A competency-based interviews present you, in advance, with a precise list of competencies on which you need to prepare suitable answers.

These answers need to be evidence based and drawn from your previous experience. For example, if you're asked about your organisational and planning ability, it is not enough to answer that you simply have these attributes. You need to go on and give more specific evidence outlining your relevant experience. Describe a project you managed where you used your planning and organisational skills in order to deliver the project effectively. Give a brief insight into the project and what it achieved.

Go a stage further and show what you learned from the project, how you approached it, what your priorities were and the insights you developed. In other words, what were the things you did that show you managed the project effectively?

Also, you need to make connections between your experience and how you will apply it to the new job. Show how your experience is relevant to the job in question, and highlight the benefits to the employer.

Be clear and to the point in your replies - any one answer shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes to deliver - remember you will only have a specific amount of time allocated to you, so make sure every moment counts.

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