Popular Interview Questions Archives

What do employers look for in competency interviews?

Laura-McGrath
January 27, 2023
Competency Interview, Problem Solving, conflict, influencing, communication, Dealing with failure, Leadership skills, working under pressure

Competency questions are still hugely popular and form part of most interviews. Whilst recent research has questioned their value in predicting success in fast moving environments (Harvard Business Review Feb 10th 2016), you’d be well advised to anticipate competency questions and have examples to hand.

Here’s a few things to consider in the lead up to your interview:
Be strategic with your examples:

Review the last 5 years in your job, identify your biggest wins and build your examples around them. Choose examples that most closely align with your target role. For promotion interviews, try to choose examples where you’ve already “acted up” in your role – eg where you’ve deputised for your manager or taken a lead role in a project.

Influencing / Communication Skills

Laura-McGrath
December 12, 2022
Communication Skills, Competency Question, influencing skills, popular interview questions

Fashion touches every aspect of our lives – our latest phone model, hair style, colours we wear, music we buy…. The recruitment sector is no different and is subject to “what’s hot and what’s not”. So what are the latest interview trends and how do you best adapt your style to beat the competition?

Women in Leadership, Interviewing for Executives, Popular Interview Questions, Re-energise your job search

Salary Negotiation – 4 tips

Laura-McGrath
November 30, 2022
Salary Negotiation

Negotiating salary is an exercise that many people find uncomfortable, even in a buoyant market. It is worthwhile remembering that regardless of the economic climate, good candidates are always hard to find. An employer is looking for a specific combination of qualities – relevant work experience, technical and IT skills, cultural fit, ability to fit in with the team – so when they identify their preferred candidate they are usually willing to negotiate on salary. With this in mind, how can you increase your influence at the negotiating table?

Problem Solving – Interview questions and answers

Laura-McGrath
November 21, 2022
Problem Solving, competency questions

Competency Interview Questions – Problem Solving

As today’s market place is dominated by uncertainty, employers are placing an increasingly high value on a candidate’s ability to problem solve, show sound judgement and make quick decisions.

Interviewing for Executives, Popular Interview Questions

What questions should you ask at the end of an interview?

Laura-McGrath
November 21, 2022

When asking employers for feedback as to how they selected their preferred candidate in a closely run interview contest, the answer often comes down to the quality of questions asked at the end of the interview. Yet whilst preparing for such meetings, job-seekers often neglect spending time in selecting the most appropriate questions to ask.

How to answer the Teamwork competency question

Laura-McGrath
November 21, 2022
Competency Question, teamwork question

Why do employers value team work?

In a recent survey, teamwork and communication skills ranked amongst the top five qualities sought by employers. Many companies are now focusing on team building as a way to differentiate themselves from their competitors in the belief that it will positively impact their bottom line. They recognise that team work brings about synergy – “the sum of the parts being greater than the whole” and if implemented correctly, teambuilding can make a company more productive, increase staff morale and foster innovation.

Interview Questions on Communications Skills

Graduates, Women in Leadership, Interviewing for Executives, Popular Interview Questions, Competency Questions

Interview Questions and answers on Communication Skills

Laura-McGrath
November 13, 2022
conflict, influencing, competency questions, stakeholder management

Once an employer is satisfied that you can do the job, they will focus their attention on your communication skills. Specifically they’ll want to know how you’ll interact with colleagues/ senior management /customers, how skilled you are at resolving conflict and how adept you are in the art of negotiation. By anticipating questions that will be asked, you can prepare examples that show your competency in these areas and prove that you are a great fit for the role.

Graduates, Popular Interview Questions

How to answer the interview question – “What are your strengths?”

Laura-McGrath
November 13, 2022
competency questions, what is your biggest weakness, Tell me about yourself

Although it is impossible to anticipate every interview question– being asked to describe your strengths is an old favourite and should be prepared for. As part of the recruitment process, employers will already have identified the essential qualities required in a prospective employee and by showing that your strengths compliment the job requirements, you will immediately stand out from the crowd.

Graduates, Popular Interview Questions

How to answer the interview question “What is your Greatest Weakness?”

Laura-McGrath
November 13, 2022
competency questions, Tell me about yourself, What are your strengths

Why is this question asked?

Like so many people, I used to cringe when asked this question and wondered how it could add value to the interview process. After all, nobody in their right mind admits weaknesses in interview – do they?

Interestingly, an employer can learn quite a lot by asking this question. Many times their interest does not lie in identifying the actual weakness…instead they want to see how self aware you are, if you are happy to maintain the status quo or if you are constantly looking for opportunities to learn and develop.

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Category : Popular Interview Questions

What do employers look for in competency interviews?

Top 10 Interview Questions and Answers

Influencing / Communication Skills

Salary Negotiation – 4 tips

Problem Solving – Interview questions and answers

What questions should you ask at the end of an interview?

How to answer the Teamwork competency question

Interview Questions and answers on Communication Skills

How to answer the interview question – “What are your strengths?”

How to answer the interview question “What is your Greatest Weakness?”

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