Understand competency-based interviews
The questions are about what you actually did, not what you would have done. "Tell me about a time you handled a conflict in your team" is a typical question.
Use the STAR method
Structure each answer in four parts. It keeps your answer short and concrete.
- Situation – where were you and what happened
- Task – what was your responsibility
- Action – what did you do, step by step
- Result – what was the outcome, ideally with figures
Prepare four stories
Have four situations ready: a problem you solved, a conflict you handled, something you learned quickly, and something that went wrong and what you did about it.
Questions to ask in return
An interview goes both ways. Have your own questions ready.
- What does a typical working day in this role look like?
- What sets apart someone who does the role well from someone who does it adequately?
- What does the induction look like in the first few weeks?
- What's the next step in the process and when will you be in touch?