free examples of competency-based interview questions and answers

Image of free examples of competency-based interview questions and answers

 Competency-based interview questions are designed to assess a candidate's skills, abilities, and behaviors that are relevant to the job they are applying for. Here are some examples of competency-based interview questions and potential answers:

Question 1: Can you give an example of a time when you had to work under pressure to meet a tight deadline?

Answer: One example that comes to mind was when I was working on a project for a major client. We had a deadline of two weeks to complete the project, but halfway through, the client requested additional changes that added another week of work. I had to quickly re-prioritize my tasks, communicate effectively with my team, and work overtime to ensure the project was completed on time and to the client's satisfaction.

Question 2: Tell me about a time when you had to solve a complex problem.

Answer: One example was when I was working in a previous role as a customer service representative. A customer had been experiencing a recurring issue with their service, and I had to use my problem-solving skills to identify the root cause of the problem, explore different solutions, and work with other teams to implement a fix. The final solution ended up being a combination of different approaches, and the customer was very satisfied with the outcome.

Question 3: Can you give an example of a time when you had to work with a difficult team member?

Answer: In my previous role, I had to work with a team member who was very set in their ways and resistant to change. I had to use my communication skills and ability to understand different perspectives to build a relationship with this team member and find common ground. By understanding their concerns and working to address them, I was able to find a way to work effectively with them, and we were able to complete the project on time.

Question 4: Can you give an example of a time when you had to adapt to a change in the work environment?

Answer: Recently, my company had to shift to remote work due to the pandemic. I had to quickly adapt to a new way of working, learn new tools and technologies, and find ways to maintain effective communication and collaboration with my team. I was able to do this by setting up regular virtual meetings, creating shared documents, and implementing new communication tools.

Question 5: Can you give an example of a time when you had to make a difficult decision?

Answer: I remember a time when I had to make a decision about a team member's performance. This team member had been underperforming for a while, and I had to decide whether to give them a warning, put them on a performance improvement plan, or terminate their employment. I had to weigh the pros and cons of each option, consider the impact on the team and company, and ultimately make a decision that was in the best interest of the company.

Note: These are just a few examples of competency-based interview questions, but keep in mind that the specific questions will depend on the job you are applying for and the skills and experience required for that role.