Competency: Creative thinking
Describe a time when you generated a new approach to an existing work procedure.
Provide an example of a time when you generated creative ideas to solve a problem.
Describe a time when you implemented an improvement to a process, service or product.
What is the most imaginative or innovative task you have done in your present position?
Tell me about a new business idea that you have had in the last twelve months.
Competency: Vision
Tell me about any strategic planning activity in which you were involved that went well. What was your direct involvement?
What range of issues determines the success or otherwise of your present organisation?
What are some of the goals of your present organisation? What part have you played in setting these?
How far ahead do you plan? Can you give me an example?
Competency: Judgement
When have you included subordinates in your decision making? Tell me about a specific example? How did you incorporate their input?
What is the most significant decision you made in the past year? What alternatives did you consider? Why did you do it that way?
Describe a situation when it was difficult to reach a judgement quickly.
Give me two examples of good decisions you have made in the last six months? What were the alternatives? Why were they deemed to be good decisions?
Competency: Commercial Orientation/Entrepreneurial
Tell me about some successful business initiatives that you have taken in, say, the last five years.
Tell me about a time when you have followed an opportunity that others doubted. What happened?
Provide an example of when you had to reach a quick understanding of the commercial implications of a new issue.
Tell me about a time when you balanced the competing priorities of several stakeholders.
Tell me about a time you suggested a competitive marketing strategy for a business.
Competency: Problem analysis/solving
Describe a time when you critically evaluated information to solve a problem.
What problems are you currently working on that came as a surprise? How much advance notice did you have of the issues?
Outline a particularly challenging analytical problem you undertook or resolved.
Describe a major problem you have encountered in your role? How did you handle it? What steps did you take after you identified the problem?
What sources of information do you use to keep aware of the problems and issues within your organisation?
Describe a time you have had to remain wary of potential problems.
Provide an example of a time when you used a non-standard approach to solve a problem.
Competency: Numerical analysis
What figures do you think about every day? Tell me more?
What numerical analyses do you run through fairly routinely in your work?
What numbers give critical signs of the well-being of your organisation or department?
Tell me about a time you had to undertake considerable figure work. Did you enjoy it?
Back: Competency-based interviews
Next: CBI : People & organisational competencies
