Competency-Based Interview Questions: UK Examples and Model Answers

Competency-based (or behavioural) questions ask for real examples from your past: "Tell me about a time when...". UK employers use them across almost every sector, from retail to finance to engineering.

Common competency questions

• Tell me about a time you worked in a team to achieve a goal.

• Describe a situation where you had to deal with a difficult customer or colleague.

• Give an example of when you met a tight deadline.

• Tell me about a time you made a mistake and how you handled it.

• Describe a time you showed leadership.

How to answer: use STAR

Situation, Task, Action, Result. Spend most of your time on the Action (what you did) and finish with a measurable Result where possible.

Preparation tips

• Prepare five to six stories that can be adapted to different questions.

• Use "I" rather than "we" so the interviewer hears your contribution.

• Read the job description and match stories to the key competencies.

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