Your complete guide to preparation and different types of interviews

Competency-based interviewing is a series of scenario-based questions designed to examine your strengths across a number of soft skills.

The idea behind this type of question, where you are asked to give a specific example of a real-life situation in the workplace, is that the interviewer is able to determine how you would react to different situations in the workplace, based on how you behaved in the past.

A competency question will start with something like …. “Describe a situation when……” or “Tell me about a time when…..” It is important that you respond accordingly, with one specific example, rather than saying what you would, could or should do. 

Prepare examples for each of the competencies; and rehearse your answers. Remember that the word ‘we’ should not form part of your answer, replace it with ‘I’. It is you they want to hear about. The hiring manager, after all, is looking to hire you, not your team.

The STAR technique

To prepare yourself for the competency questions you will need to understand the STAR (situation, task, action, result) method of structuring your answer. 

The STAR technique enables you to showcase your relevant experience with the interviewer in a methodical manner. We recommend looking at each bullet point in the job description and preparing a STAR response to each so that you are equipped with some great examples to quote. 

Depending on the industry and sector you are applying for, the types of interview questions may differ. For example, in a technology competency-based interview, you can expect questions about specific technical skills, problem-solving abilities, past project experiences, and your approach to handling technological challenges relevant to the role you're applying for.

As a minimum, you should brush up on the company’s business structure, clients, products, industry terminology, or anything else that may relate to the position you are applying for. 

Spending an hour or two researching these things before a telephone interview can make a great impression on your interviewers and possibly land you a second interview or even a job.

Always remember:

• Keep a glass of water handy
• Smile - this will project a positive image to the listener and will change the tone of your voice
• Speak slowly and enunciate clearly, be careful not to speak over the interviewer
• Keep your CV in clear view, on the top of your desk, so it is at your fingertips when you need to answer questions
• Have a short list of your accomplishments available to review
• Have a pen and paper handy for note-taking
• Make sure your phone is charged and you are in an area with good reception

Similarly, to telephone interviewing, you must brush up on the company’s business structure, clients, products, industry terminology, or anything else that may relate to the position you are applying for. Spending time researching before a video interview can make a great impression on your interviewers and possibly land you a second interview or even a job.

Always remember:

Keep a glass of water handy

Choose your room wisely

Do a test run to ensure the tech works for you

Speak slowly and enunciate clearly, be careful not to speak over the interviewer

Make sure your laptop or tablet if using one is charged and you are in an area with good reception

• Describe a situation in which you were able to use persuasion to successfully convince someone to see things your way
• Give me a specific example of a time when you used good judgment and logic in solving a problem
• Tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond the call of duty in order to get a job done
• Give me an example of a time when you had to make a split-second decision
• What is your typical way of dealing with conflict? Give me an example
• Tell me about a time you were able to successfully deal with another person even when that individual may not have personally liked you (or vice versa)
• Tell me about a difficult decision you have made in the last year
• Give me an example of a time when something you tried to accomplish failed
• Tell me about a time when you were forced to make an unpopular decision
• What do you expect from this role?