Competency Interview Questions

The analogy here is like this: Veeru has 20 lt of petrol and he uses 1 lt per each day and consumes it in 20 days. If he uses 1.25 lt every day, in how many days it will be consumed?
We considered 1.25 lt here because it’s 25% more than 1 lt.

The answer would be  20/1.25=16 days.

The interviewer is attempting to assess how closely your ideal fits with the reality of their organisation. A positive work environment makes employees feel good about coming to work, and this provides the motivation to sustain them throughout the day. When you can find the ideal working environment that best suits your work ethics and personality, you will become more productive and lead a fulfilling life.

- Before answering, take into account how their company is structured in terms of work days, formality, small start-up verses large corporation, etc.
- Focus on wanting an environment that allows for the use and growth of your established skills and qualities.
- Highlight your desire to work in a team-oriented workplace.
- Talk about your work-style and that it blends in well with the company’s vision.

Firstly I will understand the exact problem they are going through and depending on the intensity of the problem I will suggest them. But at any given time, a client’s problem is of utmost importance and having a happy client would be important for the organization. Even my manager and an associate will understand it.

When communicating complex ideas, you keep your message simple and straightforward – avoiding technical jargon and overusing statistics. You don’t expect people to have the same background knowledge as you and are careful to introduce your idea in clear, concise terms. You find that giving examples, using pictures and graphs helps clarify difficult concepts and can be useful as people have different learning styles. You always encourage questions and if somebody is having difficulty understanding, you are quick to adapt your style.

I have had many disappointments, like the majority of the  people have, but I agree that we can learn from all the experiences we have got in life  and that the accomplishments, as well as the disappointments, make us better and stronger able to deal with many distinctive  situations.

Sample Response :

While attending college, I also worked at a law firm. I was successful because I practiced good time-management skills, and I made a to-do list every day. As I completed each task, I checked it off the list. It is funny how something so simple can keep you so organized. As a result of my to-do lists, I was able to visualize my daily progress.

Strategy Statement: 

The interviewer is interested in knowing how you are able to perform in a workplace where you are not the one who is ‘making the calls’. The typical workplace environment involves a tiered structure where there are those who make the decisions and those who perform the work. An entry level position most often assumes the role of the latter. 

Sample Response: 

I am a performer of tasks. As a new employee, I understand that many of my duties will be directed by those above me. These will undoubtedly involve changes, and as long as I understand how the changes are related to the betterment of the company/business/corporation, I am fully ‘on board’. I once worked for a corporation where one of my duties was to prepare the annual report. As a result of input from the overseeing board and members, the format for that report was changed significantly. Although this meant that I had to relearn the report-writing process, with my understanding that this change would mean that the report was more accessible and easy to read, I had no problem with the demands of that change.

In your answer, you need to show not only that you are capable of coming up with good ideas, but also that you can persuade other people to give you a chance to put them into action. Describe your most unique idea and initiative that gave the best results for the company. Make sure you highlight your creativity, your results, your diligence and your ability to execute.