Advice

Competency Based Interviews

What is a competency interview?

Normal interviews, (sometimes called unstructured interviews) are free-flowing and more like a conversation. An interviewer won’t have a particular script but will ask questions relevant to the job and will be trying to get an overall impression of what you are like as a person, including what your strengths and weaknesses are.

However, a competency based interview is very much scripted the whole points to reveal answers and insights into your capabilities.

The list of skills and competencies that will be tested will change depending on the post you’re applying for. This is why it is important to study the job description because it could give you some clues.

A senior manager could be asked about their ability to influence and negotiate, while a personal assistant/secretary may be assessed for communication.

Please view the competences below:

Analytical competencies

These assess your decision-making abilities and try to unearth innovation, analytical skills, problem solving, practical learning and attention to detail. A typical question would be:

“Tell me about a time when you identified a new approach to a problem”

Interpersonal competencies

These assess social competence. Many workplaces function on project teams, so the more collaborative a candidate is, the more likely they will thrive in the company. A typical question would be: "Describe a situation where you got people to work together”

Motivational competencies

These assess the level of drive and examine your energy, motivation, result orientation, initiative and quality focus. A typical question might be:

“When did you work the hardest and feel the greatest sense of achievement?”