The competency-based interview is being used today by most organizations. They are looking for evidence of a particular skill or behavior demonstrated in your past positions. When asked a question, be prepared to answer with a situation that illustrates the skill or behavior, the actions you took and the results of your actions.
We strongly encourage you to prepare answers prior to the interview to the following questions by developing your stories (30 – 90 seconds each) that share your experiences and illustrate your abilities. This is a sure way for you to enjoy the interview, as well as give the interviewers a very good idea of the talent you will bring to their team.
- Tell me about a situation where you and your boss disagreed.
- How do you motivate staff?
- How do you mentor team leaders\supervisors?
- How do you deal with a “no” person?
- Have you had to discipline staff? Terminate staff? How do you document it?
- How do you recognize staff?
- What would you say is your biggest weakness in the workplace.
- Give me an example of a project that failed and how you overcame it.
- Tell me how you work with an individual who did not meet your expectations.
- What have been accomplishments\ innovations you are proudest of?
- Tell me about a time when you achieved a very challenging goal.
- What have you done to foster\improve teamwork in your department?
- Tell me about a time where you functioned as part of a team and what your contribution was.
- Tell me about your management style.
- Tell me about a time where you either made or saved money for your current or previous organization.
- What have you done to improve employee retention?
- Give me an example of a time you dealt with a conflict or major disagreement between parties.
- Tell me about a time in your career or job where you had to overcome stress.
- How do you instill communication & efficiencies of work flow between your department and other departments?
- Provide an example of how you implemented a new process\program that greatly improved customer service and satisfaction.
- Tell me about a time when a customer was not satisfied and what you did.
- Tell me about educational training you provided and how you know it worked.
- How would your peers describe you?
- How do you take\assess feedback from peers?
- Tell me about a time when your boss provided you with constructive criticism. What was it and what action did you take?
- Tell me about a boss you really liked.
- If you put an ad in the New York Times what three words would you use to describe yourself?
- Have you had to implement an institutional change and how did you do it?