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Original poster

Competency Based Interview -HHHEELLLLLLLLPP

27 replies

MABS · 18/10/2004 20:17

Have just heard that i have one of these tomorrow at 1pm. Have had a few notes emailed thru but i know these are the 'thing' now and i have no idea how to prepare!! have not been interviewed for 15 yrs and am terrified. It's far a 'quality control analyst' role . Any info much appreciated .thanks

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marthamoo · 18/10/2004 20:20

I don't even know what one of these is (I haven't been interviewed for about 12 years - omg!) I just wanted to say GOOD LUCK and I hope someone comes up with something helpful. Have you googled it?

Skate · 18/10/2004 20:26

I think competencies (sp?) are just skills that you have that they link to an objective (as in a task that you do as part of your job). I can't think of great examples but say like 'being organised' is a competency and that might be linked to a role like 'devising and managing a staff rota' (sorry, not a great example!).

I imagine that what they might do then is have a list of competencies for the role you are applying for and might ask you to give real life examples of work you've done that illustrate that you have that competency ('can you tell us about a time where you had to be really organised').

They obviously don't expect you to be able to prove you can do that specific job because you've never done it before but they know what competencies someone would need to do that job and they will just want evidence from your past roles that you have those competencies.

Sorry, the examples are a bit crap but I hope you get the jist!

GOOD LUCK!

edam · 18/10/2004 20:34

Skate's right. It's just a bit of HR jargon. My old company introduced a competency-based pay system where they looked at whether you had the right competencies to do the job well; one of the core competencies was about team work, can't remember the others but really don't panic!

2boysmum · 18/10/2004 20:34

Dont Panic!! In a competency based interview they will be asking questions to see if you have the competencies (behaviours or skills) required to do a particular job. They should have sent you a job description and probably a list of competencies, things like analytical skill, planning and organising etc maybe with descriptions of what each term means to them. they will probably ask questions that basically give you the opportunity to demonstrate you have the competencies (ie the skills) they need for the role. Best preparation is to go through the role and competencies and think of examples of things that you have done that demonstrate that you have the skills they are looking for. keep your answers to the point and go prepared with lots of examples. If you have examples of stuff you can show them, without breaking your current employers confidentiality then these might also be useful. Hope this helps, Good lucK!

marthamoo · 18/10/2004 20:36

So it's basically just a new name for what they've always done ie., this is what we need for the job, show us what you have done that illustrates you can do that? I've been out of the workplace too long....

Original poster
MABS · 18/10/2004 20:47

thanks all, really helps. For the record though, I've had no job description sent or list of key skills needed. I only had brief conversation with recruitment agency today.

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Original poster
MABS · 19/10/2004 07:54

bump!

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Bagpuss30 · 19/10/2004 08:10

MABS, is there any chance you could get the agency to send over some info on the competencies? I used to work for a HR dept which used competency based interviews/pay and also used to work for a couple of recruitment agencies in the past. I really think they should be able to give you some idea of the skills they are looking for before the interview, then, as Skate says, you can demonstrate examples of the competencies to them. Good Luck with the interview anyway!

Eve · 19/10/2004 09:34

This is just a method of interviewing to ensure that all candiates are interviewed against a set of defined criteria usually:

leadership
teamwork
communication
dedication
motivation
problem solving

etc. and is a means of ensuring all interviews are fair and candidates judged by fair/equal criteria.

During a competency interview you will be asked to demostrate or discuss how you have exhibited these competencies in the past...so think of competencies and then examples.

Tinker · 19/10/2004 09:39

I they don't send you details MABS, I would think of some examples as per Eve's list but make it clear (nicely) that you were not provided with any despite asking. Shows iniative that you thought about it anyway. A sort of 'Here's some I prepared earlier' approach. Good luck

MrsWobble · 19/10/2004 09:55

my firm conducts competency based interviews but I don't think we provide candidates with a list of competencies in advance. having said that, they're the usual sort of things and it should be possible to work out the likely ones based on the position you're being interviewed for. As interviewers we are expected to introduce and explain each competency before asking for examples - if you are not clear what they are describing then ask for clarification - they will want the interview to be successful as much as you do. Good luck - and try and enjoy it. Remember above all that the purpose is to see whether you are suited for the role - it's not about good/bad but about suitability and if you don't get it then it wasn't right for you and you wouldn't have enjoyed it.

Original poster
MABS · 19/10/2004 10:26

thanks all- another question tho? A friend has sed that they may test me on a competency NOT relevant to this role ie 'leading others' when i will actually have no direct reports in this analyst role. Agree or not? thanks

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MrsWobble · 19/10/2004 10:34

MABS - they might do. even if not relevant to this role is there any possibility of promotion at a later date? even if you haven't direct experience of managing staff you should have plenty of examples to offer from family life - the key things I look for here are the ability to persuade and influence and get others to do what you want without resorting to conflict - even the hardest staff are easy compared to a 3 year old who doesn't want to put their coat on!

Skate · 19/10/2004 10:35

Agree MrsWobble but you can't bride staff with choccie buttons!

Skate · 19/10/2004 10:35

'bribe' even!

MrsWobble · 19/10/2004 10:37

agree - but the principle still stands - it's just that the bribes are different

Skate · 19/10/2004 10:38

True! I remember it well from my old management days and those tricks come in handy now as a SAHM!

Tortington · 19/10/2004 14:41

how did it go mabs?

Original poster
MABS · 19/10/2004 18:06

was a farce really, Interviwer 20 mins late then didn't do competency after all that !! apparently that's the 3rd intvw stage, which will be in 2 wks IF i get thru!! HR told the agency wrong info. Didn't perform well as totally unprepared for questions they were giving - had been told they'd be in 3rd intvw not 2nd, such as hours i wanted, money etc. AM NOT HAPPY

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Tortington · 19/10/2004 21:22

sorry xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

marthamoo · 19/10/2004 21:25

That's a bummer MABS - try and think positively, if they are such a shambolic company they don't deserve you. Hope something better is just round the corner.

Original poster
MABS · 07/11/2004 19:09

just heard - got the job !!! many thanks for your help.

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Gobbledigook · 07/11/2004 19:11

Arrhghghghghgh!!! Congratulations to you!! Fab, fab, fab news!!

Skate

tillykins · 07/11/2004 19:48

WOW! Congratulations
When do you start?

Original poster
MABS · 07/11/2004 20:15

dunno yet ,prob 2 wks!!

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