Competency questions need answers to align with the job and employer values. When preparing for competency-based interviews, it’s essential to go beyond simply telling a story. Employers are looking for evidence that your past behaviour aligns with the skills, responsibilities, and values required for the role. To do this effectively:
1. Use the STAR or PAR Method
Structure your answers using:
- STAR: Situation, Task, Action, Result
- PAR: Problem, Action, Result
These frameworks help you deliver clear, concise, and impactful responses that demonstrate your capabilities.
2. Tailor Your Examples to the Job Specification
Before the interview, carefully review the job description and person specification. Identify the key competencies and responsibilities, such as:
- Leadership
- Communication
- Problem-solving
- Customer focus
- Innovation
Then, choose examples from your experience that directly reflect those competencies. This shows the interviewer that you understand the role and have relevant, proven experience.
3. Reflect the Employer’s Core Values
Most organisations publish their purpose, vision, and values on their website or in recruitment materials. These might include values like:
- Integrity
- Inclusivity
- Sustainability
- Collaboration
- Excellence
How to Prepare
- Research the company’s culture through its website, social media, and employee reviews. What themes do they emphasise? Look for recent initiatives or achievements that reflect priorities.
- Identify 2-3 values that resonate with you and think of real examples from your experience.
In the Interview
- Weave in how your actions or decisions align with these values.
- Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your examples
Tip: Don’t just say what you did - explain why it mattered. Show the impact of your actions and how they align with what the employer is looking for.
Example: If a company values sustainability, highlight how you reduced waste or improved efficiency, and why that was important for the team or organisation.
Demonstrate Culture Fit
Culture fit goes beyond values. It’s about how you interact and communicate.
- Read the room: Pay attention to tone, pace, and formality during the interview. Mirror the interviewer’s style without losing authenticity.
- Company size matters:
- Large corporations often expect structured, formal communication, and examples of working within complex processes.
- SMEs value adaptability, initiative, and a collaborative tone. Show you’re comfortable wearing multiple hats.
- Tailor your tone: If the company feels relaxed and conversational, keep your answers approachable. If it’s highly corporate, maintain professionalism and precision
4. Use AI to help prepare for interviews
AI can help save time when preparing for interviews and it can help direct your thoughts and preparation. Ask AI to provide answers to any of the above guidance. Prompts such as the following can be helpful: “Based on the job description below, prepare some competency-based questions for interview that concentrate on the core responsibilities and incorporate the organisation’s values outlined here [insert values URL from website].” This should present you with a structured list of questions and points to consider when answering them.
You can follow this up by asking “Help me draft strong answers to these questions based on my experience outlined below and in my attached CV. Build their company values outlined on this [insert values page from website] into relevant answers.” Then use the questions above as headings for this and outline your experience in bullet points for each one. It is likely that your CV will not include answers to all the questions so fill in the gaps under each heading.
10 popular competency questions for interviews
Here are some popular competency questions for you to practice applying this to.
- Tell me about a time you worked in a team to achieve a goal.
Assesses: Teamwork, collaboration, communication. - Describe a situation where you had to solve a difficult problem.
Assesses: Problem-solving, analytical thinking, creativity. - Give an example of a time you showed leadership.
Assesses: Leadership, initiative, decision-making. - Tell me about a time you had to deal with a conflict at work.
Assesses: Conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, communication. - Describe a time when you had to meet a tight deadline.
Assesses: Time management, prioritisation, stress management. - Give an example of a goal you set and how you achieved it.
Assesses: Goal-setting, motivation, planning. - Tell me about a time you made a mistake. How did you handle it?
Assesses: Accountability, learning from failure, resilience. - Describe a situation where you had to adapt to change.
Assesses: Flexibility, adaptability, open-mindedness. - Tell me about a time you had to persuade someone to see things your way.
Assesses: Influence, negotiation, communication. - Give an example of a time you improved a process or suggested something that was implemented.
Assesses: Innovation, initiative, continuous improvement.
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