Competency Based Interview

What is a competency based interview?
Competency and behavioral interviews are based on the belief that past actions are a strong indicator of future performance. They focus on the specific skills required to succeed in a particular role e.g. communication, negotiation, drive etc. The interviewer is looking for a specific example that demonstrates that you possess the competency required. In order to prepare for a competency interview you must analyse the job, pick out the skills and traits they are looking for and then identify the specific experiences you have had that highlight these skills and traits. • • • • You will be questioned in detail about each competency so use a solid example where you can remember a lot of detail. You may use
examples from Work, College or extra curricular activities. Be specific in your examples, don’t generalise Have a number of specific examples ready – don’t keep using the same one, The best way to answer the question is to use the three-step STAR process

Situation or Task - Describe the situation you were in or the task you had been assigned Action -Describe the action YOU took, the suggestions YOU made, the obstacles YOU overcame Result - Highlight the positive result that was achieved as a result of your actions.
For example, you could explain about a specific time when communication broke down within your project group (situation). To resolve the problem, you scheduled informal meetings for people to discuss relevant issues (action). Morale then improved, as did the lines of communication and you came in the Top 5 in the class (result).

Initiative:
• • • • • • • • • • • • • Describe the achievement of which you are most proud. What was challenging about what you did?Tell me about a time when you have incorporated other ideas to improve your own performance What positions of responsibility have you held and what did you enjoy most and least about these? Tell me about a goal you have had and didn’t achieve. What did you do about it? Tell me about a time when you had a particularly heavy workload. How did you deal with this? What aspect of the situation did you find most difficult? Tell me about the most challenging aspects of one of the positions of responsibility you hold (or have held in the past)? Tell me about a situation where you had to persevere to complete a major task whilst under pressure or in the face of setbacks / adversity. Tell me about a situation where you have had to use your initiative. What was the outcome Give an example of when you have produced a piece of work for someone that exceeded their expectations. Tell me about a situation where you have been criticised with good reason. How did you react?Describe a situation where you have worked hard to ensure a good relationship with someone you worked for. How will you approach studying for your final exams? Can you talk about a project you worked on which did not go as well as planned?What you will be rated on: Positive • Sets and achieves challenging objectives • Plans in a structured manner and finishes tasks • • • • • • • • • Takes on positions of responsibility and makes things happen Have researched the career opportunities at the firm applied to –Knows about training, career progression etc When under pressure, gets things done Takes the initiative and drives own career Overcomes and learns from setbacks Responds positively to challenges Seeks ways of bettering him /herself through feedback Shows enthusiasm for work and challenges Prioritises conflicting demands Negative Achieves no more than the minimum expected Does not see things through when challenges occur Does not stretch him / herself Changes course without good reason Relies on others to make things happen for him/ herself Shows no evidence of setting personal goals / targets Fails to met deadlines Leaves work unfinished Shows poor judgment in prioritising work Resistant to change Does not respond quickly to others’ needs

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Critical Thinking :
• • • • • • What kinds of things do you enjoy most about your degree course and why? Tell me about a time where you were able to see an issue in a different way to other people.Outline a situation where you felt you came up with a practical and workable solution. Tell me about a time when you have transferred learning or adapted ideas from one situation to another in order to be more effective. Give me an example of an idea that you had for improving an existing system or process. What was your idea? How did you persuade others to implement it? What were the benefits? Describe a complex problem / decision which you faced. What kinds of solutions did you come up with to resolve the situation? What course of action did you choose and why? What you will be rated on: Positive • Assimilates information quickly and applies appropriately • • • • • Reasons with and manipulates data effectively Solves problems analytically Demonstrates strong academic performance Likes analysing issues Displays intellectual breadth Negative Overlooks important elements of a problem Misunderstands things Appears slow to grasp concepts Falls back on traditional solutions Has failed exams or shows inconsistent results Does not suggest solutions or show initiative

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What kinds of issues have you found to be most important for the successful functioning of a team you have been a part of?
Tell me about a situation where a team you belonged to did not work well? What did you do to try to improve the situation? • Tell me about a time when you had a to challenge someone about their inappropriate behaviour? How did you tackle this? • Describe a time when you changed the way you were doing something due to someone else’s suggestions. • Give me an example of a situation in which you had to motivate others to achieve a goal. • Describe a project you have been involved in as part of a team. • What was your role? How did you contribute to meeting the team’s objectives? • Describe a situation where you felt working independently was most effective. What are the advantages/ disadvantages of teamwork? • Give an example of a time when you have worked hard to convince other people to accept your opinion • Tell me about a time when you have convinced colleagues or team members that they could achieve something more than they thought themselves capable of. • Tell me about a time when you persuaded others to follow your lead but in hindsight would have done things differently.project meeting weekly vs twice weekly • Tell me about a time when people you were working with were not continually performing to an appropriate standard. How did you encourage them to improve? Positive Negative • Involves self actively and puts ideas forward in teams • Actively seeks out situations where they work alone • Demonstrates willingness to share information • Takes credit for others’ work / ideas • Delivers contribution as agreed • Quashes others’ ideas • Supports and commits to decisions within a team • Avoids taking on personal responsibility within a team • Seeks others’ views and takes on board others’ ideas • Plays cards close to their chest • Takes on tasks to help the group progress • Cannot see the big picture, focuses on isolated issues • Shows care
and consideration for people • Arguments are unconvincing and easily fall apart • Sees the big picture, looks beyond the short term, • Does not encourage others to approach tasks and identifying future possibilities problems in new ways • Is highly persuasive, overcomes criticism and presents • Fails to make use of existing network of contacts to convincing arguments that gain commitment to action build potential new contacts • Motivates others to perform to their maximum potential • Does nothing to overcome challenges to own point of view • Leads by example when the going gets tough or in • Makes no attempt to improve the quality of own ambiguous performance • situations. • Continually looks for new and improved ways of doing things • and motivates others to do the same

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Teamwork & Leadership Potential:

Commercial Awareness:
• • • • • • • • • • What is your understanding of the role you are applying for? Which aspects of a career with XXX do you find most appealing? Why? What business development opportunities do you think are currently available toXXX? Describe the marketplace in which XXXX operates. Describe a current business issue affecting the accountancy profession. What is your view on the long-term impact of this business issue? your work experience in a specific company or business, tell me about one key factor that was essential to the success of that business. How do you keep yourself up to date with current business issues? Why do you think it is important for the accountancy profession to keep up to date on such issues? Tell me about a market segment that interests you and why? What do you understand to be the role of a business advisor within audit / tax? What are your reasons for applying for this role? What you will be rated on: Positive • Well informed and shows a clear understanding of the role • Demonstrates solid reasons for applying for the position • Speaks knowledgeably about issues facing XXXX • Shows genuine interest and good understanding of current • business issues both generally and facing the accountancy • profession • Shows an interest in notions of profit, investment, risk, reward • Is involved in a business environment, e.g. through relevant • experience • Speaks knowledgeably about different services offered by • XXX Negative Lacks understanding about the role Lacks enthusiasm for the role or business unit Has little awareness of what XXX do Unable to see the wider business issues in previous work experience Has little commercial awareness Has little knowledge of the market place within which XXX operates Does not understand basic business concepts and language

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Communication Skills:
Tell me about a time when you had to give a presentation or talk in public or to a group. What did you enjoy most and least about it? How did you feel the talk went? Tell me about a situation when you have had to work together with people with very different working styles from yours. What did you do to make this successful? Describe a time when you have had to explain a very complex idea to someone. What tactics and techniques did you use? Give me an example of a time when you had to work with a group of people you had not met before. How did you deal with this? What you will be rated on:

Positive • Is confident, articulate and credible • Reads people and situations well • Networks effectively with a range of people • Conveys ideas with clarity and structure • Establishes rapport and trust with others • Listens actively and puts people at ease • Challenges without alienating

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Negative Poor eye contact People avoid them Makes people feel uncomfortable Lacks social confidence / has bad manners Demonstrates irritation with people Is misunderstood by others · People fail to listen to them