Competency Based Interview Questions and Answers in UK

– Competency-Based Interview Questions –

After you have applied to that desired firm, company, school, or wherever it is you desire to have a career and job. The next comes the interview, where you will have to talk and speak yourself about getting your desired job or forgoing it. 

A competency-based interview is an approach used by interviewers to assess your performance in a particular key area or skill that is because of the job description.

As I ask each interview question, you need to provide a specific example of where you match the competency being assessed.

Competency-Based Interview Questions and Answers in the UK

This article contains 15 Competency Interviews you might likely encounter when trying to gain a job in the United Kingdom.

1. Tell Me About Yourself; Why Have You Applied for This Role?

Summarise your experience, don’t waffle. Connect your experience with the reasons for applying for the job opportunity in question Make sure you stick to the script of your CV.

Provide responses that suggest you are a stable, well-adjusted and positive individual. Give only positive statements, and sell your skills and experiences as benefits.

2. What Do You Know About Our Company?

Demonstrate that you have researched the company; know their products, the firm’s size, its reputation within the industry, its history and values.

Allow the interviewer to tell you more about the company. Pay attention!

3. Why Do You Want to Work for us?

Talk about their needs and explain what you can do for them. It’s not about what you want at this stage.

Show them you want to be part of their success story, helping them to achieve their goals and meet their challenges.

4. Why Should We Hire You?

Example response: I believe that I have the skills, knowledge, competencies, and experience to help the company be successful.

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5. What Kind of Environment do You Like Working in?

Some employers are looking for specific key phrases like ‘dynamic environment’. Consider how you work best, but also think about the philosophy of the company before answering.

Don’t say that you enjoy working in a relaxed environment if they are looking for dynamism, but also consider the environment that will help you be successful.

6. Where Do You See Yourself Being in 3-5 Years From Now?

Talk about how you would like to progress through the company. The interviewer needs to know you will not jump ship at the earliest opportunity. Talk about the skills and experiences you’d like to gain.

Mention any other career ambitions that apply to the role you’ve applied for.

7. What Are Your Strengths?

Pick three or four attributes desired by the employer in the person specification; teamwork, leadership, initiative, and lateral thinking are common examples.

Whichever strengths you pick, ensure that you can evidence them with examples.

Similar questions include:

1. How would a friend describe you?

2. How would you describe your personality?

3. What are three positive things your last boss would say about you?

8. What Are Your Weaknesses?

You can positively frame your answer by picking characteristics you’ve taken steps to improve.

For example, self-confidence issues could have previously led to difficulty accepting criticism; but tell the interviewer that you’ve learned to embrace constructive feedback as it allows self-improvement.

Alternatively, discuss how you overcame a potential downside of your greatest strength; for example, you might have had to learn how to cope with conflict if you’re a great team worker.

Never say that you have no weaknesses, that you’re a perfectionist, or that you work too hard. These are clichéd responses that portray you as arrogant, dishonest or lacking in self-awareness.

9. How Would Your Friends and Colleagues Describe You?

Bring out the positive aspects of what your friends have said about you. You can mention any criticisms but show that you will act upon advice.

Demonstrate that you can get on with all kinds of people – particularly at work.

10. Why Are You Wanting to Leave Your Current Job?

Don’t criticise your past employers. Say something like, “I have gained significant experience, knowledge, and skills over the last x number of years, but I feel I need the fresh challenge provided by this opportunity.”

11. If You Were Offered This Role, When Could You Start?

Sound enthusiastic and show that you can be flexible. The interviewer may not always choose an immediate person, so don’t worry if you need to give notice to your current employer.

You could still be the person his or her company needs.

12. What Has Been Your Greatest Achievement?

Ideally, your answer should evidence skills relevant to the job; teamwork, initiative, communication, determination, and organisation, for example.

For inspiration, think about a time when you’ve received an award, organised an event, learned something new or overcome a major fear. Always prepare several examples.

Avoid the achievement of graduating from university; this won’t distinguish you unless you’ve had to deal with major difficulties such as illness or personal problems.

13. What Are Your Goals?

This is your chance to show the recruiter that you’re ambitious and professionally determined.

Talk enthusiastically about your realistic short- and long-term targets, basing your answers on the employer, the industry, and your skills and experiences.

Outline the various steps to your ideal job, but only in relation to the position that you’re applying for and the company’s career development offering.

It’s vital that you explain how your goals make you valuable to the organisation.

You could even mention your knowledge of relevant professional bodies and qualifications, or reveal that you’ve researched the career paths followed by other graduates.

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14. Why Did You Apply for This Position?

Very similar answer to why you want the job, but focus more heavily on why the position and company excite you, rather than why you should excite them.

Demonstrate what you know about the company (and use the job description to back up why you’re the right person to do the job).

15. Do You Have Questions?

Anything that you ask should cover the work itself or career development. Prepare questions in advance; if they have answered all your queries, mention that the interviewer has covered everything you need to know.

Remember to ask questions if the moment naturally arises during the actual interview. “Competency-Based Interview Questions”

Good Interview Questions to Ask The Employer Include:

1. How could I impress you in the first three months?

2. How often is a graduate’s performance appraised?

3. Is there anything that you would like to improve in your department?

4. What are the travel requirements of this job?

5. What development plans does the organisation have? “Competency-Based Interview Questions”

FAQs about Competency Based Interview Questions

Below are the frequently asked questions about Competency Based Interview Questions

1. Which top 3 competencies make you a good candidate?

Key Competencies
1. Teamwork. Vital for most careers, because teams that work well together are more harmonious and more efficient. …
 
2. Responsibility. …
 
3. Commercial Awareness. …
 
4. Decision Making. …
 
5. Communication. …
 
6. Leadership. …
 
7. Trustworthiness & Ethics. …
 
8. Results Orientatio


2. What are common interview questions and answers?

7 most common interview questions
 
1. Where do you see yourself in five years? …
 
2. What are your strengths/weaknesses? …
 
3. Why should we hire you? …
 
4. Tell me about yourself / your past work experience. …
 
5. Why do you want to work for us? …
 
6. What are your salary expectations? …
 
7. What skills or experience will help you succeed in this role?


3. How do you see yourself in 5 years?

How to answer ‘where do you see yourself in five years?’ in an interview
 
Get clear about your career goals. Take some time to brainstorm what your career goals are for the next five years. 
 
Find connections between your goals and the job description. 
 
Ask yourself if the company can prepare you for your career goals.


More FAQs about Competency Based Interview Questions

4. How would you describe yourself?

Positive words to describe yourself in any situation. Words to describe yourself in an interview. Words to describe yourself on a resume.

Words to Describe Yourself in an Interview.
 

Resourceful

Focused

Reliable

Motivated

Methodical

Proactive

Insightful

Disciplined

Organized

Results-oriented

Energetic

Ambitious


5. How do I say I really want this job?

Examples of asking also include:
 
“I’m honestly looking forward to working with this company.”
 
“You all seem like a great team, and I’d be honored to work with you.”
 
“I’m very interested in the job, but do you have any concerns as to how well I can perform?”


6. Can I take notes into a competency based interview?

It’s also important to give yourself time to evaluate what they are telling you. Take notes. Competency based interviews are in-depth, and interviewers sometimes disagree on what they remember was said, so be sure to take full and accurate notes.


7. How do you introduce yourself sample?

Personal commercial template
 
Greeting: Hello, my name is (name). …
 
Goal: I am looking for (internship/full-time position) at (employer name).
 
Interest/passion: I am interested in (interests related to the company/industry).
 
Strengths: I have many skills to contribute including (strengths) and (skills).


Still on FAQs about Competency Based Interview Questions

8. How do you start an open-ended conversation?

Open-ended questions prompt the beginning of a longer conversation by asking questions starting with “why,” how.
 
Also, what if? Closed-ended questions can be answered with single-word answers, such as “yes” or “no.” Open-ended questions and closed-ended questions both have their place in sales conversations.


9. What should I say in a competency interview?

Describe the problem, the solution(s) you proposed, and what the outcome was. Don’t forget to point out how you combined your experience and knowledge with the situation to overcome this problem.
 
Example: We were using a software that didn’t meet our needs and my manager wanted a solution as soon as possible.


10. How do you prepare for a competency based interview?

When preparing for a competency-based interview, we advise following these four steps.
 
Find out what competencies the employer’s looking for.
 
Identify competency question examples.
 
Develop a story for each competency.
 
At interview, pick the right story for the right question.


11. What are the 5 key competencies?

The Five Core SEL Competencies
 
1. Self-Awareness.
 
2. Self-Management.

 

3. Social Awareness.
 
4. Relationship Skills.
 
5. Responsible Decision-Making.

 

I hope this content was helpful? If yes, don’t hesitate to share it with your friends using any of our share buttons below.

StudentsandScholarship Team.

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