The competency-based interview is a type of interview that is used to evaluate a candidate’s skills, knowledge, and abilities that are relevant to specific job requirements. Especially for executive positions, these interviews are extremely important because they are at the level of making major decisions and leading people.
1. Strategic Thinking and Planning:
- **Question: Describe a time when you had to develop a strategic plan for a complex project or initiative. What were the major steps taken and what were the results of those steps.
- **Example: “When I was tasked with launching a new product line, I began by conducting a thorough market analysis to identify target customers and their needs. I then developed a detailed marketing plan outlining our target audience, messaging, and distribution channels. The product launch was a resounding success, exceeding our sales projections.”.
2. Leadership and Management:
- **Question: So how do you get your team, how do you get it motivated and how do you get it inspired to go out and perform at a high level.
- **Example: “I think that a work place should be a place where everyone feels needed and wanted and that they can do anything. Because I establish expectations and I give constant feedback as well as reward for the successes. I also promote open communication and cooperation among team members.
3. Decision-Making:
- **Question: A hard career decision that you had to make. How did you balance the advantages and disadvantages, and what did you decide.
- **Example: “When our company was facing a significant financial crisis, I had to make the difficult decision to lay off a portion of the workforce. I looked at the money very delicately and tried to find other ways to save money. Ultimately, I determined that reducing our workforce was necessary to ensure the company’s long-term viability. It was a painful decision, but it was what was best for the company.
4. Problem-Solving and Innovation:
- **Question: Can you share an example of a time when you identified a problem and implemented a creative solution?
- **Example: “When our customer satisfaction ratings began to decline, I conducted a thorough investigation to identify the root causes. I discovered that our delivery times were inconsistent and that customers were frustrated with the lack of communication. So to counteract these problems, I installed a new tracking system, and streamlined our customer service procedures. As a result, customer satisfaction ratings improved significantly.”
5. Communication and Interpersonal Skills:
- **Question: How do you effectively communicate with people from different backgrounds and cultures?
- **Example: ** “I believe in active listening and empathy. I try to see things from others shoes and I try to express myself as clearly and as respectfully as possible. I also enjoy meeting and getting to know people from other backgrounds and cultures.
6. Adaptability and Change Management:
- **Question: Describe a time when you had to adapt to a significant change in your role or organization. How did you go through the transition, and what happened?
- **Example: “When our company underwent a merger, I had to quickly adapt to a new organizational structure and reporting hierarchy. I embraced the change as an opportunity for growth and focused on learning new skills and building relationships with my new colleagues. So the merger went through and I was able to help with the consolidation.
And by asking competency based questions, the interviewer will be able to assess the candidate’s skills, experience, and ability to perform the executive job.
