How to prepare for a competency based interview
If you're a candidate that's been invited to a competency interview, you may be feeling a bit anxious as to what exactly this is going to entail. So in this short guide, we'll tell you exactly how to prepare for one.
What is a competency based interview?
Firstly, a competency interview is just a posh term for an interview where you'll be asked questions like, 'Can you give me an example of when you have...', rather than theoretical questions like, 'what would you do if...'. All you need to do is to really know what you've done and to understand your career.
Also known as a structured, situational or behavioural interview, the recruiter will likely be marking you on each question with a score of 1-5 or 1-10. The more detail and structure you can inject into your answers, the more chance you’ll have of succeeding at competency-based interviews.
The reason so many employers use competency questions is that the best way to judge potential future performance is to assess the past.
So what's the best way to prepare for it?
To make the most of your preparation, set aside a dedicated two-hour session with your CV, a pad, and a pen. This focused approach allows you to delve into your professional history, thoroughly reviewing each role you've held.
During this session, jot down specific examples of situations where you demonstrated key competencies sought by the prospective employer. Highlight instances where you exhibited leadership, problem-solving abilities, teamwork, adaptability, and any other relevant skills. Be sure to quantify your achievements whenever possible, emphasizing how your actions contributed to positive outcomes or improvements in your previous roles.
Additionally, consider how your experiences align with the specific requirements of the job you're interviewing for. Tailor your examples to the competencies listed in the job description, providing concrete evidence of your suitability for the position.
By dedicating this time and attention to preparing for a competency-based interview, you'll be well-equipped to respond confidently and effectively to questions, leaving a lasting impression on your potential employer.
Using the STAR method to answer interview questions
While preparing for competency-based interviews, you might consider using the STAR method, which is a simple, structured way to answer any behavioural question. STAR stands for:
- Situation: Set the scene for your answer, where were you, what had happened, who were you working with on a solution?
- Task: Describe what the point of your task was. Here you’ll outline your intended outcome. So, if a client was threatening to walk away, your task would have been to get them back on side and remain your customer.
- Action: Explain what you did. Make it clear what your role was and how it related to the people around you.
- Result: What happened? Be clear about the good result and highlight the benefits that came from it.
Your interviewer will get a clear understanding of your competency if you use this STAR method to describe, in detail, an experience/project you were involved in successfully at a previous job.
The STAR method will help you come across as analytical, organised and confident, and will put an extra gloss on what might already have been a positive experience.
Scoring highly at competency based interview
To give an example, let's just say that customer service is the attribute. You'll be asked a question such as, 'Can you give me an example in the last 12 months when you've gone beyond the call of duty to provide exceptional customer service?'.
What the interviewer will then be doing is gathering evidence from your reply and scoring against that, normally on a scale of one to five, sometimes out of a scale of one to 10. It's important that you really do articulate that well and ask for acknowledgement of that. 'Would you like some more information on that?' or 'Is there anything more I can go into on that example that's going to help you?'.
The more you ask questions like that, the more information you give, the more evidence they gather, the higher you will score.
Typically, an interviewer will be looking at somewhere between five and eight competencies during a competency-based interview, maybe a couple more for managerial roles.
So good luck with the competency interview. Don't be daunted by it!
Example competency based interview questions & answers
1. Tell me about a time you were decisive?
Example answer:
A colleague went on sick leave for three weeks, leaving a key account vulnerable. I suggested to my manager that I’d take over the client while my colleague was away. He agreed.
I asked team-mates to help with some of my low-service clients while I spent time with this larger client, winning and fulfilling his order. The client remains with the business to this day.
2. Tell me about a mistake you made and how you dealt with it?
Example answer:
I once won two orders but gave dispatch the wrong addresses; I mixed them up. I had to correct the problem without angering the clients. I called both clients and sent them new shipping labels to forward the items on to each other and offered both a discount on their next order.
They were both understanding and appreciated my goodwill gesture. And both came back and used the discount offer on another order.
3. Tell me about a time you showed dedication?
Example answer:
There was one month when our sales team looked like it was going to miss its targets. We were asked by our boss for ideas to rectify the situation. I decided to stay late after work, off my own back, to draw up a list of clients who had not purchased from us in a while but who had left us good reviews. The idea was to get in touch with a 15% discount offer.
We won enough business over the next 48 hours to reach our target comfortably.
4. Tell me about a time you resolved a conflict?
Example answer:
There was this unfortunate time a colleague and I argued over how to market a product. We didn’t speak for a week unless it was imperative for business. I knew this could not continue and that I had to resolve it.
I invited him to lunch, paid for his meal, and apologised for my part in the disagreement. I outlined how we both wanted what is best for the business, and it was reasonable that we might have different ideas.
It worked a treat. My colleague apologised in return and, if anything, we worked much closer together after that.
5. Describe how you once displayed leadership?
Example answer:
Our sales manager was away at a conference and uncontactable. Our department was approached by a prospective big client requiring a fast-turnaround sales proposal.
Our task was to produce the proposal or we’d lose a potentially big sale. So, I called my colleagues together, outlined the situation and organised a brainstorm for ideas and figures. We then agreed on a four-slide presentation to send back to the prospect that night.
Everyone pulled together, and we sent the email out. The client came back the next day and accepted.
My boss returned two days later and thanked me for taking the initiative with the team. He made me his official deputy after that!
Date published: 13th January 2025
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