Miscellaneous Forum

What is the point of them? Am I the only person who has problems getting my head round the questions, trying to fit them to some obscure event, distant memory ... should I just make up a situation? I am filling in an application form for an admin job, it's a short term 1 year job that pays £15k per annum ... so it's not exactly the dream job. But to get it I have to answer 6 competency based questions ... 250 words per answer. Now, I'm not stupid; I have certificates, a diploma and I'm over half way through an Hons degree, but I am having trouble completing this form. The example answers given are tailored towards management positions and read like stereotypical management waffle ... no help to me at all. By the way, I'm not asking for help, I need to complete the form by tomorrow so I'll just write a load of cr*p. As for competency based interviews, I've had just too many bad experiences of these and will not consider applying for a job if it entails attending such an interview. I can remember one interview where I was asked the question 'could you tell us about an instance when you portrayed your business in a positive way?' I couldn't think of an answer to that, all I could remember was whenever anyone asked me if it was good working for the Civil Service my immediate answer was 'no!' Anyone else find these REALLY annoying? Does anyone think they ensure that employers get the right person for the job? Is it worth me getting so stressed out over an application for a £15k temporary job? :-(

I think that in such a situation the facts are best:

You are just beginning your professional career.

You have not yet had the amount of experience that might permit you to have had such a situation arise, but if it did, then you would probably do......

Yes, do waffle, waffle waffle. It works wonders.

Turn the question around and ask: "In your company would it be considered correct to do [such and such]?".

etc.

OH Steve...I empathize with you... coming from an era just before this stuff came in. ...when job selection entailed a little gut feel.

Question such as you encounter in this form are written by birdbrains and are for the birds.

I could write pages on this!

Una has some good advice.
Marg

I feel for you Steve.
I am afraid this waffle does make one cringe but I think it is a necessary evil.

Some say it gives the applicant a chance to give their aspirations a voice.
Others suggest that the one that uses the space to sell themselves gets the carrot.
My thoughts is for it to get a person past the first employment agent.
Having employed people myself, I do look at what a person writes about themselves.

A Decision to employ someone is not an easy one.
The employer needs to make a decision based on past experience, of which most has to be taken at face value,
And Qualifications, which tell little of an individual.

An interview tells a lot to the experienced interviewer.
Written answers may, to some interviewers, have a big part in the reasons for having you at follow up interview.

Good luck.

Chirp!…chirp!…chirp! Oh, let me be a bit more wiser.

Ray has basically answered the question. Competency based questions or behavior based question claims that your past experience (employment or school) is an accurate predictor of how you would perform in future in similar situation. Plus it gives the interviewer a general idea of how well or articulate you are in communication, your thought process, your ability, leadership style, etc.

The best way to answer is what we learned called the STAR methodology:
1. Situation or Task (describe what was the situation or the task that needed to be done)
2. Action (explain your role, what actions or decisions you took)
3. Result or outcome (what was the end result, what happened, who benefited, what did you achieve, etc).

Basically your resume is only showing your asset. It does not show your liabilities :)

For an interviewer they need to dig a bit deeper, and the way you answer, gives a positive “gut” feeling which may land you a job. Secondly interviewers are not looking for admin/clerical role or entry level type people, they want to see the complete picture or potential of where he or she can place teh candidate in future (career planning).

At least this is how I approach when interviewing candidates, and at the end it is gut feeling.

I would suggest search the web to look for behavioral interviewing answers and practice and recall some situations before going for an interview.

Amir
HR practitioner

Thanks all, personally, i would think that my 18 years experience in admin work would tell an employer a lot more about my skills than my ability to answer hypothetical questions about situations that may not have arisen in my past career. Competency based interviews are a nightmare for me, they get me totally confused and I panic :-(. I remember the first competency based interview I had, I first had to sit a literacy and numeracy test which were quite easy, I had been led to believe that if I passed the tests the interviews were to be held on a different day ... so I turned up for the tests in jeans and t-shirt! When I was called for interview afterwards I was totally unprepared and worse, totally unfamiliar with competency based interviews. I stumbled over the first question 'can you tell us about a time when you helped someone?' ... I sat there thinking 'what?!' and I just couldn't answer it, I knew I had helped many people but couldn't recall an instance. I have spent a whole week filling in this application form and will almost certainly not even be selected for an interview (the post is also being advertised internally which means someone already employed within the organisation is bound to get the job). Spending so long on one application means I am not spending any time applying for other jobs ('what would you say your weaknesses were?' ... I can't multi-task!)

I have been unemployed for three years, i want a job, I have many years experience in admin and a list of qualifications in environmental issues but can I get a job? Nope. I apply for all jobs I think I can do and indeed I am obliged to otherwise my benefit money (job-seeker's allowance) could be stopped. But I am tired of it, I am tired of applying for jobs I know I could do with my eyes closed and not even being invited for interview, I am tired of all the effort I put into my CVs and applications. I am tired of the same questions at interviews, the psychological mind game techniques they employ, the condecencing attitude of job centre staff, the general perception by the (employed) public that all the unemployed are lazy, work-shy scroungers ... it's no fun being unemployed, don't try it.

The job market has become very competitive.

The only way to impress is to have a good resume and answers for all the questions asked. The best way to prepare is to list down all the companies you worked for, your job description there, and than list down some key milestones that you achieved, projects you worked on, how you helped people during your work, how you went the extra mile, etc. I have observed that some people will list down grandiose job descriptions and achievements, but when I dug deeper, they fell apart. So an answer to what you have written on your resume should be there.

Some interviewers are also confrontational. They will ask questions (legal) that will place you under lots of pressure. But this is their way of testing how well you cope with pressure. They may pick on some loose ends and will try to make you break. Unfortunately this interviewer’s way of finding the right candidate. So be prepared for it, and identify yourself what these loose ends may be.

I remember my first interview in Pakistan, where the interviewer was the head of HR, and a psychologist as well. He kept confronting me on one aspect of my education (why I didn’t do an MBA, as the position required it). It did bother me after a while, but I kept answering him, and focusing on what I had learned during my undergrad degree, my social and interpersonal skills, how I will contribute, etc. I hated that interview, but now that interviewer is my mentor.

Concerning internal postings, all companies do that. This is a way of motivating employees to apply and grow with the company, as attrition costs are high, both monetary wise, training wise as well as lost-knowledge wise. But that does not mean they will hire internally if they can find the right person externally. Sometimes to get new ideas or fresh blood, employers will hire externally.

I do not want to discourage you because interviews can really put candidates in a nervous position. More interviews you give, the better you will get. Use your unemployment years as your advantage or plus points. Tell them that you got to travel the world, learned about new cultures, met interesting people, which made you a better person, developed a website on VT, etc.

Always look at the bright side of things.

My advice to you again is to explore the web and find out the type of questions that are asked. And have answers ready for these questions. List down your strengths, and your weaknesses (if they say what your weaknesses are, look at it as areas for improvement). And do not be shy to let them know what your weaknesses are and what is being done currently to overcome these.

Behavioral/Competency based interviews have become a norm, and are being used by almost everyone. So you have to be prepared for it.

And before going for the interview, research the company on net and associate yourself with their culture. you can also prepare your own questions based on this research. This shows the management that you came prepared.

Sorry to hear that Steve.

In a job market like this you should assume that although you have experience, so do thousands of others...some may have even more than you.

In these circumstances no employer will give up the chance to get the best qualified beyond the ask.

BUT...even more than that:

An employer needs versatility.
They know that most people who applied can do the job,
but what if one of those has leadership potential?
what if one of those has great communication skills?
what if one has a hunger for going beyond the job?

So I would suggest try to get over your phobias,
You are in a buyer's market.
I am sorry but the employer does not know you.
You need to sell yourself.

You have no choice and if questions like those make you squirm...get over it...the alternative is worse!

To be honest I'd be far better off, not necessarily financially, but certainly happier if I found a way of becoming self-employed. Far better that than having to prostitute myself for some faceless corporate employer, than having to attend one humiliating interview after another, being interviewed by people who have less experience and fewer qualifications than myself. I really don't want to have to put myself through all of this, I'm suffering near chronic stress as it is, it's not worth me jeopardising my health for. No, self employment is the way to go!

I think many of the previous posters have hit the nail on the head: the hypotheticals are all about how fast you can think on your feet and how well you can express yourself. They're also looking for interesting and creative people - those who might answer the questions in a completely unique and "sideways" fashion.

Sounds as if you've gotten yourself stressed out about them to the point that you're in a sweat before they even occur. The trick is to remember that there's no "wrong" answer. Take your time, think about what's been asked, and even ask questions back if what's been posed isn't black and white. Sometimes the ability to do a deep dive for quality information is a desired trait!

And when you answer, look your interviewer directly in the eyes - don't shift in your seat, look away or other wise give the impression that you're nervous. I generally even lean forward in my seat and make eye contact when the question is asked - makes them see that I'm really listening.

All of your interviewers are not so different than you - they all put their pants on one leg at a time. They are just people. Smile at them. Even laugh when something strikes you as amusing - and tell them why. These interviews aren't fun for them either so showing your lighter side (when appropriate) also shows them that you can be easy to work with and bring a sense of camaraderie to the table.

"No, self employment is the way to go!"

May luck follow your endeavours Steve.
I am not sure you might understand how stressful self-employment is.
I hope you do or you might just be throwing yourself from the pan into the fire.

I hate sounding negative Steve, really I do but it sounds like you are making decisions based on frustration.

Complain all you like Steve but it is not a big ask to answer a few questions.
I really cannot see the problem but I fear if you were in front of me in an interview I would be concerned with a person portraying your attitude.

Please believe I am trying to help you.
I have been in busniuss and considering what you have explained today I can read problems in the future if you make the wrong decision.

Perhaps I should stay at arms length from this.
My next post might not be complimentary.

You work for yourself because you have enormous passion, creative ideas and a product you KNOW others need. An excellent network is also a must. Money isn't top of list - you doing it because you LOVE it. And you must love it 24/7.

Be glad that these questions are in written form - you have a chance to think about them. Most of the time they're in a personal interview, and you need to make a split-second decision.

The worst question I've ever been asked was "You're in an elevator with us and have 30 seconds to present us with your views on _______. Ready, go!" It was so contrived and gave the impression that the company was more interested in a fast fix than a well-thought-out answer. The interviewers even hated the question. They rolled their eyes, and one said apologetically, "We didn't write that."

I've been on the other side of the table and have to admit that I do like questions like "what three words would you use to describe yourself?" because they give you a glimpse into the person, quite aside from the CV.