Typical Competency Interview Questions

Here are some examples of some typical competency style questions you might get in an interview...

Communication Style

1. How would others describe your style of communication?

2. How do you react in new situations / new people?

3. How do you normally “break the ice”?

Motivation

4. Are you a naturally self-motivated person? Example?

5. Tell me the sort of things that motivate you and why.

6. What causes you to lose your motivation?

7. How do you deal with situations when you are challenged by peers/colleagues?

8. What would you have changed in your previous job?

Leadership

9. Describe a time when you had to lead a group to achieve an objective.

10. Describe a work based situation where you had to lead by example to achieve an objective.

11. Describe a situation where you inspired others to meet a common goal.

12. How do you motivate team members to do something they decide they do not want to do?

Decision-Making

13. What is the toughest decision you have ever made? Why was this so difficult? How do you come to conclusions?

14. Tell me about a decision you have made that has affected other people.

15. Do you find decisions difficult?

16. Give me an example of a bad decision you have made. Why was this bad decision?

Assertiveness

17. Describe a project or assignment where risk minimization was critical to success. What was your role and what was your contribution?

18. Aspects of the role require a logical approach and conforming to important procedures. Tell me about an emotionally charged situation with a co-worker. What was the situation? What did you do to resolve the issue and what was the outcome?

19. Tell me about your approach and reaction if you are required to take a tough, unpopular disciplinary action with those who work closely with you?

20. Describe a time when you had to speak up and say something that you knew would make you unpopular

Adaptability

21. Do you prefer roles where you are actively directing others; or roles where you provide support, coaching or service to others? Tell me about a role where you had to fulfil both options?

22. Give me a situation where you had to deal with sub-standard performance within your own team or department and how you did this? 23. Tell me about a situation that has required you to be a patient, attentive and sensitive listener.

24. What were the results and is this a natural or modified behaviour for you?

25. Tell me about an experience where you met a person or team who seemed to be conservative, serious and aloof. What did you do, how did it work and what was their reaction?

Resilience / Pace

26. Do you have to deal with rejection in your current job? How do you cope with this?

27. What’s the most demanding job you’ve ever had? How did you feel about it?

28. What are some of the things you want to avoid in your next job? Why?

29. Do you demonstrate caution and conservatism when making a decision? Give an example

30. If you had a number of business development calls to make and interview notes on candidates to complete, which task would you choose first?

31. How do you check that you are grasping all information?

32. How did you show you were listening?

33. What experiences can you recall which required you to take quick and proactive decisions? What was the nature of the actions you took?

34. Can you give me an example of an occasion you had a number of tasks or projects to complete at once? How did you approach this situation?

Team Work

35. What types of people are particularly difficult to deal with? Give me 3 qualities you don’t like in other people?

36. How do you like to be managed?

37. Give us an example of what best demonstrates your ability to work on a team?

38. What qualities do you feel are important to make an effective team?

39. Tell me about a time you had to deal with a team member who was not pulling their weight

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