Competency questions for graduate schemes: 13 examples
Competency questions ask for one real example of when you used a skill, usually starting "Tell us about a time…". The same 13 come up again and again, so prepare a bank of six to eight stories you can adapt, and answer each with STAR.
The 13 questions and what they test
| # | The question (common wording) | What it tests | A good example shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tell us about a time you worked in a team to achieve a goal | Teamwork | Your part, and how you helped the group past a problem |
| 2 | Give an example of when you showed leadership | Leadership | Taking charge, organising others, deciding under pressure |
| 3 | Describe a problem you solved | Problem solving | Finding the cause before acting |
| 4 | Tell us about a challenge or setback you overcame | Resilience | What you changed after it went wrong |
| 5 | Give an example of when you used initiative or improved something | Initiative | Fixing something nobody asked you to |
| 6 | Tell us about a time you persuaded someone | Influencing | Listening first, then evidence |
| 7 | Describe working with a difficult person or a disagreement | Working with others | Understanding the other side and finding a fix |
| 8 | Tell us about managing several deadlines at once | Organisation | Planning, prioritising, asking for help early |
| 9 | Tell us about a mistake you made | Honesty and learning | Owning it, fixing it, changing what you do |
| 10 | Describe a time you learned something new quickly | Learning agility | How you learn, not just that you did |
| 11 | Give an example of excellent customer service | Customer focus | Understanding what someone needed |
| 12 | Tell us about explaining something complex to a non-expert | Communication | Starting from what your audience already knows |
| 13 | Give an example of your attention to detail | Accuracy | A check you use and an error it caught |
How to answer any of them
- Pick one occasion. One event, not what you usually do.
- Use STAR. Keep situation and task short; spend most words on your actions (see our STAR method guide).
- Write "I". Say what you did, even in a group.
- End with a result and a lesson. Use numbers only if they're real.
Build a story bank
You don't need 13 different stories. Six to eight good examples, each showing two or three skills, will cover most forms. For each one, note down:
- what happened, when and where
- what you personally did
- what changed, and anything you measured
- which of the 13 skills it shows
Then, for each application, pick the story that best fits each question and rewrite it to the word limit. Try not to use the same story twice on one form.
Example answer
Sam is a fictional second-year mechanical engineering student. The details are invented to show the shape of a good answer. Use your own.
Question 13: Give an example of your attention to detail.
Before our Formula Student intake design went to a supplier, I was asked to do the final check. A mistake at that stage would have meant a wasted part and a missed build deadline. Instead of looking over the drawing, I checked every mounting dimension against the datasheet for the throttle body we'd bought, one at a time, and recorded each check in a table. I found a 2 mm clash between a bolt hole and the throttle body's flange, and we fixed the drawing before it was made. Since then I've used a written checklist for every design I send out, because a check I can't record is a check I might skip.
About 120 words.
Common mistakes
- Describing a habit, not an event. "I'm always organised" isn't an example.
- Too much background. Get to your actions quickly.
- The same story for everything. Recruiters notice when one project covers every skill.
- Invented numbers. You may be asked how you measured them.
- Generic AI answers. Polished but empty answers are easy to spot. Start from your own notes.
FAQs
Are competency questions still used, or have employers moved to strengths questions?
Both are used. Some employers mix competency questions with strengths-based ones, which ask what you enjoy and do well. It's worth preparing for both.
Can I use examples from part-time work?
Yes. Retail, hospitality and caring jobs give strong examples of customer service, teamwork and handling pressure.
How many examples should I prepare?
Six to eight good stories, each covering two or three skills, are usually enough.
Start your next answer from your own examples. Try Aplara free.
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