnis have a specific situation or problem in mind. Provide a clear, brief description of the situation, explain how you handled it, and describe the results. By focusing on one specific example, your answer will be succinct and on topic. Do Not Place Blame If you are describing a particular problem or difficult situation (for example, a time whe n you had to work with a difficult boss), it may feel natural to attack or place blame on another person. However, these questions are aboutyou, not about anyone else. Focus on what you did to manage the situation do not dwell on other peoples issues or failures. Examples of Competency-Based Interview Questions Adaptability Tell us about the biggest change you have had to deal with in your previous employment. How did you handle it? Communication Tell us about a situation where you failed to communicate appropriately. In hindsight, what would you have done differently?Describe a time when you had to explain something complex to a colleague. What problems did you come across and how did you deal with them? Creativity Tell us about a time in which you developed an unconventional approach to solve a problem. How did you develop this new approach? What challenges did you face and how did you address them? Decisiveness Tell us about a decision you made that you knew would be unpopula r with certain people. How did you handle the decision-making process? How did you handle other peoples negative reactions? Flexibility Describe a situation in which you changed your approach in the middle of a project. What made you decide to change your approach? How did you work to implement this change smoothly?Describe a situation in which you were asked to perform a task you had never performed previously. Integrity Tell us about a time when someone asked you to do something you objected to. How did you handle the situation? Leadership Describe a time in which you had to improve a teams performance. What challenges did you encounter and how did you address them? Resilience (How do you deal with stress?) Describe a time in which you received negative feedback from an employer, colleague, or client. How did you manage this feedback? What was the outcome? Teamwork Describe a time in which members of your team did not get along. How did you handle the situation?Describe a time in which you were a member of a team. How did you positively contribute to the team?