Answering Competency Based Questions

Answering competency based questions
Competency based questions are commonly used for selection, and are deemed a fair
and objective method to gauge how a candidate will perform on the job. The
competency approach is based on the assumption that insight into an individual’s past
behaviour is the best way to predict their future behaviour. Your answers are
therefore used as an indicator of what you are like ‘in action’.
Competency questions require you to describe a situation to demonstrate that you

possess abilities which are considered integral to the role you’re applying for. These
questions are looking for evidence of skills that are used in the job and often start
with ‘Describe a situation where you had to ......’ or ‘Give an example when you ....’.
Instead of just saying you possess certain attributes and abilities you will need to give
evidence.
Use examples that demonstrate how you personally performed in the situation you
describe. Even when you are presented with a question on how you operate in a team
it is important to use ‘I’ and specifically focus on your involvement, rather than ‘we’.
Although it is important to reference your work-based responsibilities where possible,

examples can also be drawn from other experiences e.g. your educational or personal
background.
Techniques for answering competency questions

When faced with a competency question it can be difficult to establish exactly what
behaviors are being assessed and to structure your answer accordingly. However
there are several techniques designed to help ensure your answer addresses the
question and remain focused.
The STAR technique

A good way to structure your answer is by using the STAR acronym:
 Situation: Describe the situation.

 Task: Describe what task was required of you.
 Action: Tell the interviewer what action you took.
 Result: Conclude by describing the result of that action.
Use the STAR structure to provide background on the context of the task and what
you had to do, before moving on to describe what you actually did and what the
outcome of your behaviour was.
However, note that the bulk of your answer should focus on what you did, rather than
the background information.
 Structure your answer like a mini-essay, using the ‘Situation’ and ‘Task’
sections as the introduction, where you describe the challenges you faced.
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 The ‘Action’ forms the main body and should be the longest part of your
answer.
 The ‘Result’ is the conclusion and like the introduction, should be quite short.
It will be helpful if you keep referring back to the competency question to ensure your
answer stays on track.
Examples
Use these examples as a starting point to consider what behaviours a question may
be asking you to demonstrate, and how you might go about doing so.
The question The real question The answer Examples

Describe a time, when you  How do you cope  Briefly outline the  Being landed with extra,
have managed a project under pressure? task and the unexpected responsibility at
under a challenging  Can you respond to difficulties. work.
deadline. challenges and set  Show the steps  Completing a project that
yourself goals? that you took to did not run smoothly as
 Do you have good cope with the anticipated.
organisational situation.  University Dissertation
skills?  If other people work.
 How do you were involved, be
manage your time? specific about
what your
particular role
was.
 State the result -
don't worry if the
outcome was not
100% successful
but show what
you learnt from
the experience.
Describe a time when you  What did you  Outline the  Working on a project at
have worked effectively in a contribute and what situation, your work or university.
team to deliver results. was the outcome? particular role and  Voluntary work where you
 How do you the task of the have been part of a group.
communicate your group overall.
 Putting on a drama or
ideas?  Give examples of music production.
 How do you build your specific
relationships? responsibilities
and how these
 What role do you contributed to the
take in a group? overall group
 Are you able to effort.
focus on goals and  Describe any
targets? problems which
arose and how
they were tackled.
 Say what the
result was and
what you learned
from it.
Page 2 of 3
The question The real question The answer Examples
Give an example of a  Assessing how you  Outline the  Handling customer
situation where you solved analyse and situation (what complaints at work.
a problem in a creative evaluate a problem? was the  Identifying a problem in
way.  Do you think problem?), the your work environment (i.e.
laterally? various improving technology) and
approaches you resolving it.
 How do you cope might have taken
with solving and the one that  How you approached a new
problems? you adopted. project.
 Are you flexible  Why did you
enough to cope with choose to tackle
barriers and the problem this
challenges? way and what
was the result?
Describe how you handled  Are you a leader?  What was the  Suggesting how procedures
a situation where you had  Are you willing to task, who resisted at work might be carried out
to initiate and complete a take on you and why? more effectively.
task in the face of responsibility?  How did you  Doing a presentation to
resistance from others. counter their gain funding for a project.
 Do you believe in
yourself and your objections?  Gaining family support for
aims?  How did you go coming to University/going
 How do you build about completing on to postgraduate study.
relationships? the task and what
was the outcome?
 Do you consider
external
perspectives, i.e.
stakeholders?
 Can you persuade
people and gain
their co-operation?
Page 3 of 3

Answering Competency Based Questions

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Answering competency based questions

Competency questions require you to describe a situation to demonstrate that you

Although it is important to reference your work-based responsibilities where possible,

Techniques for answering competency questions

The STAR technique

 Situation: Describe the situation.

The question The real question The answer Examples

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