How to answer competency-based questions

starWhen answering competency-based questions, either on an application form or in an interview, consider the STAR model, as outlined on the Pure Potential website www.purepotential.org.

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Situation: Give a brief description of the situation and context of the story (who, what, where, when, how).

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Task: Explain the task you had to complete, highlighting any specific challenges or constraints (e.g. deadlines, costs, other issues).

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Action: Describe the specific actions that you took to complete the task. Always start with how you planned ahead, whatever the task. Then go on to describe the actions you took, highlighting desirable traits without stating them (initiative, intelligence, dedication, leadership, understanding, etc.).

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Result: Close with the result of your efforts and include statistics to quantify the result if possible. Furthermore, and perhaps most importantly, what new skills have you learnt from the experience that you can apply to the role you are applying for?

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Information on this page is adapted from: http://www.purepotential.org/careers-advice/competency-questions/