Here Are Sample Competency Interview
Questions So You Know What To Expect

On an earlier page we introduced competency based interviews, gave tips on how to answer them and promised you some example interview questions.

On this page we look at how interviewers might assess your Flexibility and Adaptability in the workplace.

Most employers want you to be flexible and adaptable, so it's worth taking a look at the questions. But if you're sure these qualities aren't required for the job you're applying for, go back to our list of competences and read about competences relevant to your job. We have many.

What Do Employers Look For?

When assessing your flexibility and adaptability, interviewers look for past evidence that you can:

• Respond positively and quickly to unexpected business demands
• Adapt your approach to achieve an objective in the event of changing conditions, new information or unexpected problems

Example Competency Interview Questions for Flexibility/Adaptability

Here are some example competency interview questions covering Flexibility/Adaptability. In-between the main questions are examples of probing questions you might be asked if your interviewers want more information.

• Tell us about the biggest change that you have had to deal with

- What was the change?
- How did you cope with it?

• Describe a time when you modified your plans at the very start of a task or project following new information

- What was the new information?
- How did you modify your plans?
- Was it the right thing to do?

• Tell me about a time when you had to change your approach during a project or task in the light of new information

- What was the new information?
- What were the implications?
- How did change your approach?
- What was the result?

• Give me an example of when your project or task suffered a setback

- What was the setback?
- How did you react?
- What action did you take?
- How would you prevent the setback next time?

• Tell me about a time when you were asked to do something you had never done before

- How did you react?
- What did you learn?

• Tell me about your best and worse colleagues

- How do you ensure success with such differences?

• If we gave you a new project to lead, how would you decide how to approach it?

- What steps would you take?
- Who would you talk to?

• Describe a time when you had to vary your work speed to accommodate changes in the workload

- What did you do?
- How did it make you feel?
- What was the end result?

• Tell me about a situation when you had to re-prioritize your tasks suddenly

- Why was this?
- How did you cope?
- What was the impact?

Other Competency Interview Questions

We have other example competency questions covering such things as Energy and Drive, Management and Leadership, Creativity and Innovation and so on. Simply return to the list of competences and find relevant one for the job you're applying for. We have a lot to choose from.

There are also tips on how to answer competency interview questions which you may find useful.

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