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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

Sciurus83 · 08/05/2017 04:02

I hope you aren't another candidate for the job I have an interview for today.....

Kwoggers · 08/05/2017 05:47

I wouldn't have gone looking for them but having been sent them without asking, I'd be preparing examples of every competency and brainstorming answers to possible follow-on questions.

ToastDemon · 08/05/2017 06:09

It's not an exam so I don't see where cheating comes into it.

melj1213 · 08/05/2017 06:24

Toast I don't see it as "cheating" as such, but it is an unfair advantage to have the exact questions ahead of time to prepare when you know none of the other candidates have had the same opportunity.

Whenever I go into an interview I will have an idea of the kind of questions that I will be asked and try to have answers prepared or at least generally in mind to use. Unfortunately you can never guarantee that the questions you anticipate and prepare for will be asked and you have to be prepared to adjust any pre-planned answers based on the specific wording of the question asked.

If nobody knows the questions before hand or everybody knows the questions beforehand then every candidate is in the same boat and are all on a level playing field of being judged on our interview performance and how we deal with formulating an answer in the moment or on how well we prepare based on knowing the questions in advance.

If someone goes in knowing exactly what they are going to be asked and they know nobody else has this information then they are already at an advantage as there is no uncertainty, they can rehearse and prepare to give their answer based on what they think they interviewer wants to hear, rather than what comes to mind best in the moment.

meditrina · 08/05/2017 07:01

Yes, it's unfair.

Unless the job is for private investigator or spy, when acquiring information by unauthorised and unobtrisive means would be a plus.

LellyMcKelly · 08/05/2017 07:06

They're easy to guess anyway. Any candidate worth their salt will have prepared for interview using the requirements on the person spec.

DuggeeHugs · 08/05/2017 07:20

I also think this is unfair on the other candidates and I'm afraid I can't understand your friends behaviour at all. Her actions have just stopped you from using this experience to improve your 'rubbish' interview technique. Presumably this isn't the last job interview to be faced in the course of your career? Whatever the outcome today it seems likely you will have less, not more, confidence next time.

DuggeeHugs · 08/05/2017 07:30

Sorry Op meant to add, once this is over could you speak to HR and arrange some interview technique training? There are loads of training options out there which could do your confidence the world of good.

sleepingdragons · 08/05/2017 07:36

Stop feeling guilty, do the interview and do your best to shine.

This is not an exam where you win by knowing the answers. You still need to prove your competence and the relevance of your experience.

Good luck I hope it goes well :)

Staypuff · 08/05/2017 07:36

Your friend was very wrong but there's little you can do about her actions. You sometimes need to declare any friendships with other staff before interview with hr for this reason.

RedBullBlood · 19/06/2017 01:32

But you did it anyway?

Morecaffeineplease · 19/06/2017 14:54

TAAT??

LivingInMidnight · 19/06/2017 15:10

more it does seem very similar to a thread yesterday.

Where I work most people seem to get someone to help them invent competencies...

FinallyHere · 19/06/2017 15:27

In general, I would not consider this as cheating, if its a truly competency based interview, the competencies they are looking for will not, or at any rate should not really be a secret from anyone invited to interview. Knowing the exact questions in advance would not, therefore, to my mind, give you any great advantage.

If the required competencies are not communicated, there is something interesting going on.

In your shoes, then, i would not study the material you have been sent in any great detail. I would scan it briefly and make sure that in your own preparation, you have not missed any major point. I would be putting the majority of my effort preparing for the interview in making sure i had pithy examples of my own experience ready to roll out during the interview, for each of the required competencies.

If you focus on the exact questions, you may find that you are too engaged in listening out for the exact question, when in fact the interviewer may paraphrase as they go along or use their own words to cover the different points.

If there is a major mismatch between what you expected and what they are actually looking for, this may not be the job for you. I would still go to the interview, but relax and enjoy the process of finding put about the job, the organisation and the people.

Casschops · 19/06/2017 15:33

Nobody should get to find out the questions before the interview it means that you can practice before hand anc puts you at an unfair advantage. I've had the opportunity and refused. I get a job on my own merit or not at all.

LucieLucie · 19/06/2017 15:48

Yes of course it's cheating!

If the interviewers wanted you to know the questions in advance they'd have sent them out with your invite to the interview.

Personally I'd be very annoyed at that member of staff assuming I needed help like that to pass the interview and I would also be concerned that it could be thrown back in my face at a later date and could potentially ruin any credibility I had in post.

gumgoblin · 05/04/2020 05:36

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

roses2 · 05/04/2020 07:38

You can find interview questions on glass door. Providing you give genuine answers I don't see anything wrong with it.

Olderthangoogle · 05/04/2020 08:47

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

she does know the exact questions:

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

OP it would be unfair on the other candidates but you know that. Imagine interviewing for a role, preparing for the interview and not knowing another candidate had seen the questions.

poppadopolis · 05/04/2020 08:56

@roses2 @olderthangoogle

The interview was almost 3 years ago so the situation has probably resolved itself.

weedoogie · 05/04/2020 23:48

Finding out the questions beforehand sounds very competent to me......

FloydWasACat · 06/04/2020 08:28

Zombie thread!!!

Pinkpeone1 · 06/04/2020 08:33

Come back and tell us if you got the job OP considering the interview was so long ago!

poppadopolis · 06/04/2020 10:18

Finding out the questions beforehand sounds very competent to me......

@weedoogie let's hope she checked the closing date too

weedoogie · 06/04/2020 18:03

@poppadopolis

How terrible to get fantastic answers but 3 years too late...

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