If you know that you have a competency-based interview coming up then there’s a high chance that you’re a little nervous. You may feel as though you don’t know how to answer the questions, or even that you just don’t feel as though you’re going to pass with flying colours. Either way, we’ve compiled some top tips that will help you to ace your next interview.

Find out what your Employer is Looking For

The first thing that you need to do is figure out the competencies that your employer is looking for. There are a few ways that you can do this, such as reading the job description and looking for keywords or even scanning for any information that seems to be emphasised. When you’ve done that, look online for any other descriptions that list the skillset required. It also helps to do some research so you can find out if there are any skills that your potential company is lacking. This will give you the chance to build your skills around that. As a final step, try and ask the person who arranged the interview if they can provide you with any extra information regarding the employer’s requirements.

Identify Examples

If you know what your employer is looking for, try and find an example from your work history that fits the bill. You also need to prepare examples that are positive and that show off your previous successes. This won’t be easy, and it’s something that a lot of candidates struggle with, but you will be at a huge advantage if you are able to do this well.

Tell a Story

It’s so important that you tell a story when you are giving your answer. Break your answer down in sections and then make sure that each part is useful, tailored and full of information. Make sure that you sound natural when you say it and also keep a positive tone throughout. It’s important that you try and emphasise how you contributed to the overall successful outcome in the story that you tell too, so your potential employer can get an all-round idea of your skills.

Pick the Right Story

Listen carefully to what your potential employer is asking before you start to answer. This will help you to make sure that you answer the questions properly. You may also need to adapt the focus of your story sometimes and you may also need to give an example too. If you are uncertain about how to answer a question, then it helps to seek some clarification before you begin. You may end up surprising them and there is nothing at all wrong with this. Sometimes you may even be asked a follow-up question too, so make sure that you understand the scope and be prepared to elaborate to see if you can score some more points. This will show that you are competent, and it will also help you to boost your chances of securing the job.