Competency-Based Interview Questions at a Glance

Today's employers are likely to ask a variety of competency-based questions of candidates for their job openings. These questions generally cover five different aspects of competency: individual responsibility, managerial and leadership skills, personal motivation, analytical skills, and people skills. Below are typical questions, grouped by the competency being evaluated.

Although these questions feature most prominently in the five chapters of Part II, familiarity with them will be helpful in understanding all the points of this book, beginning with its first chapter. In particular, Chapters 6 through 10 pinpoint the Key Attributes and Career Values for identifying these competencies and show how you can highlight these marketable and transferable skills to greater advantage.

Competency 1: Individual Responsibility

Decisiveness Interview Questions

1. There are times when a firm decision must be made quickly, and there are other times when it is prudent to consider all angles before reaching a conclusion. Give an example of a situation when you took time in making a final decision. (p. 65)

2. Rarely do issues arise that are one-dimensional. With that fact in mind, describe a time you handled a situation that had different layers of dimension. (p. 66)

3. Tell me about a time when you encountered competing deadlines and you had to choose one deadline to fall by the wayside in order to meet the others. (p. 66)

4. It is impossible to please every staff member or client. Describe a time when you made an unpopular decision. (p. 67)

5. Recall a time when you were approached to take sides on an issue, but decided to stay neutral. (p. 67)

6. Tell me about a time when you came up with a way to increase output. (p. 67)

7. Describe an occasion when you made a decision that could have had a negative impact on the company if not managed correctly. (p. 68)

8. Give an example of a time when you were surprised by an unexpected situation and had to change course quickly. (p. 68)

9. Recall a time when you used good judgment and logic in solving a problem. (p. 69)

10. Tell me about a time when you thought a problem was resolved, only to find out that you were mistaken. (p. 69)

11. Not all problems have clear-cut solutions. Give an example of a difficult decision you made and your thought process for making it. (p. 70)

12. Summarize a time when you managed a situation characterized by high pressure. (p. 70)

Independence Interview Questions

13. Because not everyone always agrees with every company policy, tell me about a time when you spoke up against a standard procedure. (p. 72)

14. This division is a department of one. The person hired will be required to manage problems on his or her own. Please describe a time when you dealt with a situation without receiving input from staff members. (p. 73)

15. Working in a team environment has its benefits. Likewise, working independently is also rewarding. Provide an example of a time when you were commended for your ability to complete a task on your own. (p. 73)

16. Describe an occasion when you managed a situation that was your supervisor's responsibility. (p. 73)

17. Describe a time when you felt constraints placed on you that worked against completing your job effectively. (p. 74)

18. Give an example of a situation in which you were selected over your peers to complete a project. (p. 74)

19. Tell me about a time when you lacked experience in a specific area and needed to outsource an initiative. (p. 75)

20. Describe an occasion when you were left to your own devices to manage a situation. (p. 75)

21. Tell me about a time when your success was dependent on another's decision. (p. 75)

22. Describe a time when you went against the status quo. (p. 76)

23. Tell me about a time when you managed a situation on your own while simultaneously adjusting to changes over which you had no control. (p. 76)

24. Recall a time when you made an independent decision. (p. 76)

Flexibility Interview Questions

25. Tell me about a time when you had to adjust to a different work environment. (p. 79)

26. Describe an occasion when there was a fundamental change in the way things were done in your workplace. What was your response to it? (p. 79)

27. Recall the last time you felt energized about a project. (p. 80)

28. Give an example of a situation in which you assessed a person's temperament and how that assessment helped the relationship.

(p. 80)

29. Tell me about a time when you had to adjust your priorities to meet someone else's higher priority. (p. 81)

30. Describe the culture of your organization and provide an example of how you worked within this culture to achieve a goal. (p. 81)

31. Give an example of a time when your patience was tested. How did you handle it? (p. 81)

32. Describe a time when you were on the verge of completing a task and were asked to abandon the project for another project. (p. 82)

33. Give an example of a situation in which you worked for a company where your flexibility skills were important. (p. 82)

34. Describe a time when you were required to go to work unexpectedly. (p. 83)

35. Tell me about a time when you altered your work pattern in order to complete a task. (p. 83)

36. Recall a situation in which you had to please more than one person at the same time. (p. 83)

37. Describe an occasion when you dealt with an employee whose demeanor was causing a problem. (p. 84)

38. Describe a situation when your work complemented another staff member's objective. (p. 84)

39. Give an example of a time when you offered your resignation.

(p. 85)

Career Goals Interview Questions

40. Recall a time when you made a difficult career move. (p. 87)

41. Describe a time when a company you worked for invested in you professionally. (p. 87)

42. Tell me about a time when you accepted a position that you later regretted. (p. 88)

43. Give an example of a situation in which you took specific steps to meet your career goals. (p. 88)

44. Describe a time when you asked management for direct feedback. (p. 88)

45. Sometimes people have to take up opportunities to achieve professional success. Tell me about a time when you took a chance in your career and the result. (p. 89)

46. Describe an occasion when you expanded your knowledge base to further your career. (p. 89)

47. Tell me about a time when you leveraged your past experience to advance your career. (p. 90)

48. Give an example of how you put the company's needs ahead of your career goals. (p. 90)

49. Tell me about a time when you assumed a position or took on a task that was beyond your experience because you knew it would lead to better opportunities. (p. 90)

50. Give me an example of how your first job prepared you for this one. (p. 91)

51. Tell me about the most competitive situation you have experienced and how you handled it. (p. 91)

52. Provide an example of a real-life experience that prepared you for this position. (p. 92)

Competency 2: Managerial / Leadership Skills

Leadership Interview Questions

53. Tell me about a time you reviewed someone else's work to ensure that quality standards were met. (p. 95)

54. Not every employee is easygoing. There are times when an employee will refuse to carry out an order he or she believes is unfair. Please describe such a time and how you resolved the situation. (p. 96)

55. Describe an occasion when you managed a situation that was out of the ordinary for your position. (p. 96)

56. Tell me about a time you implemented an initiative and met resistance from the majority of your staff. (p. 96)

57. Recall a time you were successful as a project leader. (p. 97)

58. Tell me about a time when you fired an employee whom you personally got along with. (p. 97)

59. Describe a time when a subordinate disagreed with a task he or she was given. How did you manage the situation? (p. 98)

60. Describe an occasion when you trained a cross-functional team. (p. 98)

61. Give an example of a time when you took on a leadership

role. (p. 98)

62. Tell me about a time when you brought together two departments to work effectively with each other. (p. 99)

63. Describe a time when a staff member did not meet your expectations and what you did about it. (p. 99)

64. Give an example of a situation in which you changed the status quo in order to cultivate leaders. (p. 100)

65. Describe a time when you managed an individual who had excellent hard skills but needed help with his or her soft skills.

(p. 100)

Employee Motivation Interview Questions

66. Tell me about an occasion when you increased employee morale. (p. 102)

67. Recall the last time you dealt with low employee productivity. What was the situation and how did you handle it? (p. 103)

68. Give an example of a time when your coaching efforts failed.

(p. 103)

69. Describe a time when you had to address a problem with an employee without alienating him or her. (p. 104)

70. Describe a time when you provided one-on-one training support. (p. 104)

71. Give an example of a unique way that you promoted teamwork.

(p. 104)

72. Describe the last training workshop you led. (p. 105)

73. Describe a time when you were responsible for making drastic changes in your department while at the same time had to minimize employees' negative reactions. (p. 105)

74. Tell me about a time when you trained an employee to do his or her job better. (p. 106)

75. Describe a time when you realized that a top producer on your team was growing bored with his or her position. What did you do about it? (p. 106)

76. As much as we may try to get along with everyone else, there are occasions when we cannot. Describe a time when you managed an employee with whom you did not see eye-to-eye. (p. 107)

77. We all have outside interests. Tell me about an extracurricular activity you enjoy. Then describe a time when the skills you learned in that activity made you a better professional.

(p. 107)

Ability to Delegate Interview Questions

78. Describe a time when you entrusted a subordinate with an activity that he or she did not complete. (p. 109)

79. Tell me about a time when you delegated work to a group.

(p. 110)

80. Describe a time when you divided the responsibilities of a task to members of a group. (p. 110)

81. Tell me about a time when you delegated a project to a junior staff member because you realized you had too much on your

plate. (p. 110)

82. Recall an occasion when you got bogged down in a task's details instead of giving the job to someone else. (p. 111)

83. Give an example of a time when you delegated a task and, in the middle of the project, the employee asked you to take it over. (p. 111)

84. Describe a time when you assigned a project to an employee and dealt with the reactions of those who were passed over. (p. 112)

85. Tell me about a time when you provided instructions for doing a task and an employee offered a smarter alternative. (p. 112)

86. Give an example of a time when you delegated a task because you did not want to do it yourself. (p. 113)

87. Recall a time when you asked for employee feedback before delegating tasks. (p. 113)

88. Describe an occasion when you divided the functions of a team among its members. (p. 113)

Strategic Planning Interview

89. Tell me about an important event you managed from beginning to end. (p. 116)

90. Give an example of a time when your strategic planning skills came in handy. (p. 116)

91. Describe an occasion when you were charged with planning a company event. (p. 116)

92. Tell me about a time when you partnered with another department to execute a plan. (p. 117)

93. Describe an occasion when using strategic partners benefited the company's bottom line. (p. 117)

94. Describe a scenario when you helped a stagnant idea become a full-fledged plan. (p. 118)

95. Give an example of a problem or situation that needed an immediate, short-term solution. (p. 118)

96. Recall a time when you developed a mission statement. (p. 118)

97. Tell me about a time when your budget ran on a deficit. What were the circumstances? (p. 119)

98. Describe a time when you questioned the direction your employer was taking. What was the result? (p. 119)

99. Give an example of a situation in which you implemented a plan that had long-range implications. (p. 119)

100. Provide an example of your existing (previous) company's weakness and the steps you took to overcome it. (p. 120)

101. Describe a time when your opinion on an operational matter differed from that of management. (p. 120)

102. Tell me about a time when you consulted a client to ensure that a project went smoothly. (p. 121)

103. Describe a time when you worked as part of an integrated team to come up with a plan of action. (p. 121)

Competency 3: Personal Motivation

Ambition Interview Questions

104. Tell me about a time when you set and achieved a goal. (p. 124)

105. Recall a situation when you took a self-starter approach to a project. (p. 125)

106. Describe a time when you chose a course of action that had a significant impact on your career. (p. 125)

107. Describe your most recent achievement and explain how your actions benefited investors. (p. 125)

108. Give an example of a situation in which you discovered a flaw in operations. What did you do about it? (p. 126)

109. Recall a time when your performance on the job led to greater responsibility. (p. 126)

110. Describe a time when you did not know a problem existed until it was brought to your attention. (p. 126)

111. Give an example of an occasion when your job became mundane and what you did to make the time pass more quickly.

(p. 127)

112. Tell me about a time when you were proud of your efforts. What were the circumstances? (p. 127)

113. Describe a time when you requested help or assistance on a project or assignment. (p. 128)

114. Give an example of a situation in which you demonstrated your willingness to work hard. (p. 128)

115. Describe an occasion when you made a difficult choice between your personal and your professional life. (p. 128)

116. Tell me about a time you leveraged contacts to meet a business goal. (p. 129)

Initiative Interview Questions

117. Recall a time when you were given a set of instructions that you were unable to follow. (p. 131)

118. Give an example of a situation in which you did something that you knew had little chance of success. (p. 131)

119. Describe an occasion when an idea you had was met with enthusiasm by management. (p. 132)

120. Describe a time when you took an active role in a project for which you had little experience. (p. 132)

121. Give me an example of a time you worked for a startup. (p. 132)

122. Recall a life-altering event that impacted your career choices.

(p. 133)

123. Tell me about a time when your hard work was rewarded. (p. 133)

124. Give me an example of a time when you took on a task that was not part of your job description. (p. 133)

125. Tell me about a situation that called upon your strongest quality. What was the result? (p. 134)

126. Recall a time when using your initiative was rewarded. (p. 134)

127. Describe an occasion when you created an opportunity for yourself. (p. 134)

128. Describe a time when you prepared for an obstacle in order to prevent it. (p. 135)

129. Describe a time when you were unable to meet management expectations. What did you do about it? (p. 135)

130. Give an example of a situation in which your greatest weakness negatively impacted a relationship or a project you were working on. (p. 136)

131. Recall a time when you invested time or money in developing your career. (p. 136)

Competency 4: Analytical Skills

Problem-Solving Interview Questions

132. Tell me about a time when you disagreed with management's decision. What did you do about it? (p. 139)

133. Recall a time when you discovered a way to improve upon an existing process. (p. 140)

134. Describe a time when you figured out a problem that others had tried to solve but failed. (p. 140)

135. Give me an example about a time when a routine procedure presented a challenge. (p. 141)

136. Describe a time when you stumbled on a problem you did not know existed. (p. 141)

137. Describe a time when you solved a problem using a skill you acquired through professional training. (p. 142)

138. Tell me about an occasion when you solved a problem without using the resources you needed. (p. 142)

139. There are many people applying for this position. Recall the last achievement that demonstrates you are the right candidate for this position. (p. 142)

140. Describe an occasion when you had to go to work sick. What were the circumstances? (p. 143)

141. Give an example of a small project that you executed that had a departmental impact. (p. 143)

142. Describe a time when your analytical skills were put to the test.

(p. 143)

143. Everyone's professional career is peppered with successes and failures. Describe a time when you learned from a mistake you

had made. (p. 144)

144. Describe a time when you were creative in cutting costs. (p. 144)

145. Give an example of a time when you had a positive effect on a chronic problem. (p. 144)

146. Tell me about a time when you managed more than one project at a time. (p. 145)

Attention to Detail Interview Questions

147. Tell me about a time when you caught a problem before it escalated. (p. 147)

148. Describe a time when your document-management skills benefited your department. (p. 147)

149. Tell me about an occasion when your attention to detail was recognized by management. (p. 148)

150. Describe a time when addressing a minor project detail made a significant difference in the outcome. (p. 148)

151. Recall a time when a thorough evaluation of events was critical to your company's success. (p. 149)

152. Give an example of a problem you solved with an obvious solution that was overlooked by others. (p. 149)

153. Tell me about an occasion when precision was important in your work. (p. 149)

154. Describe a time when the attention you gave to your work led to additional responsibility. (p. 150)

155. Describe an occasion when you worked on a project that had little room for error. (p. 150)

156. Give an example of a time when you went beyond standard operating procedures to ensure that regulatory compliances were met. (p. 150)

157. Our slogan is "Better Quality, Better Entertainment." With that in mind, give an example of a time when you served that slogan in your previous (existing) position. (p. 151)

158. Tell me about a time when you analyzed a situation and found many mistakes had been made. (p. 151)

159. Recall a situation in which you used more than one skill at a time. (p. 151)

160. Give an example of a time when you participated in a team effort to complete a one-of-a-kind project. (p. 152)

Competency 5: People Skills

Team-Oriented Interview Questions

161. Tell me about a situation in which you became aware of a serious mistake made by a colleague and what you did about it. (p. 156)

162. Describe an occasion when you believed in your company even when team members had lowered morale. (p. 156)

163. Describe a time when you were assigned a job-related task that you questioned. (p. 156)

164. Tell me about a time when another department's participation in a project depended on your completing a task first. (p. 157)

165. Describe a time when your team's effort did not meet your expectations. (p. 157)

166. Describe an occasion when you took direction from someone who was not your supervisor. (p. 157)

167. Recall a time when you had a difficult co-worker as part of your team. (p. 158)

168. Tell me about a time you worked on a project when your role was not clearly defined. (p. 158)

169. Give an example of a situation in your current (past) position in which you adapted to the team environment. (p. 159)

170. Describe a time you took on a task that was outside the scope of your job description. (p. 159)

171. Describe a time when you worked on a project that was delayed through no fault of your own. How did you manage the situation? (p. 159)

172. Recall a time when you avoided getting involved in office politics. (p. 160)

173. Tell me about a time when you worked with someone who had a delicate ego. (p. 160)

Customer Service Interview Questions

174. Describe the steps you take to ensure a high level of customer satisfaction. (p. 163)

175. Describe a time when existing policies did not solve a customer's problem and the customer took his or her business elsewhere. (p. 163)

176. As much as we may try to keep customers satisfied, there are times when we drop the ball and they are dissatisfied. Describe a time when a customer had a problem with how you managed his or her account. (p. 163)

177. Tell me about your most memorable customer-service experience. What were the circumstances? (p. 164)

178. Recall the last time a client was dissatisfied with your customer service. (p. 164)

179. Describe a position in which you used technology to assist in answering customer inquiries. What was the process? (p. 165)

180. Tell me about a specific instance in which your customer-service skills were praised. (p. 165)

181. Give me an example of an occasion when a customer withheld information you needed to solve a problem. How did you handle it? (p. 165)

182. Describe a time when you believed a system could be improved. What actions did you take? (p. 166)

183. Describe a time when you made a suggestion that improved customer relations. (p. 166)

184. Recall an occasion when you questioned your ability to do your job. (p. 166)

Communication Skills Interview Questions

185. Give an example of a time when you worked with someone who had an accent. (p. 169)

186. Describe an occasion when your communication style got you out of a tight situation. (p. 169)

187. Recall a time when you did not communicate well. What were

the results? (p. 170)

188. Describe a situation when you had to tell someone bad news.

(p. 170)

189. Tell me about a time when you used your presentation skills to influence a client. (p. 170)

190. Both written and verbal communication skills are vitally important. This position relies heavily on e-mail communication. To help me assess your experience, describe a time when your correspondence was well received. (p. 171)

191. Describe an experience in which you worked with a culturally diverse population. (p. 171)

192. Give me an example of when you managed to break a communications barrier. (p. 171)

193. Tell me about an occasion when you were optimistic while others around you were pessimistic. (p. 172)

194. Describe a time when you were required to write marketing copy. (p. 172)

195. Describe an occasion when you improved communications within your department. (p. 173)

196. Tell me about a time when you strengthened a relationship through training. (p. 173)

197. Give an example of an important document you are required to write. (p. 173)

198. Recall a time when a team member criticized your work in front of others. How did you respond? (p. 174)

199. Describe a time when you were praised for your listening skills. (p. 174)

200. Describe a situation in which you found yourself dealing with someone with whose personality you clashed. How did you handle the situation? What was the outcome? (p. 175)

201. Tell about a time you built rapport quickly with someone under difficult conditions. (p. 175)