Competency-based interviews

I have one very soon and although there is not a lot I need to prepare for the actual interview, it will be my first so I need to prepare myself if that makes sense!

Anybody got any tips or advice, ever given one or been in one and can let me know things to expect? I've found a couple of helpful things on the net but the .org is always a good place to come to

At the moment I'm just trying to gather together scenarios that I've experienced in work areas and seeing as I have a poor memory anyway this is proving difficult lol.

Thanks in advance

MYC

[andrewsmith]

MYC pm Gruntygiggles she may be able to help

Took the words right outta my mouth. Also, will PM you Maria, I have stuff you might want to read.

[Bri w]

Suffered them , and marked them.

Bit like psychometric testing but with a situational, often work related bias.

Its more a testing of commonsense and life experience of dealing with real or hypothetical situations. Its not something you can fail, as its more to do with how your personality responds. Whenever I've done them I've enjoyed the challenge - good fun.

Would also recommend knowing the company's competitors and how they market/target business. Ideally an understanding of a company's Unique Selling Points (USP's), and Mission Statement then weaving that into your responses to the situational questions.

You're not daft Maria, you'll be ok.

hey hun I have ALL the info you could possible need on this i am confident to say !! if you PM me your e-mail etc.. I can send you a loads of questions - I am an interviewer in my current role and I love having interviews myself ! to date as an intervieweeee!! i have never NOT got a job that I have had an interview for ! not bragging as such but honestly i've got every single one !!!! its all about taking your time and making them wait for your answer - its really much easier than peeps make out !
i will mail a loads of stuff home tonight if you need anything else i'llput my number over to you to xxxx anything to help x

just out of interest whats the job for ?? pm me if u like x

[gruntygiggles]

Originally Posted by Bri w

Suffered them , and marked them.

Bit like psychometric testing but with a situational, often work related bias.

Its more a testing of commonsense and life experience of dealing with real or hypothetical situations. Its not something you can fail, as its more to do with how your personality responds. Whenever I've done them I've enjoyed the challenge - good fun.

Would also recommend knowing the company's competitors and how they market/target business. Ideally an understanding of a company's Unique Selling Points (USP's), and Mission Statement then weaving that into your responses to the situational questions.

You're not daft Maria, you'll be ok.

+1 to this Maria, but be careful not to overdo it in leaning your answers to what you think the company will want you to say. This is the opposite to the advice I would normally give, but in a compenantcy based interview, otherwise known as a structured interview, you need to be able to give real accounts of your examples. What they are doing is testing your skills and/or personality with each question, for which they will be looking for your answer to meet certain criteria.

If you don't use an example that comes from one of your own experiences, you run the risk of them realising this if they later question you further on the answer you gave them. You need to be completely honest in these interviews (something I would always reccomend anyway) as they will see through it if you're not. That said, I don't think you'll have a problem on that count

Take BBC up on her offer, especially if she has sample competancy based interview questions as you will be able to have answers prepared in advance. Whilst you want to be very prepared before you go in, you don't want to come across as rehearsed, so like BBC has said, when asked a question, pause a little and be considered, relaxed and unrushed in giving your answer.

The biggest tip in the world....Smile.

I'll PM you later as well with some more info...just realised the time and need to get a few things done.

Oh....and I think you're perfectly suited to it, so you'll be fine

Aww thanks everyone, you're all very reassuring! I've never had a panel interview before, even though it's only 3 people. I've had 3 one person interviews and got all 3 jobs but being interviewd for a large organisation is always daunting

Fingers crossed, thanks everyone who's replied

[andrewsmith]

good luck MYC! group interviews ain't scary at all.

Originally Posted by gruntygiggles

+1 to this Maria, but be careful not to overdo it in leaning your answers to what you think the company will want you to say. This is the opposite to the advice I would normally give, but in a compenantcy based interview, otherwise known as a structured interview, you need to be able to give real accounts of your examples. What they are doing is testing your skills and/or personality with each question, for which they will be looking for your answer to meet certain criteria.

If you don't use an example that comes from one of your own experiences, you run the risk of them realising this if they later question you further on the answer you gave them. You need to be completely honest in these interviews (something I would always reccomend anyway) as they will see through it if you're not. That said, I don't think you'll have a problem on that count

Take BBC up on her offer, especially if she has sample competancy based interview questions as you will be able to have answers prepared in advance. Whilst you want to be very prepared before you go in, you don't want to come across as rehearsed, so like BBC has said, when asked a question, pause a little and be considered, relaxed and unrushed in giving your answer.

The biggest tip in the world....Smile.

I'll PM you later as well with some more info...just realised the time and need to get a few things done.

Oh....and I think you're perfectly suited to it, so you'll be fine

ya dead right hun xxxxxx xx relaxed and smile thats how i get all my jobs smile !!! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx on its way hun x