Examples of Competency Based Questions

The Purpose of Competency-Based Questions.

Employers use these questions to gauge whether you possess the necessary skills and behaviors to perform well in the job. Your answers provide insight into how you operate in a professional setting, how you handle challenges, and how you contribute to the success of a team or organisation.

Here are some potential key Competencies and Sample Questions you may get asked at interview:

Leadership and Teamwork...

1. How do you manage your top team?

2. Describe a time you worked with a group to achieve a goal.

3. Tell me about a time when you put the team or business ahead of your own interests.

4. Give an example of handling a difficult personnel issue within your team.

5. Describe a situation where you needed to obtain sensitive information from a colleague.

6. Provide an example where understanding colleagues was key to success.

7. Share a time when you significantly contributed to a team's success.

8. Tell me about a time when you worked as part of a team.

9. Describe a situation where you disagreed with a team's decision.

Delivering Business Results...

1. Tell me about a time when you met challenging customer needs.

2. Describe a situation where you had to change a process to meet customer needs.How did you gain customer commitment to a proposal?

3. Provide an example of developing services or products for unexpected customer requirements.

4. How do you organise your work activities?

5. Share a time when you had to allocate or redirect resources.

6. Describe a situation where you improved financial targets and customer service.

7. Give an example of when you had to manage a risk.

Innovation in Problem Solving...

1. Describe a situation where you solved a problem.

2. Provide an example of finding a better way to do something at work.

3. How did you introduce changes to products, processes, or services in your team or department?

4. What methods do you use to generate new ideas from others?

5. Describe a time when you solved a problem with an unconventional solution.

Managing Customer Relationships...

1. Give an example of turning around a customer relationship.

2. Tell me about a time when making an impression was crucial to success.

3. Describe a situation where you had to make a strong impression quickly.

4. Share an example of working hard to build a good relationship with colleagues or customers.

5. Describe a key customer relationship you’ve built.

Managing Change...

1. How have you communicated the organisation's vision or goals to your team?

2. Give an example of managing your team's concerns during uncertainty or change.

3. Describe a recent change you managed within your team.

4. How have you maintained the pace of change in previous programs?

5. Share a time when you used change to your advantage.

6. Provide an example of how a change impacted your customer relationships.

Planning and Control...

1. Tell me about a time when you planned a project, task, or event.

2. Describe a situation where you considered conflicting workloads in your planning.

3. How do you monitor the progress of your work or projects?

4. Tell me about a time when you missed a deadline or objective.

5. Provide an example of when you had to change your plans.

6. Describe a situation where you had to re-prioritise due to changing business needs.

7. How do you manage large tasks?

8. How do you handle your daily workload?

9. How do you manage your time to achieve your objectives?

10. What obstacles do you commonly encounter, and how do you overcome them?

11. Share an example of a planning issue you encountered and the solutions you proposed.

Helping Others Learn...

1. How do you manage the development of others?

2. How do you utilise available development tools?

3. Tell me about a time when your team wasn't performing to your standards and how you addressed it.

4. How have you motivated slow or difficult team members?

5. What actions have you taken when team members deviated from expected standards?

6. Describe a time when you delivered feedback to a colleague or subordinate.

7. Tell me about a time when you worked with someone less experienced than yourself.

Influencing...

1. What steps have you taken to make things happen in your organisation?

2. Describe a time when you enlisted help from another department to complete work.

3. Provide an example of when you adopted a specific approach to gain agreement from others.

4. Share a time when it was difficult to get others to agree to a proposal.

5. Tell me about a situation where you won someone over to your way of thinking.

6. Describe a time when you adjusted your personal style to achieve results with a difficult individual or group.

Using Information Effectively...

1. Provide an example of when you gathered and interpreted information for a specific purpose.

2. Describe a time when you analysed information and how you reached your conclusion.

3. Share an example of using information to identify business opportunities and explain your reasoning.

4. What sources of information do you currently use?

5. How do you manage your information sources?

Providing Excellent Customer Service...

1. What steps do you take to ensure customer requirements are met?

2. Share an example of a non-standard service you provided to a customer.

3. Describe a service from your area that you were particularly satisfied with.

4. Tell me about a time when you were especially satisfied with the service you provided to a customer.

5. Provide an example of handling a customer complaint.

6. Share an instance where you resolved a customer problem satisfactorily.

7. Tell me about a time when a customer commented on the service you provided.

Attention to Detail...

1. Describe a time when you made a mistake and how you responded.

2. How do you ensure the quality of your and your team’s work?

3. Provide an example of a task where accuracy was essential.

4. How do you check the accuracy of your work?How do you ensure all aspects of your work are completed satisfactorily?

5. Describe a situation where you needed to consult others for more detail.

6. How do you ensure your customers or team members understand the details?

Self-Motivation...

1. What do you do to achieve your unit’s goals?

2. Tell me about a time when you delivered something you were proud of.

3. Share an example of when you had to work hard to achieve an important goal.

4. Describe a time when you were working hard but didn’t seem to be making progress.

5. Tell me about a difficult piece of work you faced and your attitude toward it.

6. Describe a challenging goal you set for yourself.

Leading Others...

1. Tell me about a time when you led a team.

2. Describe a success achieved as a team.

3. How do you establish priorities and activities for your team?

4. Share a time when you managed a team facing a difficult situation.

5. Describe a situation where you needed to gain cooperation from people who don’t work for you.

6. How do you set objectives for your team?

7. What challenges or successes have you experienced with delegation?

8. How have you motivated your team to achieve its goals?

Adapting to Change and Uncertainty...

1. Describe a time when you had to handle significant change personally.

2. Share an experience of uncertainty or change you faced.

3. How have you adapted your unit’s activities to accommodate business changes?

4. Describe a time when pressures threatened your effectiveness.

5. Tell me about an occasion when you felt under pressure.

6. Provide an example of when interruptions from others affected your work.

Developing Strategy...

1. How do you stay informed about market developments and their impact on the organisation?

2. Explain how your unit’s strategy aligns with organisational goals and values.

3. Describe how you planned the future direction of your unit or department.

4. Share a strategic change you recently implemented.

5. Provide an example of when you influenced strategy.

Making Good Decisions...

1. Tell me about the hardest decision you’ve made recently.

2. Describe a time when you made a decision you knew would be unpopular.

3. Share a situation where you had to make a decision without complete information.

4. Provide an example of when you consulted others before making a decision.

5. Describe a time when you had to justify a decision you made.

6. What are the most important decisions you regularly make, and what makes them good decisions?

Technical Expertise...

1. What relevant technical expertise do you bring to this role, and how would you demonstrate it?

Oral Communication...

1. Provide an example of explaining a complex idea to someone.

2. Tell me about a time when you communicated with more senior individuals.

3. Describe a time when you made presentations to individuals or groups.

4. Learning and Self-Development

5. Tell me about a time when you learned something unexpected that proved useful.

Organisational Awareness...

1. How do you stay updated on current legislation and its impact on your company and job?

 

You may also find this helpful: Cracking the Code: Mastering Competency-Based Interview Questions...