competency based job interviews

[Wheat Hound]

Got one of these on Thursday. Anyone got any tips?

[Phil D. Rolls]

Got one of these on Thursday. Anyone got any tips?

STAR - that is answer any question using Situation, Task, Action, Result.

For example if someone asked me if I had ever had to give advice about competency interviews I would answer:

(the situation) was on Hibs.net.
(task) someone was asking for advice
(action) explain the STAR method of answering questions.
(result) you can fill that bit in.

The trick is to try and build up a bank of questions you think they might ask, and then prepare yourself accordingly. They say, it is how you answer the question, rather than what your answer is that is important.

At the interview, try and stucture any answer you give using STAR, and you should tick the boxes.

Hope that's some use.

[Woody1985]

STAR - that is answer any question using Situation, Task, Action, Result.

For example if someone asked me if I had ever had to give advice about competency interviews I would answer:

(the situation) was on Hibs.net.
(task) someone was asking for advice
(action) explain the STAR method of answering questions.
(result) you can fill that bit in.

The trick is to try and build up a bank of questions you think they might ask, and then prepare yourself accordingly. They say, it is how you answer the question, rather than what your answer is that is important.

At the interview, try and stucture any answer you give using STAR, and you should tick the boxes.

Hope that's some use.

:agree:

Also associate the type of role you're going for.

If you are going for an analyst role give an example of when you analysed large amounts of data and what you found and then what you did with the results.

If you are going to work in a customer service complaints area think of a situation where you may have had to diffuse a difficult situation by using words.

I build up examples, write them down and read over them until they are implanted on my brain. I also save my examples in a word doc so I don't need to think of new ones each time.

[Removed]

Always answer using I not We

The Action part should be the longest part. Keep S & T fairly brief. They want to know what YOU did and how you went about it. For each competency you are asked about there are positive anchors that the interviewer will be ticking off like in bingo. It's a big game, you say the postive stuff and avoid the negative. If you know the competencies then search on the net or post them up here.

When you are answering the A part, practice before hand using adjectives e.g. I analysed......, I calculated..................., I presented............., I designed................, I implemented............., I explored ...........etc etc then be prepared to tell them how you did these things, remembering the positive behaviours for each competency.

Keep it structured and try not to waffle or just tell them everything you know about a topic. If you are not sure then ask. And if you can note down the question as they are asking it so you can look back if you get a blank.

[johnbc70]

In these types of interviews take some notes in with you. Just check before with the interviewer that you can refer to them, but never known someone to say no. It is not a memory test, you are there to answer the questions as best you can.

[lyonhibs]

The "STAR" advice given above is the most common and well-acknowledged advice for these kind of situations.

Basically, look over the main parts/experiences of your life - i.e. job, teams you are a part of, roles you may hold in societies etc, and try to extract from them firstly, actual concrete examples of things like "When have you successfully completed a task to a deadline" or "When was the last time you faced a real challenge and how did you approach it" or "When was the last time you had to change plans suddenly, and how did you go about doing so", but also the general "competencies/abilities" that each of them have given you.

Try to incorporate those comptencies into your answers, but the biggest risk with these kind of interviews is that you get some absolute **** questions that are completely OTT and ridiculous.

I have a mate who once got asked "Name the last time you did something truly world class"???? The mate in question is 23 FFS!!!

[Removed]

I'm 49 and even I'd struggle with that one tbh :greengrin

[Wheat Hound]

Thanks very much for all the advice folks. Lots of good stuff there. Just hoping the nerves hold up and that I don't have a total memory blank!!!

Decison making seems the most tricky ie when they inevitably ask about a difficult decision, making it clear what was difficult and what was particularly unique about it (not just following standard procedure or protocol).

[ArabHibee]

Pretty much what everyone else has said.

One question I got asked that could have thrown me (if I hadn't been told beforehand that it was going to be asked :wink:) was 'If we spoke to your line manager, what would they say about you?'

Prepared answer seemed to do the trick as the real answer would be starred out on here. :greengrin

[Removed]

Thanks very much for all the advice folks. Lots of good stuff there. Just hoping the nerves hold up and that I don't have a total memory blank!!!

Decison making seems the most tricky ie when they inevitably ask about a difficult decision, making it clear what was difficult and what was particularly unique about it (not just following standard procedure or protocol).

All the best :thumbsup:

Can you say what & where the job is or would you prefer not to? You may never know some potential colleagues may be on here :devil:

[Woody1985]

The "STAR" advice given above is the most common and well-acknowledged advice for these kind of situations.

Basically, look over the main parts/experiences of your life - i.e. job, teams you are a part of, roles you may hold in societies etc, and try to extract from them firstly, actual concrete examples of things like "When have you successfully completed a task to a deadline" or "When was the last time you faced a real challenge and how did you approach it" or "When was the last time you had to change plans suddenly, and how did you go about doing so", but also the general "competencies/abilities" that each of them have given you.

Try to incorporate those comptencies into your answers, but the biggest risk with these kind of interviews is that you get some absolute **** questions that are completely OTT and ridiculous.

I have a mate who once got asked "Name the last time you did something truly world class"???? The mate in question is 23 FFS!!!

That question can come up a lot, usually you need to answer with some BS spin such as helping an old biddy over the road, it may not have been much in the grand scheme of things but it made me & them feel great. Some pish like that tends to go down well.

You could try beating that fud on BGT for eating the most After Eights and tell them you've got a world record. :greengrin

[matty_f]

If you really want to add a bit of gloss to the interview, after the R part of STAR, explain what you learned and what you would do differently next time.:wink:

[Wheat Hound]

For info I had the interview today. My immediate instinct afterwards was that it had went well. I answered all the questions. The panel didn't ask any follow up questions, so hopefully that means I answered them sufficiently in the first place. They also appeared to write a lot so here's hoping!!!

[Removed]

For info I had the interview today. My immediate instinct afterwards was that it had went well. I answered all the questions. The panel didn't ask any follow up questions, so hopefully that means I answered them sufficiently in the first place. They also appeared to write a lot so here's hoping!!!

Having had plenty experience on both sides of the table I know how nerve-racking it can be.

Well done. Now have a drink and let us know how you get on. Fingers crossed for you :agree:

[Wheat Hound]

Thanks for the advice and good wishes 65 - they are mych appreciated. Will let you know the outcome.

[ArabHibee]

Thanks for the advice and good wishes 65 - they are mych appreciated. Will let you know the outcome.

Hope you didn't have a spelling test. :wink:

[Wheat Hound]

didn't get job. Gutted.

[MSK]

didn't get job. Gutted.Hard lines mate ..good luck next time ..:aok:

[Removed]

Hard lines mate ..good luck next time ..:aok:

:agree: stick in Wheat Hound. We've all been there at some point. I'm sure it was good experience none the less.

What is it you are looking for?

[Wheat Hound]

Thanks again for the good wishes everyone. Tp be honest, I'd probably rather not say what job it was for but it was actually for a promotion within an organisation as opposed to a new job. Just having a couple of beers just now and trying to think about something else. Pretty trivial compared to the worries of others and other horrific stuff going on in the world but I'd put a lot of hard work and effort into getting to this stage so it is a sore one to take.