Competency based interview when changing career

[Scorcher79]

Hello ladies,

I've worked as a Primary school teacher for over 14 years but being honest, my heart has never really been in it and I feel what while I'm interested in education in general, I no longer want to work with young children. Full dislosure, I'm also bored of working in a female only environment (which can be quite bitchy and cliquey I find) and talking about kids all day!

In any case, I've got an interview for an executive officer (admin) position in a well-known University and have been told it will be competency based. Having done competency based interviews before (when I took a break from teaching at one stage), I feel like the questions are often 'corporate' in nature and design and don't necessarily relate to a job spent working entirely with kids and other women. For instance, if I were to be asked to give an example of a time where I managed a project or had to lead a team on an unpopular decision, I would really struggle to come up with examples as I haven't ever been a leader nor have I ever had to project manage anything. Anyone got any tips for dealing with questions like these I may be asked or has anyone any examples of competency based questions for an executive officer role?

All suggestions gratefully received!

Thanks in advance.

The STAR technique is a good place to start when considering your responses to competency based interviews.

You'll get a question such as "describe a time when..." and then use STAR to impress them.

Situation -> Task -> Action -> Result

Although the new role is in a different sector than your current role, consider the types of questions that might come up.

Examples...

How did you handle conflict in the workplace? How did you convince someone to do something different? How did you try something new and what were the results?

If the new employer is on Glassdoor, you might be able to see the types of questions that they will ask. Or you can look at typical interview questions for the position you've applied for.

But always try to structure your responses in a STAR format.

Thanks so much glasgow1983, I'm familiar with the STAR technique but those are great example Qs. What if conflict is a weakness of mine? For instance, I had an issue in the school I'm in with another teacher who was a bit of a bitch to me- very unfriendly and condescending in her manner. The principal actually got involved because this other teacher 'reported' me and we had to have a discussion that was 'refereed' by the principal. TBH , it was probably one of the more traumatising experiences I've ever had at work. How on earth do I put a positive spin on something like that? I'm fairly conflict averse but mostly I try to avoid it by treating others how I would like to be treated. It doesn't always work though.....

Hi OP. If you're called on to give an example on project management, for example, you'll need to think of one. Surely in your teaching caterer you've had some experience of successfully managing a project? Such as a move to different software for system of learning or a project amongst staff?

If you've got examples that were essentially a disaster from your perspective and can't put a positive spin on it don't use them. Think of something else!

Talk about what you have learned with the conflict one, what would you do different, etc.

Have you been a subject lead/ lead on the implementation of anything? That has parallels with a project based approach

For conflict, could you give an example of managing a difficult parent, for example? i.e. over 14 years I'd guess you'll have met at least one parent who wasn't happy about an aspect of their child's education- how did you resolve it, ensure their child's best interests are being met and manage their expectations to ensure that they continued to trust in you?

Project management- have you managed a school show? An outing? Some kind of other class project where you had to work out prices and have everything organised before a deadline.

Have you had to introduce a change to a class at some stage? Being a teacher in covid times must have led to some suitable examples of introducing new policies and ways of working, and managing pupil and parent expectations while adapting to the new normal.

Have a look at the competencies that you will be tested against, and have a careful think about your work with a objective lens - try not to look at it as teaching, but more at the other essential skills you were using in your work as a teacher.

Thanks guys- that's super helpful! I'm really stressing out here trying to think of examples but that's a good way of putting things in perspective.... and the difficult parent rather than colleague is genius!