All too often, competency-based question give very little away. But so long as your answers demonstrate you have the right skills, character and experience for the job, you can feel confident you’re on the right track. To give you a head start, here’s a run down of the behavioural areas employers probe
Goal setting
Employers want motivation and commitment. Are you ambitious and driven or the type to give up easily?
Communication and people skills
Interacting with people and getting your ideas across is central to the working day. Have you got the people skills to get colleagues working effectively with you or to keep your customers happy
Sticking to policy and procedure
Rules can be really important to the smooth running of a business, especially in large organisations. Are you able to stick to process, both established and new? Can you challenge it where appropriate?
Leadership
If you’re working with junior colleagues it’s important you take a role in fostering their career development. Can you lead teams and what personal skills help you to do so? What’s your management style?
Flexibility
Companies have to be responsive to many factors in order keep up with the competition. How do you handle change or how might you ensure others adapt effectively?
Diplomacy
There will be many work-based situations where you disagree with a colleague. How do you get your point across and respond to people with conflicting opinions?
Decisiveness and judgment
You’ll often encounter situations at work where difficult decisions need to be taken in order for progress to be made. Do you have the confidence and skill to do so?
Autonomy
Employers want individuals who are resourceful and can work without the need for detailed instructions.
Organisational and planning skills
Employers are looking for high productivity. Can you organise your workload so that tasks are done well and on time?
Problem solving
Every day we come across obstacles of varying scales. How do you approach problems and implement solutions?
Creativity
This isn’t about whether you’ve mastered oil painting. Businesses need people with ideas who can contribute to a progressive vision.
Risk taking
Risk taking is important in business as the rewards can be high. Employers want confident individuals who can calculate risk and reward and proceed accordingly.
Stress
Performing well under stressful situations is important for many roles. Can you keep a clear head and think on your feet?
Initiative
Employees who go above and beyond their day to day tasks are gold dust. An employer wants individuals who can use their initiative and come up with ideas they might not think of.
Teamwork
Very few professions require individuals to work in isolation. It’s important you can work towards a common goal with a team of colleagues as well as contribute on an individual level.
Courtesy: TotalJobs.com