Competency-Driven Interview Questions - Simmons College

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Sample Behavioral Interview Questions
Analysis and Decision Making
Describe the toughest decision you ever had to make. What factors made it so difficult
Describe a situation when you involved employees in decision making and problem
solving. What criteria did you use to help determine when you let others make the
decision versus you making the decision Support with specific examples.
How do you incorporate gut feelings, intuition, or instinct into your decision-making
process Explain (how, when, and why) using specific examples.
Provide an actual example to describe your decision-making (or problem-solving)
process. Contrast this process when you are under extreme time pressure.
Business Perspective
Have you had to deal with "politics" in your organization Explain. Describe how you
navigate the political landscape.
Describe a time when you crossed organizational boundaries to pursue an opportunity
that had significant organizational implications and results. What was the outcome
Describe how you link your business operating plans with the organization's overall
strategic plans.
How do you stay informed on industry, market, and competitor development What
trends are currently on the horizon that could have a significant impact on your
business
Communication
Does your communication style change under pressure or stress Describe, using
specific examples.
Describe a time when you communicated some unpleasant feelings to your boss. What
was the outcome
What was the toughest communication situation you've had to deal with Discuss.
Have you ever "tuned out" someone in a meeting or conversation Explain.
Creativity and Innovation
Describe a time when you took a calculated risk in the name of improving a process,
product, or outcome.
What would you say has been your most creative or innovative accomplishment in your
last position How did you get "there"
Tell me how you encourage and support creativity and ingenuity at all levels within the
organization.
Tell me about a time when you were creative in solving a customer/technical problem or
meeting what seemed to be an impossible need.
Describe a situation where you had to help others "break their paradigms" so they could
see a problem or opportunity from a fresh perspective.
What do you do to help yourself think "outside the box" and challenge your own
paradigms
Rev. 08/11
Simmons College Career Education Center

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Describe a time when an individual who worked for you took a reasonable risk and
failed. How did you handle the situation Would you do anything differently in
retrospect
Customer Focus
Describe how your understanding of customer's needs has provided a competitive
advantage for your organization in your previous (or current) position.
Tell me about your customer service philosophy or point of view. Describe a particular
situation that demonstrates that you live this philosophy.
What do you stress to your support staff regarding customer service How have you
handled customers who take advantage of PR staff
Describe a situation where you anticipated a changing need of a customer. What was
the result or outcome
Development: Self and Others
Describe how you continually develop your professional competencies.
How frequently do you give your direct reports (or others) feedback Describe a situation
where providing timely feedback had a significant impact on an individual's growth and
development.
Describe how feedback has impacted your development.
In your experience, what has been the most effective method of developing the skills
and capabilities of your employees Elaborate, using examples.
Describe how you delegate assignments. What criteria do you use to determine how far
down you push accountability Use current examples.
What is your passion How is it manifested in your current job
Diversity and Inclusion
How would you describe the meaning of diversity, and what, in your opinion, are the
business reasons for keeping employees focused on the value of encouraging diversity
How do you stay focused (or keep others focused) on diversity
Describe how you work with people who have different backgrounds and interests from
yours. Use specific examples.
What does "respecting the individual" mean to you How do you personally model this
behavior when working with others
Flexibility
Tell me about a time you changed a strongly held point of view. Give a specific example.
Describe a situation when you had to tell your boss "no" or "I can't."
What are your own personal mechanisms for dealing/coping with change Does too
much change ever get the best of you
Influence
What techniques do you use to persuade someone to change his/her mind To
implement a decision they did not participate in To take on a new task or assignment
Describe a time when you had to "negotiate" a solution or agreement with another
individual where there were considerable differences. What was the outcome
Can you be easily influenced or persuaded to change your mind Describe several
situations that explain your answer.
Describe a situation in which you "sold" an idea under a particularly difficult
circumstance.
How do you prepare for a meeting where you know you will receive a great deal of
resistance from people who you need to adopt your specific agenda
Rev. 08/11
Simmons College Career Education Center

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Initiative
Describe a time when you had to be decisive and take action before an opportunity
might be missed.
Do you see opportunities or problems before others do If yes, consider how or why you
can do this.
The famous phrase "carpe diem" means "seize the day." Describe a situation where you
have clearly "seized the day."
Describe several situations where anyone would agree that you demonstrated initiative.
Planning and Prioritizing
How do you plan and organize your day-to-day activities and assignments
Describe how you go about organizing/scheduling your work and the work of others.
Relationship Building
How do you establish and maintain trusting, positive, and productive relationships
Explain, using examples.
Have you faced a situation where your manager gave you a directive to do something in
a way you knew was dead wrong If yes, what did you do If no, what would you do
Describe how you network, both internally and externally.
How do you handle emotional behavior in others Provide several different examples.
Results Orientation
Where have you been most successful in your job or career How do you measure that
success
Describe a particularly difficult project where it was a challenge to get employees to take
ownership and be committed to achieving predetermined objectives. What did you do to
encourage ownership
How do you approach the accountability/responsibility issue with respect to team goals
versus individual performance goals Use examples to demonstrate.
Teamwork
Tell me about a time when you supported another team or organization's decision even
though you personally didn't agree with it.
What specific actions have you taken that foster a productive team environment in your
past positions What do you deliberately do to promote team spirit
What makes a good "team player" How do you deal with those who are not
Tell me about a time when your team's morale was low. What did you do
Technical/Job Expertise
How important is it to be a technical expert in your current position Explain using
specific examples.
How does your technical competence contribute to the success of the
team/organization's vision/mission/objective
Describe how changing technology has impacted your ability to stay technically
competent and how you "keep up."
Tell me about a time when you found yourself without the specific technical knowledge
to perform an essential task or project for a client. What did you do
What technical or job-specific competencies will you need two years from now in order to
remain highly valued and to contribute productively
How do you evaluate technical expertise in others
What do you do to stay up-to-date in your field
Rev. 08/11
Simmons College Career Education Center