Looking for advice for Interview for HR Dept in local council- already doing the job on temporary basis

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Hi so I have been working at my local council in their HR dept for around 8 weeks now. The opportunity for permanent role has come up for which I have been shortlisted. Colleagues had said they would give me some hints and tips but unfortunately nobody has and the interview is on Friday 🤯🤯. All I know is it’s competency based, someone said to look at competencies on the job description which I have…. I honestly don’t know where to start. I worked for a private small family firm for 18 years so I have next to no interview experience. I am really panicking now and would love some hints and tips. Thanks

Competency based means they will ask you give examples of when you have done X or Y. They will expect you to say, boradly:

• the issue/problem
• the action you took
• the outcome (good moment for learnings)

In HR you may have to deliver bad news: Give me an example when you had to deliver bad news to a colleague who was not expecting it and reacted badly, how did you deal with it and what was the outcome.

So you look through the job spec and identify what questions like that they might ask and think of some examples.

My biggest advice to my team (and for myself) is:

• have a glass of water so if you need thinking time you can take a sip (you should be allowed to think on occasion anyway, but he water I find calming and also seems natural rather than an awkward pause)
• take notes of the question so you can refer back if you go off tangent

Most interviews are now based on the STAR formula. For each of the competencies write down an example you can give in the interview.
-What was situation. Give some background detail. Use "I" not "we" so, "I was contacted because..."
-What was the task. "I did x, y and z." - arranged a meeting, took the minutes, arranged an occy health assessment.

• What was the result, "Due to my actions, x, y and z".
• You can also add on some evaluation - what would you do differently next time? "If I was asked this question again, I would ..."

Good luck!

Thank you so much @LeylaOfCircassiagreqt advice! It’s an HR coordinator role so more of an admin role updating systems etc. yikes I’m nervous, think it’s worse that I know everyone! Wish I was going in as a stranger. Feel like I have spent 2 months trying to prove myself actually doing the job when really that means nothing probably as it will go on my interview. Thanks again

I'm going through an internal process at the moment and know all the interviewers really well. One in fact, worked on a project that I led, so I know what you mean.

I work in an admin type role, and interview for my team. Things we would ask would be around:

• organisation
• dealing with tricky people/situations
• how do you ensure accuracy
• how do you plan your work
• how would you manage two tasks with the same short deadline etc

But PP is correct, STAR method won't fail you - just allocate an example to each part of the job spec.

Good luck.