competency-based interview questions

competency-basedinterviewquestions窗体顶端COMPETENCY-BASEDINTERVIEWQUESTIONSCompetency-basedinterviewquestionsvarywidelybetweensectorsanddependingonthelevelofresponsibilitytowhichyouareapplying.Thetypeofcompetenciesagainstwhichyouwillbeassessedalsodependsontheactualpostandthecompanywhoisinterviewingyou.Forexample,somecompaniesviewleadershipasacompetencyonitsownwhilstothersprefertosplitleadershipbetweenawiderangeofcomponents(creativity,flexibility,strategicthinking,vision,etc).Youwillfindbelowaspectrumofcompetency-basedinterviewquestions,orderedbycompetency.Thelistisbynomeanscompletebutwillgiveyouanideaofwhatyoucanexpecttobeasked.InterviewCompetency- AdaptabilityAdjuststochangingenvironmentswhilstmaintainingeffectivenesslWhichchangeofjobdidyoufindthemostdifficulttomake?lTellusaboutthebiggestchangethatyouhavehadtodealwith.Howdidyoucopewithit?Interview Competency- ComplianceConformstocompanypoliciesandprocedureslHowdoyouensurecompliancewithpoliciesinyourareaofresponsibility?lTellusaboutatimewhenyouwentagainstcompanypolicy?Whydidyoudoitandhowdidyouhandleit?Interview Competency- CommunicationCommunicateseffectively,listenssensitively,adaptscommunicationtoaudienceandfosterseffectivecommunicationwithothers VerballTellusaboutasituationwhereyourcommunicationskillsmadeadifferencetoasituation?lDescribeatimewhenyouhadtowinsomeoneover,whowasreluctantorunresponsive.lDescribeasituationwhereyouhadtoexplainsomethingcomplextoacolleagueoraclient.Whichproblemsdidyouencounterandhowdidyoudealwiththem?lWhatistheworstcommunicationsituationthatyouhaveexperienced?lHowdoyouprepareforanimportantmeeting?lTellusaboutasituationwhenyoufailedtocommunicateappropriately.lDemonstratehowyouvaryyourcommunicationapproachaccordingtotheaudiencethatyouareaddressing.lDescribeasituationwhenyouhadtocommunicateamessagetosomeone,knowingthatyouwererightand thattheywerewrongandreluctanttoacceptyourpointofview.ListeninglGiveusanexamplewhereyourlisteningskillsprovedcrucialtoanoutcome.lTellusaboutatimewhenyouwereaskedtosummarisecomplexpoints.lTellusaboutatimewhenyouhadtroubleremainingfocussedonyouraudience.Howdidyouhandlethis?lWhatplacedoesempathyplayinyourwork?Giveanexamplewhereyouneededtoshowempathy?lDescribeasituationwhereyouhadtodealwithanangrycustomer.WrittenlWhattypeofwritinghaveyoudone?Giveexamples?Whatmakesyouthinkthatyouaregoodatit?lHowdoyoufeelwritingareportdiffersfrompreparinganoral presentation?lWhatpositiveandnegativefeedbackhaveyoureceivedaboutyourwritingskills?Giveanexamplewhereoneofyourreportswascriticised.lHowdoyouplanthewritingofareport? Interview Competency- ConflictmanagementEncouragescreativetensionanddifferencesofopinions.Anticipatesandtakesstepstopreventcounter-productiveconfrontations.Managesandresolvesconflictsanddisagreementsinaconstructivemanner.lTellusaboutatimewhenyoufeltthatconflictordifferenceswereapositivedrivingforceinyourorganisation.Howdidhandletheconflicttooptimiseitsbenefit?lTellusaboutatimewhenyouhadtodealwithaconflictwithinyourteam.lTellusaboutasituationwhereconflictledtoanegativeoutcome.Howdidyouhandlethesituationandwhatdidyoulearnfromit?lGiveusanexamplewhereyouwereunabletodealwithadifficultmemberofyourteam.Interview Competency- CreativityandInnovationDevelopsnewinsightsintosituations;questionsconventionalapproaches;encouragesnewideasandinnovations;designsandimplementsneworcuttingedgeprograms/processes.lTellusaboutaprojectorsituationwhereyoufeltthattheconventionalapproachwouldnotbesuitable.Howdidyouderiveandmanageanewapproach?Whichchallengesdidyoufaceandhowdidyouaddressthem?lTellusaboutasituationwhereyoutrustedyourteamtoderiveanewapproachtoanoldproblem.Howdidyoumanagetheprocess?lTellusaboutatimewhenyouhadtoconvinceaseniorcolleaguethat changewasnecessary.Whatmadeyouthinkthatyournewapproachwouldbebettersuited?Interview Competency- Decisiveness Makeswell-informed,effective,andtimelydecisions,evenwhendataarelimitedorsolutionsproduceunpleasantconsequences;perceivestheimpactandimplicationsofdecisions.lWhatbigdecisiondidyoumakerecently.Howdidyougoaboutit?lHowdidyoureachthedecisionthatyouwantedtochangejob?lGiveanexampleofatimewhenyouhadtodelayadecisiontoreflectonthesituation.Whatdidyouneedtodothis?lWhatisthedecisionthatyouhaveputoffthelongest?Why?lWhenisthelasttimethatyouhaverefusedtomakeadecision?lGiveusanexampleofasituationwhereyouhadtomakeadecisionwithouttheinputofkeyplayers,butknowingthatthesekeyplayerswouldjudgeyouonthatdecision(e.g.superiorunavailableatthetime).lTellusaboutatimewhenyouhadtomakeadecisionwithoutknowledgeofthefullfacts.lTellusaboutasituation whereyoumadeadecisionthatinvoluntarilyimpactednegativelyonothers.Howdidyoumakethatdecisionandhowdidyouhandleitsconsequences?lTellusaboutadecisionthatyoumade,whichyouknewwouldbeunpopularwithagroupofpeople.Howdidyouhandlethedecision-makingprocessandhowdidyoumanageexpectations?lTellusaboutasituationwhereyoumadeadecisiontooquicklyandgotitwrong.Whymadeyoutakethatdecision?Interview Competency- DelegationAbletomakefullandbestuseofsubordinate,providingappropriatesupportlWhattypeofresponsibilitiesdoyoudelegate.Giveexamplesofprojectswhereyoumadebestuseofdelegation.lGiveanexampleofaprojectortaskthatyoufeltcompelledtocompleteonyourown.Whatstoppedyoufromdelegating?lGiveanexampleofasituationwhereyoureluctantlydelegatedtoacolleague.Howdidyoufeelaboutit?lGiveanexamplewhereyoudelegatedatasktothewrongperson?Howdidyoumakethatdecisionatthetime,whathappenedandwhatdidyoulearnfromit?lHowdoyoucopewithhavingtogoawayfromtheofficeforlongperiodsoftime(e.g.holidays).Explainhowyouwoulddelegateresponsibilitiesbasedonyoucurrentsituation.Interview Competency- ExternalawarenessUnderstandsandkeepsup-to-dateonlocal,national,andinternationalpoliciesandtrendsthataffecttheorganizationandshapestakeholders'views;isawareoftheorganisation'simpactontheexternalenvironment.lDescribethroughexamplesdrawnfromyourexperiencehowyoumeasureandtakeaccountoftheimpactofyourdecisionsonexternalparties.lGiveanexampleswhereyouunderestimatedtheimpactofyourdecisionsonstakeholdersexternaltoyourorganisation.Interview Competency- FlexibilityModifieshisorherapproachtoachieveagoal. Isopentochangeandnewinformation;rapidlyadaptstonewinformation,changingconditions,orunexpectedobstacles.lDescribe asituationwhereyouhadtochangedyourapproachhalf-waythroughaprojectortaskfollowingnewinputintotheproject.lDescribeasituationwhereyoustartedoffthinkingthatyourapproachwasthebest,butneededtoalteryourcourse during theimplementation.lDescribeasituationwhereoneofyourprojectssufferedasetbackduetoanunexpectedchangeincircumstances.lDescribeasituationwhereyouwereaskedtodosomethingthatyouhadneverattemptedpreviously.lGiveusanexampleofasituationwhereyourinitialapproachfailedandyouhadtochangetack.lDescribeyourstrongestandyourweakestcolleagues.Howdoyoucopewithsuchdiversityofpersonalities?lIfwegaveyouanewprojecttomanage,howwouldyoudecidehowtoapproachit?Interview Competency- IndependenceActsbasedonhis/herconvictionsandnot systematicallytheacceptedwisdomlWhendidyoudepartfromthe"partyline"toaccomplishyourgoal?lWhichdecisionsdoyoufeelabletomakeonyourownandwhichdoyourequireseniorsupporttomake?lDescribeasituationwhereyouhadadisagreementoranargumentwithasuperior.Howdidyouhandleit?lWhendoyoufeelthatitisjustifiedforyoutogoagainstacceptedprinciplesorpolicy?lWhichconstraintsareimposedonyouinyourcurrentjobandhowdoyoudealwiththese?lWhendidyoumakeadecisionthatwasn'tyourstomake?lDescribeaprojectorsituationwhereyoutookaprojecttocompletiondespiteimportantopposition.lWhenhaveyougonebeyondthelimitsofyourauthorityinmakingadecision?Interview Competency- InfluencingAbilitytoconvinceotherstoownexpressedpointofview,gainagreementandacceptanceofplans,activitiesorproducts.lDescribeasituationwhereyouwereabletoinfluenceothersonanimportantissue.Whatapproachesorstrategiesdidyouuse?lDescribeasituationwhereyouneededtoinfluencedifferentstakeholderswhohaddifferentagendas.Whatapproachesorstrategiesdidyouuse?lTellusaboutanideathatyoumanagetoselltoyoursuperior,whichrepresentedachallenge.lWhatisyourworstsellingexperience?lDescribetheprojectorideathatyouweremostsatisfiedtoselltoyourmanagement.lDescribeatimewhereyoufailedtosellanideathatyouknewwastherightone.Interview Competency- IntegrityAbilitytomaintainjobrelated,social,organisationalandethicalnorms.lWhenhaveyouhadtolietoachieveyouraims.Whydidyoudoso?Howdoyoufeelyoucouldhaveachievedthesameaiminadifferentway?lTellmeaboutatimewhenyoushowedintegrityandprofessionalism.lTellusaboutatimewhensomeoneaskedyousomethingthatyouobjectedto.Howdidyouhandlethesituation?lHaveyoueverbeenaskedtodosomethingillegal,immoraloragainstyourprinciples?Whatdidyoudo?lWhatwoudyoudoifyourbossaskedyoutodosomethingillegal?lTellisaboutasituationwhereyouhadtoremindacolleagueofthemeaningof"integrity".Interview Competency- LeadershipActsasarolemodel.Anticipatesandplansforchange.Communicatesavisiontoateam.lTellusaboutasituationwhereyouhadtogetateamtoimproveitsperformance.Whatweretheproblemsandhowdidyouaddressthem?lDescribeachangewhereyouhadtodriveateamthroughchange.Howdidyouachievethis?lDescribeasituationwhereyouneededtoinspireateam.Whatchallengesdidyoumeetandhowdidyouachieveyourobjectives?lTellusaboutasituationwhereyoufacedreluctancefromyourteamtoacceptthedirectionthatyouweresetting.lDescribeaprojectorsituation whereyouhadtousedifferentleadershipstylestoreachyourgoal.lTellmeaboutatimewhenyouwerelesssuccessfulasaleaderthanyouwouldhavewantedtobe.Interview Competency- LeveragingdiversityFostersaninclusiveworkplacewherediversityandindividualdifferencesarevaluedandleveragedtoachievethevisionandmissionoftheorganisation.lGiveanexampleofasituationorprojectwhereapositiveoutcomedependedontheworkofpeoplefromawiderangeofbackgroundsandideaslTellusaboutatimewhenyouincludedsomeoneinyourteamoraprojectbecauseyoufelttheywouldbringsomethingdifferenttotheteam.lInterview Competency- OrganisationalawarenessDemonstratesanunderstandingofunderlyingorganisationalissueslDescribeaprojectwhereyouneededtoinvolveinputfromotherdepartments.Howdidyouidentifythatneedandhowdidyouensurebuy-infromtheappropriateleadersandmanagers?lDescribeatimewhenyoufailedtoengageattherightlevelinyourorganisation.Whydidyoudothatandhowdidyouhandlethesituation?Interview Competency- ResilienceandtenacityDealseffectivelywithpressure;remainsoptimisticandpersistent,evenunderadversity.Recoversquicklyfromsetbacks.Stayswithaproblem/lineofthinkinguntilasolutionisreachedornolongerreasonablyattainable.lTellusaboutasituationwherethingsdeterioratedquickly.Howdidyoureacttorecoverfromthatsituation?lTellusaboutaprojectwhereyouachievedsuccessdespitetheoddsbeingstackedagainstyou.Howdidyouensurethatyoupulledthrough?lTellusaboutyourbiggestfailure.Howdidyourecoverandwhathaveyoulearntfromthatincident?lGiveusanexampleofasituationwhereyouknewthataprojectortaskwouldplaceyouundergreatpressure.Howdidyouplanyourapproachandremainmotivated?lHowdoyoudealwithstress?lGiveusanexampleofasituationwhereyouworkedunderpressure.lUnderwhatconditionsdoyouworkbestandworst?lWhichrecentprojectorsituationhascausedyouthemoststress?Howdidyoudealwithit?lWhatdidyoulastloseyourtemper?lWhenisthelasttimethatyouwereupsetwithyourself?lWhatmakesyoufrustratedorimpatientatwork?lWhatisthebiggestchallengethatyouhavefacedinyourcareer.Howdidyouovercomeit?lTellusaboutatimewhenyouwantedtopushedoneofyourideassuccessfullydespitestrongopposition.lWhichcourseortopicshaveyoufoundmostdifficult?Howdidyouaddressthechallenge?Interview Competency- RisktakingTakescalculatedrisks,weighingupprosandconsappropriatelylTellusaboutrisksthatyouhavetakeninyourprofessionalorpersonallife?Howdidyougoaboutmakingyourdecision?lWhatisthebiggestriskthatyouhavetaken.Howdidyouhandletheprocess?lPleasedescribeoneofyourcurrentorrecentlycompletedprojects,settingouttherisksinvolved.Howdidyoumakedecisions?Howdoyouknowthatyoumadethecorrectdecisions?lWhatrisksdoyouseeinmovingtothisnewpost?Interview Competency- SensitivitytoothersAwareofotherpeopleandenvironmentandownimpactonthese.Takesintoaccountotherpeople'sfeelingsand/needs. lWhatproblemshasoneofyourstafforcolleaguesbroughttoyourecently?Howdidyouassistthem?lTellusaboutanunpopulardecisionthatyoumaderecently?Whatthoughtprocessdidyoufollowbeforemakingit?Howdidyourcolleagues/clientsreactandhowdidyoudealwiththeirreaction?lHowdoyoudealwith"timewasters"?Givearecentexample.lWhenisthatlasttimethatyouhadanargumentwithacolleague?lWhendidyoulastupsetsomeone?lWhatstepsdoyoutaketounderstandyourcolleagues'personalities?Giveanexamplewhereyoufoundithardtoadjusttooneparticularcolleague.Interview Competency- TeamworkContributesfullytotheteameffortandplaysanintegralpartinthesmoothrunningofteamswithoutnecessarilytakingthelead lDescribeasituationinwhichyouwereamemberofteam.Whatdidyoudotopositivelycontributetoit?lTellusaboutasituationwhereyouplayedanimportantroleinaprojectasamemberoftheteam(notasaleader)lHowdoyouensurethateverymemberoftheteamisallowedtoparticipate?lGiveusanexamplewhereyouworkedinadysfunctionalteam.Whywasitdysfunctionalandhowdidyouattempttochangethings?lGiveanexampleofatimewhenyouhadtodealwithaconflictwithinyourteam?Whatdidyoudotohelpresolvethesituation?lHowdoyoubuildrelationshipswithothermembersofyourteam?lHowdoyoubringdifficultcolleaguesonboard?Giveusanexamplewhereyouhadtodothis.Ifyouthinkyouneedhelpwithyourinterviewskillsandtechniquesthenvisitthelinksformoreinformation.窗体底端