10 Competency Questions You Must Prepare For (Expert Answers Inside)

Competency-based questions are now used by nearly every major employer, especially in online assessments, video interviews, graduate programmes, consulting, finance, FMCG, and tech.

This guide explains exactly what they are, why they matter so much, and includes 10 long, high-quality example answers that candidates can use to practise.

What Are Competency-Based Questions?

Competency-based questions, also called behavioural interview questions, require you to describe a real past experience that demonstrates a specific skill.

Employers ask them because your past behaviour is the strongest predictor of your future performance.

They typically begin with:

• “Tell me about a time when…”
• “Describe a situation where…”
• “Give an example of…”

Instead of hypothetical answers (“I would do X”), competency questions demand evidence, such as:

• teamwork
• leadership
• communication
• resilience
• stakeholder management
• problem-solving
• adaptability

How to Answer Competency Questions (The STAR Method)

The STAR Method is the gold standard for answering competency questions clearly and professionally.

S — Situation

Provide context briefly.

T — Task

What was your role or goal?

A — Action

What you did, the most important part.

R — Result

What happened + what you learned.

Pro tip: Add a short reflection at the end (“What I learned was…”). Recruiters love this.

10 Practice Competency Questions (With Long, High-Quality Model Answers)

Below are 10 professionally written examples.

These reflect what top employers expect in online assessments, HireVue interviews, and graduate programs.

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Question 1 Teamwork

“Tell me about a time you worked with a difficult team member.”

⭐ Model Answer:

S: During a university consulting project, one team member consistently missed deadlines, causing delays and frustration.
T: As project coordinator, it was my responsibility to ensure we progressed smoothly.
A: I decided to speak with him privately rather than in front of the team. I approached the conversation with curiosity, not confrontation. He explained he was overwhelmed with other commitments and unclear on what was expected. Together, we broke his tasks into smaller steps, clarified responsibilities, and agreed on mini-deadlines. I also set up a shared tracker so everyone could monitor progress transparently.
R: His performance improved significantly, team morale stabilised, and we delivered the project on time with a high distinction.

Reflection: I learned that early communication and empathy prevent small issues from becoming team-wide problems.

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Question 2 Leadership

“Describe a situation where you had to take the lead unexpectedly.”

⭐ Model Answer:

S: During an internship, my supervisor was unexpectedly absent the week a major client presentation was due.
T: With no clear direction and a tight deadline, someone needed to coordinate the team.
A: I organised a quick stand-up meeting to clarify what had been completed and what remained. I divided tasks based on everyone’s strengths, created a timeline, and checked in regularly to ensure support. I also communicated with the client to manage expectations and confirm final delivery details.
R: We delivered a clear, professional presentation and received positive feedback from the client and my manager.

Reflection: I learned that leadership is not about hierarchy but about stepping up, providing clarity, and enabling others to perform.

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Question 3 Problem-Solving

“Give an example of a complex problem you solved.”

⭐ Model Answer:

S: At a part-time job in retail, customer complaints increased due to long checkout queues.
T: My manager asked me to analyse the issue and propose solutions.
A: I collected timing data during peak hours, mapped the process, and identified a bottleneck where staff were manually entering discount codes. I suggested pre-loading common discounts into the system and reorganising staff rotations. I presented my findings with estimated time savings.
R: The changes reduced queue time by 35% and customer satisfaction scores increased noticeably.

Reflection: I realised the value of data-driven problem-solving, even in non-technical environments.

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Question 4 Adaptability

“Tell me about a time you had to adapt quickly to a challenging situation.”

⭐ Model Answer:

S: While working on a group assignment, the university unexpectedly changed the submission format two days before the deadline.
T: As the person responsible for formatting, I needed to adjust immediately.
A: I reviewed the new requirements, created a conversion plan, reassigned small tasks to teammates, and communicated progress clearly. I also updated our professor to confirm we understood the new guidelines.
R: We submitted on time with no penalty, and our project received high praise.

Reflection: This taught me that adaptability relies on clear communication and calm prioritisation.

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Question 5 Communication

“Tell me about a time you had to communicate something difficult.”

⭐ Model Answer:

S: During a student society event, a vendor unexpectedly cancelled on short notice.
T: I had to inform the team and manage disappointment while finding a solution.
A: I communicated the issue openly, explained the implications, and presented two alternative vendors I had researched. I encouraged discussion rather than panic and delegated tasks clearly once we chose a replacement.
R: The event ran smoothly, attendance was high, and we even saved costs compared to the original vendor.

Reflection: I learned that delivering difficult information goes best when paired with calmness, transparency, and proactive solutions.

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Question 6 Resilience

“Describe a setback you experienced and how you handled it.”

⭐ Model Answer:

S: I applied for a competitive scholarship and was rejected, despite months of preparation.
T: I wanted to understand what went wrong and improve.
A: I requested feedback, identified weaknesses in my leadership examples, and enrolled in a volunteering leadership programme. I also reapplied the following year with stronger evidence and a clearer narrative.
R: The second time, I was shortlisted and gained valuable leadership experience regardless of the result.

Reflection: This experience taught me that resilience is not just persistence, it’s the ability to transform failure into structured growth.

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Question 7 Integrity & Accountability

“Tell me about a mistake you made and what you learned.”

⭐ Model Answer:

S: In my internship, I misinterpreted a client brief and created materials with incorrect figures.
T: It was essential to correct the error quickly and maintain trust.
A: I took responsibility immediately, informed my manager, corrected the numbers urgently, and implemented a checklist to confirm client data before starting future tasks.
R: The client appreciated our transparency, and my manager praised my accountability.

Reflection: I learned that owning mistakes strengthens trust far more than hiding them.

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Question 8 Collaboration & Inclusiveness

“Describe a time you worked with people from different backgrounds.”

⭐ Model Answer:

S: In a group project, team members came from five different countries with varying communication styles.
T: I wanted to ensure everyone’s perspective was heard.
A: I suggested we create a structure for discussions, with equal speaking time and shared notes. I encouraged quieter members to contribute and clarified decisions to avoid misunderstandings.
R: Our project won an award for best analysis, largely due to our varied perspectives.

Reflection: I learned that inclusive collaboration produces richer insights and stronger outcomes.

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Question 9 Decision-Making

“Tell me about a time you had to make a decision with limited information.”

⭐ Model Answer:

S: As part of a case competition, we had to choose a marketing strategy without full customer data.
T: Someone needed to make a decision to progress.
A: I analysed the limited data we did have, identified key assumptions, evaluated risks, and recommended the strategy with the highest potential impact. I also communicated our assumptions clearly in the presentation.
R: The judges praised our structured reasoning, and we placed second.

Reflection: I learned that good decision-making is about clarity, logic, and transparency — not having perfect information.

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Question 10 Purpose & Sustainability

“Give an example of when you contributed to a positive or meaningful impact.”

⭐ Model Answer:

S: As part of a volunteering group, we noticed food waste was high at our campus cafeteria.
T: I led a small initiative to reduce waste and redirect excess food.
A: I coordinated with cafeteria staff, created collection points, partnered with a local shelter, and promoted awareness through posters and social media.
R: We donated over 200 meals in the first month and reduced daily waste significantly.

Reflection: This reinforced my belief that small, organised actions can create meaningful impact — a mindset I bring into every role.

Final Tips for Mastering Competency Questions

✔ Prepare 6–8 STAR stories
✔ Match your examples to the company’s values
✔ Keep your answers structured and reflective
✔ Practise out loud, because clarity matters
✔ Use real experiences, not generic statements

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