Give Specific Examples

• Competency-based interview questions are designed to show the hiring manager or future supervisor how you performed at past positions to predict how you will perform at the company. For example, a typical inquiry is, "Tell me about a time that you had three projects due at the same time -- how did you get everything completed?" The interviewer does not want to hear, "I just did everything and turned it in on time." He wants to hear specific things that prove you know how to prioritize your work and understand the importance of meeting deadlines. A better answer is, "I figured out how long each project would take to complete and scheduled a block of time each day to work on each one," or, "I focused more energy on the most time-consuming project and then worked on the easiest one last."
  
  

Give Challenging Situation Examples

• Besides emphasizing your accomplishments at previous jobs, you can impress the interviewer by giving examples of past work situations that were not ideal. For example, according to an article on MSN Career Builder, you should answer one of the interview questions by giving an example of a time you overcame a stressful work situation or how you actually failed at a task, as well as what you learned from it and how it made you a better employee. These kinds of answers show the interviewer that you are human, that you admit your mistakes and that you are the type of employee who wants to improve and grow in his job.
  
  

Stay on Track

• Most competency-based questions ask you to describe a specific past situation. Keep your answers to 90 seconds or less. This helps you stay on track and not go on and on, giving more information than was asked for. According to the United Nations Career website, when answering a question, give your answers in a three-part structure. This three-part structure should include only a brief description of the situation, your specific action and the results of your action.
  
  

Practice Beforehand

• As with all interviews, you'll typically perform better if you practice with a friend or loved one beforehand. For competency-based interviews, you can prepare by writing down specific examples of past work situations and successes. Prepare for standard questions, such as, "Tell me about a time you overcame a challenging work situation." Also, prepare questions for the interviewer. Impress him by asking questions about a recent press release or article about the hiring company.