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The word competency is widely used in business To prepare for this type of interview, first
and personnel psychology and refers to the review the job description carefully and
behaviours that are necessary to achieve the identify the skills and traits likely to be
objectives of an organisation. A competency is assessed. Next, identify the situations and
also something you can measure and lists of experiences that you will refer to in the
competencies form a common language for interview to demonstrate these skills and
describing how people perform in different traits. Competency focussed, well-
situations. Every job can be described in terms of structured answers are extremely
key competencies. This means that they can be powerful and will win you the interview.
used for all forms of assessment, including The STAR model will provide a
appraisals, training needs analysis and of course, structure to your answers:
selection.
• Situation - describe a situation or
• Individual competencies – your personal problem that you have encountered
attributes: Flexibility, decisiveness, tenacity, • Task - describe the task that the
independence, risk taking, personal integrity situation required or your ideas for
resolving the problem
• Managerial competencies – taking charge of • Action - describe the action you took,
other people: Leadership, empowerment, obstacles that you had to overcome
strategic planning, corporate sensitivity, project • Results - highlight outcomes achieved
management, management control
Take a look at this extract from the
• Analytical competencies – the elements of interview guidelines of a major
decision making: Innovation, analytical skills, Wellington-based employer.
numerical problem solving, problem solving,
practical learning, detail consciousness Competency: Customer Focus:
Definition: Individuals who display this
• Interpersonal competencies – dealing with competency understand and believe in
other people: Communication, impact, the importance of customer focus. They
persuasiveness, personal awareness, teamwork, listen to and understand the needs of
openness external and internal customers. They
meet and exceed customer needs to
• Motivational competencies – the things that ensure satisfaction.
drive you: Resilience, energy, motivation,
achievement orientation, initiative, quality focus Behavioural Indicators:
Demonstrates the importance of customer
Taken from How to Master Psychometric Tests by M Parkinson
service by giving customer needs top
(reference copy available at VUW Careers Resource Library) priority. Deals effectively with customers
by displaying a professional, courteous
and empathetic approach.
Describe the Situation and the Task briefly. Most of Communication Skills
your answers should focus on Action and Results;
applying the who (you), what, when, where, why and Daniel Goleman writing on Emotional Intelligence
how model used in journalism will keep you focussed suggests that the key to successful communications
and make your description more interesting. is being able to listen to all types of communication
in an open way. Are you an active listener, do you
really listen and do you hear what is actually said.
Questions about … Are you able to read the non-verbal messages that
others communicate? Do you communicate in an
Influencing or Persuading Others engaging and convincing way?
You may have strong verbal skills but can you influence • Tell me about a time when you were successful
another person to change their thinking or take some in getting crucial information from another
action – perhaps a colleague follows your advice or a person.
client decides to buy a service or product. At • Tell me about a time when someone
management level have you the skills to persuade and misunderstood what you were attempting to
involve rather than coerce and punish? Are you ethical communicate to them.
in your dealings with people? • Tell me about a current event you have been
following in the press.
• Tell me about a time when you were able to change • What do you think are the three most important
someone’s viewpoint significantly. things about communication?
• Tell me about a time when you were asked to do • Tell me about a time when you worked with
something that you disagreed with. people from a culture unlike your own. What did
• See this pen I’m holding…sell it to me. you do to overcome any perceived barriers to
• Tell me about a person or event that has been communication?
influential in your personal development.
Personal Adaptability, Energy and Resilience
Interpersonal and Team Skills
How quickly and how positively will you adapt to
Employers need people who are changes in work practices, work roles and work
socially competent. The desire to environments and the general flux of the modern
build and maintain relationships in workplace? How do you manage or avoid stress?
and beyond the workplace is critical.
Many workplaces function on the • Tell me about a time when your work or an idea
basis of project teams. These teams was criticised.
are task oriented and short lived. Those who are highly • Tell me about a time when you felt under
collaborative and co-operative are most likely to thrive pressure.
in this type of environment. • Tell me about a time when you felt frustrated
by your work.
• What experience have you had working on a team? • How would you respond if a project you had
• What skills and personal qualities have you been working on was re-assigned to someone
contributed to the teams you have been part of? else or shelved?
• Tell me about a time when you used tact and • What do you do for enjoyment in your leisure
diplomacy. time?
• Tell me about the last time you had a disagreement • What makes you laugh?
with someone. • Describe something creative that you’ve done.
• Tell me about the most difficult person you have • What has been your most satisfying/
worked with. disappointing experience?
A chance to discover what inspires you and motivates • What is the most difficult issue facing NZ today?
you to achieve and whether you are a loner or a team • It is the 15th Century. How do you convince the
person. Pope that the Earth is round?
• If I gave you an elephant, where would you hide
• What two or three accomplishments have given you it?
the most satisfaction? Why? • Why are soda cans tapered on the top and
• Describe a time when you led or motivated others. bottom?
• You are in a boat on a fresh water lake. In your
• What do you feel qualifies you for this position?
hand is a rock. You throw the rock into the lake.
• Tell us about a time when you had more to do than
How is the lake's water level affected?
you could complete in the time allocated: tell us
• Describe your best friend and what he or she does
what you did about it and what the outcome was.
for a living.
• In what ways are you similar or different from
Stress Questions
your best friend?
• If you had a weekend to spend doing anything
Designed to test your resilience in the work you wanted, how would you make the most of
environment. Are you able to maintain appropriate the time?
behaviour in the face of what may seem inappropriate
behaviour in others? Are you able to keep
inappropriate emotions in check and take responsibility
for your own performance?
Prepared by:
• How do you react to criticism? Victoria University of Wellington
• Can you accept criticism for poor work? Career Development and Employment,
• Describe a time you failed. PO Box 600, 14 Kelburn Parade, Wellington
• What causes you to lose your temper? Tel: 0-4-463 5393, Fax: 0-4-463 5234
• Do you really feel that you have enough experience www.vuw.ac.nz/st_services/careers/
FP1201
for this role?
• Aren’t you overqualified for this role? Assistance with career planning and job searching
• Why have you decided to change careers? techniques is available from Careers staff.
• Why have you changed jobs frequently?
• Have you ever been sacked (fired)?
• Why should I hire you?
• What if I told you that you'd work very hard, but
recognition of your contributions would be nil?
• How long would you expect to remain with this
organisation?
• What salary are you expecting?