Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is it cheating to find out the questions being asked before a competency based interview

53 replies

user1493797837 · 07/05/2017 21:35

If you're rubbish at interviews, but very very good at your job. If the opportunity presented itself that you could find out all the questions that were being asked before the competency based interview. Is it really really wrong to accept the information without the panel knowing?

You would still have to formulate your own answers to the questions. But would know what was being asked so there would be no surprises and you could repeat your pre done answers.

OP posts:
Spectre8 · 07/05/2017 21:42

Depends on how the opportunity presented itself

TheLegendOfBeans · 07/05/2017 21:44

I'd probably do this, even though it "morally wrong".

I'm not sure if that makes me an awful person or not.

Babymamamama · 07/05/2017 21:46

I would want to know. If someone I trusted not to grass me up offered that info. Guess I don't have very good morals!

ilovesooty · 07/05/2017 21:46

Would the other candidates be able to access this information?

Pinkheart5917 · 07/05/2017 21:47

Imo No it's not cheating because you've still got to give your own answers

Original poster
user1493797837 · 07/05/2017 21:49

well in this case it's a friend of mine. She saw the interview paperwork and so knows the exact questions and sent me a photo of them without me asking. So I now know all the questions. I never asked her to. She knows they're correct as someone else got interviewed and was asked those questions and they have to be the same for all candidates. They are interviewing over two days.

So I can't do anything about it now without her getting in trouble and she was only trying to be helpful.

I'd never actively look for them though.

How wrong would it be to interview under these circumstances?

OP posts:
Original poster
user1493797837 · 07/05/2017 21:49

Other candidates don't have the information.

OP posts:
TheLegendOfBeans · 07/05/2017 21:50

If you got the job, would you feel it was a hollow victory or would you feel confident they picked the right person - you?

ilovesooty · 07/05/2017 21:51

I'm astonished that any employee would risk their job by doing what your friend has done.

LimpidPools · 07/05/2017 21:51

Honestly, who cares? Just do the interview. As you said, knowing the questions isn't everything - you still have to give the right answers.

Be wary of sounding rehearsed though.

MyPatronusIsAUnicorn · 07/05/2017 21:51

On the competancy based interviews I have been on, the competencies were listed on the job description so I knew what they would ask about so I could prepare. I assumed they all worked like that.

I thought you were out tonight OP?

user0000000001 · 07/05/2017 21:53

No, I wouldn't consider this cheating. In fact, before competency based interviews, I ^always* ask what competencies will be assessed so I can prepare answers in my own time. I then take notes into the interview, and refer to them if needs be.

The idea of a competency based interview is to appoint the candidate with the best experience. They aren't memory tests, so it shouldn't be down to the candidate who happens to be able to recall an example quickly.

Original poster
user1493797837 · 07/05/2017 21:53

You have a very good idea of what will be asked but not the exact questions.

It seems fairly commonplace to let candidates know the exact questions if you happen to have them. I don't think it's strictly against the rules.

There were no questions I wouldn't have prepared as likely questions anyway.

OP posts:
user1471521456 · 07/05/2017 21:54

Surely, the whole point of competency based interviews is that you know what the competencies are and you prepare examples of how you have demonstrated those competencies? I wouldn't have thought that knowing the exact questions would make a huge amount of difference.

user1471521456 · 07/05/2017 21:54

Sorry, cross posted with OP!

ChasedByBees · 07/05/2017 21:55

Why on earth did your friend do that?

I personally would not like to know the questions in advance in these circumstances at all.

bunnylove99 · 07/05/2017 21:59

Yes OP, it is definitely cheating.

Babymamamama · 07/05/2017 21:59

Just focus on doing your best. You didn't ask for the info so it isn't your fault.

BollardDodger · 07/05/2017 22:06

People cheat in job interviews all the time, whether its exaggerating qualifications or experience, lying about reasons for leaving previous jobs, having the interviewer as a mate and just going through the motions. So even if you already know the questions, the answers will be your own, so its right at the bottom of the scale for cheating.

Coulddowithanap · 07/05/2017 22:25

I would prepare some other answers to other possible questions just in case these questions don't get asked!

The last job I went for had competency based interview so I googled the kind of questions asked and the kind answers they required. Obviously I applied it to my actual experiences and nothing was made up to sound better. That's just a part of preparation isn't it?

ilovesooty · 07/05/2017 22:30

How did you find out what the previous candidate was asked?

TheSnowFairy · 07/05/2017 22:30

Your friend should get fired.

And yes, it's cheating.

PeanutButterBunny · 07/05/2017 22:42

From my experience, some recruiters tell candidates the interview questions after finding out from their other failed candidates. It's more common than what people think. If you believe you are competent to do the job, then don't feel guilty.

Spectre8 · 07/05/2017 22:50

Well to be honest not much you can do as she sent it to you without you asking. To be honest you may as well use them now. I just witnessed someone at work a few weeks back in charge of interviews and his best mate on the floor applied and they were whispering about cos obviously that is a major conflict and they are trying to ensure noone realises. I think that is worse, the interviewer should at the least inform HR of said conflict and whilst stay part of the recruitment not be directly part of his mates inerview to ensure impartiality but c'est la vie. I'd be more suprised if his mate doesn't get the job to be honest than if he does. Its a bit sad to see that people don't value intregrity much now a days (this isn't directed at you OP)

DeleteOrDecay · 07/05/2017 22:54

I'd probably do this, even though it "morally wrong".

Yep, same. Probably makes me an awful person in the eyes of some, meh.