Your Guide To Answering Competency Based Interview Questions

When you have been instructed that you’ll be requested competency primarily based questions in an upcoming job interview, you could be questioning what precisely these are and the way it is best to go about answering them. As with every interview, preparation is the important thing, so we’re going to let you know every little thing it’s essential know to organize for interview success.

What Is A Competency-Based mostly Interview Query?

A competency-based interview query is one which assesses a particular talent or capacity that’s related to the job you might be making use of for. These questions normally start with phrases equivalent to “Inform me a couple of time when…” or “Give me an instance of…”

Competency-based questions are designed to check for previous behaviour as it’s the greatest predictor of future behaviour. Subsequently, when answering these questions, it is best to present a particular instance from your personal expertise for instance your competence in that individual space.

Sorts Of Competencies

When getting ready for a competency primarily based interview, it is very important first perceive what competencies are being assessed. Competencies are the abilities, data and behaviours which might be important for profitable job efficiency. There are typically three varieties of competencies: technical, purposeful and behavioural.

Technical Competencies

Technical competencies relate to particular data or experience required for the job. For instance, if you’re making use of for a job as an accountant, you will want to have sturdy technical abilities in accounting and finance.

Practical Competencies

Practical competencies are the abilities and behaviours which might be wanted to carry out the duties related to the job. For instance, if you’re making use of for a job as a salesman, you will want to have sturdy communication and negotiation abilities.

Behavioural Competencies

Behavioural competencies are the non-public qualities that allow you to carry out nicely within the job. For instance, if you’re making use of for a job as a undertaking supervisor, you will want to have the ability to display sturdy management and problem-solving abilities.

Examples Of Competency Based mostly Job Interview Questions

Now that we’ve taken a have a look at the three varieties of competency, let’s have a look at some examples of competency primarily based interview questions.

Technical Competency Query Examples

1. What software program would you employ to create a report to indicate the crew’s efficiency towards KPIs?
2. How would you go about fixing a fancy mathematical drawback?
3. Describe a time once you had to make use of your professional data to resolve an issue.

Practical Competency Query Examples

1. Inform me a couple of time once you had to make use of your communication abilities to affect somebody.
2. What strategies do you employ to remain organised and handle your time?
3. Give me an instance of a tough state of affairs you confronted at work and the way you coped with it.

Behavioural Competency Query Examples

1. Inform me a couple of time once you needed to take care of a tough buyer.
2. Give me an instance of a time once you went above and past the decision of responsibility.
3. Describe a time once you made a mistake at work and the way you handled it.

 

How To Reply Competency Based mostly Interview Questions

When answering competency primarily based interview questions, there are some things you want to bear in mind.

First, be sure you perceive the query. Competency primarily based interview questions are sometimes lengthy and convoluted, so it is very important be sure you perceive what’s being requested earlier than you begin answering. In case you are not sure, don’t be afraid to ask inquiries to make clear that you simply perceive the query.

Subsequent, take your time. These questions are normally designed to evaluate the way you suppose and resolve issues, so there is no such thing as a have to rush your reply. Take a number of moments to gather your ideas earlier than you begin answering.

If it’s essential purchase a bit further time, attempt repeating the query again to the interviewer. So, in the event that they ask ‘inform me a couple of time you handled a difficult state of affairs’, you would repeat ‘you could have requested me to speak a couple of time once I handled a difficult state of affairs’. This gives you a number of further seconds to consider your reply.

When you begin answering the query, be sure you present a particular instance. Obscure solutions won’t impress the interviewer. They need to hear a couple of particular state of affairs that you’ve been in to allow them to assess your competency.

If you end up giving your instance, be sure you use the STAR approach. This stands for ‘state of affairs’, ‘process’, ‘motion’, and ‘consequence’. The interviewer is seeking to hear a couple of particular state of affairs that you simply had been in, what process you needed to carry out, the actions you took, and the results of these actions.

For instance, if you’re requested a couple of time once you had to make use of your communication abilities to affect somebody, you would say:

“I used to be as soon as in a state of affairs the place I needed to persuade my crew chief to alter the best way we had been doing one thing. The duty I needed to carry out was to influence them to see my perspective and comply with the change. The actions I took had been to elucidate my reasoning clearly and again it up with proof. Ultimately, they agreed to the change and we had been capable of enhance the method.”

Through the use of the STAR approach, you might be offering a particular instance of a time once you used your communication abilities to affect somebody. This can give the interviewer a great perception into your competency.

Lastly, don’t neglect to speak about the results of your actions. That is usually a very powerful a part of the reply, because it reveals what you might be able to reaching. Within the instance above, the consequence was that you simply had been capable of persuade your crew chief and enhance the method.

How To Put together For A Competency Based mostly Interview

It may be tough to know the place to start out when you’re getting ready for a competency primarily based interview. Nonetheless, there are some things you are able to do to present your self the very best likelihood of success.

• Familiarise your self with the commonest competency primarily based interview questions. There are a number of questions that are likely to crop up time and time once more, so it’s value figuring out what they’re prematurely. This gives you a great place to begin in your preparation.
• Take a while to consider your personal experiences and determine examples of instances when you could have used competencies which might be related to the position you might be making use of for. It is very important have particular examples prepared to make use of in your interview, so this step shouldn’t be skipped.
• After you have a number of examples in thoughts, observe speaking about them out loud. This can enable you to to really feel extra assured when you’re giving your reply within the interview.
• Ensure you perceive the STAR approach and find out how to use it. It is a key a part of competency primarily based interviews, so it’s essential make sure that you might be utilizing it appropriately.

By following these steps, you’ll be well-prepared in your upcoming competency primarily based interview.

How To Get A Excessive Rating On A Competency-Based mostly Interview

Competency-based interviews have gotten more and more well-liked, so it is very important know find out how to excel in this sort of interview. Listed here are a number of suggestions that will help you get a excessive rating:

1. Put together prematurely

The most effective issues you are able to do is to organize prematurely. This implies familiarising your self with the commonest competency primarily based interview questions and desirous about your personal experiences. By doing this, it is possible for you to to present particular examples in your interview, which is able to impress the interviewer.

2. Use the STAR approach

If you end up giving your solutions, be sure you use the STAR approach. This stands for ‘state of affairs’, ‘process’, ‘motion’, and ‘consequence’. The interviewer is seeking to hear a couple of particular state of affairs that you simply had been in, what process you needed to carry out, the actions you took, and the results of these actions.

3. Give attention to the optimistic

In a competency primarily based interview, it is very important concentrate on the optimistic. The interviewer desires to listen to about instances when you could have used the related competencies efficiently. So, even if in case you have had some unfavorable experiences, attempt to body them in a optimistic gentle.

4. Be assured

Lastly, keep in mind to be assured in your solutions. In the event you lack confidence, will probably be tough to persuade the interviewer that you’ve the related abilities. So, take a deep breath and consider in your self!

How Lengthy Do Competency Interviews Final?

Competency interviews normally final between 30 and 60 minutes. Nonetheless, this will differ relying on the corporate and the position you might be making use of for.

Normally, the interview shall be made up of a sequence of questions that can permit the interviewer to evaluate your competencies. They might additionally ask you about your motivation for making use of for the position, and your profession aspirations.

The interview will normally be performed by a panel of two or three folks, and you’ll be given the chance to ask them questions on the finish.

How Do I Know If My Competency Interview Went Properly?

There are a number of key issues to look out for that can enable you to to gauge how nicely your competency interview went.

First, assess how nicely you answered the questions. Did you present particular examples? Did you employ the STAR approach? In the event you really feel like you would have accomplished higher, then it’s probably that the interviewer didn’t suppose you answered the questions nicely.

Subsequent, pay attention to the interviewer’s physique language. Had been they engaged with what you had been saying? Did they make eye contact? In the event that they appeared disinterested or distracted, it may very well be an indication that they didn’t suppose you probably did nicely within the interview.

Lastly, ask for suggestions from the interviewer. If they’re prepared to present you some suggestions, it’ll enable you to to grasp how nicely you probably did and what areas it’s essential work on.

By being attentive to this stuff, it is possible for you to to get a good suggestion of how nicely your competency interview went.

In fact, the one technique to actually know the way your competency interview went is to attend for the outcomes. In case you are profitable, you’ll be provided the job. If not, you’ll obtain suggestions that can enable you to to enhance for subsequent time. Both method, competency interviews are a worthwhile studying expertise.

Can You Take Notes Into A Competency-Based mostly Interview?

Most firms shall be glad so that you can take notes into your interview. In actual fact, taking notes into an interview can assist to indicate that you’re ready and that you’re taking the method critically.

Nonetheless, there are some things to bear in mind if you happen to do determine to take notes into your competency-based interview.

First, make it possible for your notes are related to the position you might be interviewing for. There is no such thing as a level in taking in depth notes if they aren’t going to be helpful.

It’s a good suggestion to solely take temporary notes into your interview. This can assist to stop you from getting too slowed down in your notes and showing like you might be studying from a script.

You also needs to keep away from taking notes in your telephone, as this may be distracting and it could be tough for the interviewer to grasp what you are attempting to say. Keep on with taking notes on paper in order that the interviewer can simply see what you might be writing.

Lastly, don’t let your notes distract you from the duty at hand. Crucial factor is to take heed to the interviewer and reply the inquiries to the very best of your capacity.

So, if you happen to do determine to take notes into your competency-based interview, just remember to observe these pointers.

Last Ideas

Competency primarily based interviews have gotten more and more well-liked, so it’s vital that you understand how to organize for them. One of the best ways to organize your self for a competency primarily based job interview is to familiarise your self with among the mostly requested questions and put together a number of eventualities that you need to use to display your abilities.

It’s additionally a good suggestion to take a while to practise your interview approach with a good friend or member of the family. This can enable you to to really feel extra assured on the day of the interview.

And at last, don’t neglect to chill out and be your self. The interviewer desires to get to know you, so attempt to be as personable as attainable. By following the following pointers, you’ll be positive to ace your competency primarily based questions, providing you with the absolute best likelihood of securing your dream position.