Employability Skills: How to Ace Competency-Based Interview Questions
Learn how to navigate competency-based interview questions confidently and effectively with this helpful guide to using the STAR method.
What are competency-based interview questions?
When applying for a job, it’s common to be asked competency-based interview questions. These questions help interviewers understand how you have used specific skills in your past roles.
For example, you might be asked to describe a time when you had to solve a complex problem or lead a team under pressure.
These questions aim to uncover your problem-solving and leadership skills, assess your ability to work in a team, and highlight other important employability skills.
The STAR method explained
The STAR method can help you answer interview questions clearly and effectively by breaking down your response into four parts:
- Situation: Describe where and when the story you are telling happened.
- Task: Explain what your job or goal was in that story.
- Action: Speak about the steps you took to handle the situation.
- Result: Share what happened at the end because of your actions.
Using the STAR method
How to find good examples from your experiences
Think about times when you used key skills like time management, verbal communication, or working well with others. Choose examples that show these skills clearly and relate to the job you are interviewing for.
Adjusting your responses to different competency interview questions
Change your examples to match different interview questions. For example, talk about a time you helped a customer when the job needed good communication skills, or mention a project where you led a team to show your leadership skills.
Language tips for clear and impactful storytelling
- Keep your answers concise but detailed. Focus on using simple language and avoid jargon that might be unclear.
- Make use of powerful verbs like “achieved,” “improved,” “developed,” and “coordinated” to convey action and results clearly.
- Practice maintaining good nonverbal communication, like eye contact and confident body language, as these are just as important as the words you use.
Practice makes perfect
Practicing before your interview can help you feel more prepared and less nervous.
Try these helpful ways to practice answering competency-based interview questions.
Try role-playing exercises
Work with a friend or classmate to practice answering interview questions. You can take turns being the interviewer and the interviewee. Use the STAR method to answer questions about different job situations.
Use common questions
Find common interview questions online and use them in your practice. This will help you get used to the kinds of questions employers usually ask. Here are some questions to get you started:
- “Can you tell me about a time when you demonstrated effective communication skills?”
Employers will want to see how well you can communicate your ideas, both verbally and in writing. - “Can you describe a situation where you had to solve a complex problem?”
This helps the interviewers to assess your critical thinking and problem-solving skills. - “Can you tell me an example of a time when you showed leadership in a challenging situation?”
Your answer to this question will help the interviewer understand your leadership style and how you inspire other people. - “Can you tell me about a situation where you had to work collaboratively to achieve a goal?”
Employers are keen to understand if you work well in a team and how you can contribute to a group’s success.
Ask for feedback
After practicing, talk with your partner about what went well and what could be better. Listening to advice can help you improve your answers.
Repeat
Keep practicing with different questions and different partners if possible. The more you practice, the more confident you will become.
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