What is a Competency Based Interview & How Can I Prepare?

Competency-based interviews (CBIs) are designed to assess how you’ve handled situations in the past, because past behaviour can be a strong predictor of future performance.

Expect questions like:
▪️ “Tell me about a time you led a team through a challenging project.”
▪️ “Describe a situation where you had to influence a stakeholder.”

Each question links back to a core competency, such as leadership, problem-solving, adaptability, or communication.

Use the STAR method to prepare:

▪️SITUATION: Set the scene

▪️ TASK: What needed to be done

▪️ ACTION: What you did

▪️ RESULT: What was achieved

Re-read the job description and identify which competencies are key. Prepare 4–5 strong examples that you can adapt to different questions.

In Executive Search, we use competency-based interviews all the time, and a strong, structured answer can set you apart.

Check out our Interview Guide to dig deeper in preparing for Interviews.