100 Behavioural Interview Questions and Competencies

These flashcards cover the definition of behavioural interview questions, the STAR response structure, and the 30 specific competencies and skills addressed in the Relaunch Me guide.

Behavioural Question

Any question that asks for an example from your previous experience when you have used a particular skills or competency effectively to get a positive result.

STAR

An acronym used to structure behavioural interview responses: S (Situation) - What was the situation/problem? T (Task) - What did you do to fix the problem? A (Action) - What actions did you take? R (Result) - What was the result of your action?

Accountability

The competency focused on owning mistakes, meeting deadlines, and learning from high-pressure situations or missed solutions to problems.

Ambition

The drive to set high goals, overcome obstacles to achieve them, and identify one's greatest professional achievements.

Attention to Detail

The ability to manage projects requiring absolute precision and using focused observation to uncover errors.

Commercial Acumen

The ability to keep up to date with industry trends, anticipate organizational shifts, and identify opportunities to gain advantages over competitors.

Communication

The skill of adapting verbal/written tools for specific audiences, handling being misunderstood, and presenting complex or sensitive information simply and effectively.

Conflict Resolution

The use of skills to settle disputes between colleagues, handle disagreements with superiors, or manage irate customers.

Culture Fit

The competency identifying how an individual contributes to improving workplace culture and their sense of belonging within an organization.

Customer Service

Building relationships, handling unreasonable requests, and going above and beyond to solve customer issues through personal effort or collaboration.

Decision Making

The process of making difficult, unpopular, or expert-level decisions, including instances where information may be insufficient.

Diversity

The intentional effort to understand issues from different cultural perspectives and working effectively with people from different backgrounds.

Flexibility & Adaptability

The capacity to handle major changes at work, adapt to difficult situations, and complete projects without all expected resources.

Influencing / Negotiation

Using communication and persuasion to achieve win-win situations or to convince resistant stakeholders to adopt a different train of thought.

Initiative

Taking the lead to improve operations, services, or products, and doing work that extends beyond the official job description.

Innovation

The creation of out-of-the-box solutions to problems, especially when faced with restricted resources.

Integrity / Ethical Dilemma

The display of honesty and ethical standards when challenged or when asked to perform a task one does not agree with.

Leadership

The ability to motivate others, empower a team to achieve strategic goals, and take charge of projects regardless of formal role/title.

Manageability

The ability to conform to policies you disagree with, manage-up your boss, or appropriately challenge a superior's stance.

Organisation & Time Management

The skill of prioritizing tasks, managing conflicting deadlines, and effectively organizing work during very busy periods or last-minute assignments.

Organisational Change

Managing resistance to shifts within a company and extracting lessons from change management processes.

Planning & Project Management

Managing projects end-to-end using specific methods, developing comprehensive plans, and adapting them mid-execution when necessary.

Presentation Skills

The ability to influence opinions or convey tailored information to audiences regardless of their size.

Problem Solving

The use of judgment, logic, and analytical abilities to address complex situations or identify obvious solutions previously missed.

Relationship Building

Developing key client relationships, understanding others' needs, and converting difficult stakeholders into allies.

Resilience

The ability to bounce back from significant work-related setbacks, disappointments, or negative feedback.

Results-Focused

Going above and beyond the call of duty to achieve goals and responding effectively to sudden, unplanned project delays.

Stakeholder Management

Establishing critical working relationships and developing trust and respect with internal or external stakeholders to reach a goal.

Stress Management

The use of strategies and coping skills to handle high-pressure or stressful work situations.

Teamwork

The capacity to work with people of different leadership styles, handle being misunderstood by a group, and maintain professionalism with disliked individuals.