Prepare answers to these 7 skills-based interview questions

Interviewing for a new job can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re unsure about what questions you might face. A hiring manager might use the skills-based interview format if they’re comparing many different candidates or hiring for a role that requires specific skills. Understanding what to expect in this type of interview and what questions you might ask can help you feel more prepared when sitting down with the interviewer.

What is a skills-based interview?

A skills-based interview, also called a structured, behavioral, situational, or competency interview, helps test certain applicants’ skills. An interviewer conducting this type of interview typically prepares a list of questions, focusing on a particular skill. The answer allows the interviewer to compare each applicant’s skill set against predetermined criteria.

Suppose an employer knows what skills are needed to succeed in a particular position. In that case, a skills-based interview can help them determine whether candidates fit the job description and can handle the responsibilities. The guiding principle behind this interview type is that an individual’s past behavior is an accurate predictor of future job performance.

What skills do employers look for in skills-based interviews?

An employer might look for various skills when conducting this type of interview. Some of the more common key competencies that may be desirable in candidates include:

• Leadership skills
• Decision-making skills
• The ability to work in a team
• Problem-solving skills
• Communication skills
• Flexibility
• The ability to manage time effectively

Some hiring managers may also ask questions that allow you to demonstrate your values, such as whether you are honest, trustworthy, or reliable at work.

Skills-based interview questions

When you go in for a skills-based interview, the interviewer might ask you questions about your abilities and how your experience has helped you build these skills. Some of the most commonly asked skills-based interview questions include the following:

Describe how you contributed positively to a team you were part of in a previous role.

When asked about your contributions to a team, think of a situation in which you worked well with co-workers to achieve a shared goal. Include specific details that demonstrate your ability to work with a team, such as when you held yourself accountable or led your team to success.

Have you ever worked with someone difficult to get along with, and how did you handle that situation?

You will likely encounter individuals who have ideas and opinions that differ from your own in any workplace setting. It’s essential to demonstrate that you can put your differences aside and collaborate effectively with people you don’t necessarily get along with or even like to be around. Discuss a situation in which you maintained professionalism with a challenging co-worker to continue to achieve the team goals.

How do you apply creativity in your work?

Creativity is a skill that can be challenging to pinpoint during an interview. A skills-based interview question allows you to demonstrate how you applied creative thinking to solve a problem or develop a solution to a problem.

What is your most significant achievement in the workplace?

Talking about your achievements professionally and humbly can help an interviewer understand your confidence and ability to lead others. When answering a question about your most significant achievement, consider how you can back up the answer with solid data.

For example, if you set up a feedback system to encourage customers to interact with an organization and provide their thoughts, talk about how the creation of this system improved customer service scores or loyalty rates. Use numerical data whenever possible, such as a percentage increase in satisfaction rates or a decrease in customer wait times.

Describe a situation in which you had to adapt to change in the workplace.

Flexibility and adapting to change are vital skills in many roles. In specific industries, processes and tools change rapidly, so an interviewer needs to know if an applicant can handle that level of change. When answering a question about how you adapt to change, try to think about a situation where you faced a sizable disruption to how you managed your responsibilities. Provide specific examples of how you handled the change positively and professionally, such as:

• Adjusting your everyday processes
• Enrolling in a training course to learn how to use a new program more effectively
• Collaborating with team members to increase productivity or adapt to the updated processes
• Trusting in the leadership team that chose to make the change

How do you manage interruptions?

A question about managing interruptions during your day helps the interviewer assess your ability to adapt to a particular situation. Since emails, phone calls, and meeting requests bombard many workers, it’s essential to know how you might respond if someone interrupts you and asks for assistance with a different project than what you’re focusing on during your workday.

How do you respond if a colleague points out an error you made?

Mistakes are part of life, but specific skills can minimize them from happening, while other skills play a role in how you react to your errors. When talking about an instance in which a co-worker pointed out a mistake, highlight your ability to pay close attention to detail by emphasizing the steps you take to avoid making errors in your work. You might describe your editing process or how you review projects before submitting them for approval.

Tips to prepare for a skills-based interview

Before you go into the interview:

1. Review the job description thoroughly and note the necessary skills for the position.
2. Consider any past experiences you may have had that relate to those skills and think about each situation and how you handled it.
3. Write down some of your past accomplishments in previous roles that you can draw on when asked specific questions about particular skills and how you have demonstrated your competency.

The STAR method for answering questions is helpful in this type of interview. STAR refers to “situation, task, action, and result.” As you consider how to answer a question that demonstrates a particular skill, think about a situation that applies and what task you faced requiring you to build or improve on that skill. Describe the action you took and what the result was to give a concise and valuable answer to the question.

Although it’s impossible to know what questions you’ll face during a skills-based interview, you can prepare for some of the most common questions and consider situations in which you built or strengthened specific skills. As you prepare for this type of interview, you can feel more confident and ready to talk about your past experiences that are fresh in your mind. When you’re prepared to ace your next skills-based interview, you’ll demonstrate that you’re a qualified candidate who is confident about yourself, your knowledge, and your abilities.

Be sure to sign up for CareerBuilder email alerts so that you can receive breaking news about hiring industry trends and the latest job news information.

More tips for a successful interview:

Get ready for another type of interview by reviewing these interview questions to expect and prepare to answer.

Here are 10 tough interview questions to expect and how to answer them.

After answering all your questions, consider the best questions to ask in an interview.