Competency Based Interview Questions: How To Give Perfect Answers

The use of Competency Based Interview Questions isWhen you give your answer the interviewer may
becoming increasingly common and not just within thechoose to probe deeper and ask about the detail such
largest corporations. Smaller and medium sizedas:
companies are using these tools as a means ofÂ- How exactly did you do that?
improving their recruitment decisions.Â- Tell me exactly what steps you took to
This method of interviewing is also called Structuredresolve that
Interviewing and uses Behavioral Interview techniquesÂ- What was your involvement
to assess how a candidates past performance inBy investigating further the interviewer is trying to
work related situations can be used as a predictor ofdiscover more about your skills as well as looking for
future performance.clues which may suggest that you are exaggerating
Every job can be described in terms of Competencies,your part in the process or have created a complete
which are the skills, abilities or behaviors required andfabrication.
some of which will be regarded as essential andWhen answering competency based interview
others desirable.questions we suggest that you choose answers
You may see them categorized as Managerialbased on real experiences that you have had and be
Competencies, Individual Competencies, Analyticalready to give details. Your response needs to be
Competencies, Interpersonal Competencies andrelevant and sufficiently detailed. Be specific and tell a
Motivational Competencies however the 12 moststory. A technique to use when answering behavioural
common competencies are:questions is what I call iPAR:
Communication, Achievement, Customer Focus,I = Talk about the part you played in IDENTIFYING or
Teamwork, Leadership, Planning and Organizing,noticing the problem
Operational Awareness, Flexibility, Developing Others,P = Describe the PROBLEM, situation or task
Problem Solving, Analytical Thinking and BuildingA = Talk about the ACTION you took
Relationships.R = Describe the successful RESULT by using figures
These of course will vary depending on the role andand data to illustrate the benefit to the company.
the level however in the job interview, you shouldAnd always use "I" rather than "we".
expect a series of Competency Based QuestionsPrepare answers which relate to all the achievements
exploring each competency. These are usuallyon your resume or CV as you will surely be asked
behavioural in nature and take the form of:questions referring to these. You will find that you
Â- Tell me about a time whenshould have a sufficient stock of answers that will help
Â- Describe a situationyou answer any competency based interview
Â- Give an Examplequestion irrespective of the style used.