What are the top 5 questions to ask a candidate?
John Johnson
Updated on March 24, 2026
The Top 15 Interview Questions to Ask Job Candidates
- What do you know about our company, and why do you want to work here?
- What skills and strengths can you bring to this position?
- Can you tell me about your current job?
- What could your current company do to be more successful?
What are your key competencies?
List of key competencies
- Business awareness. Knows what we do and how we do it.
- Customer orientation. Identifies and prioritises customer needs and recognises constraints.
- Analysis/problem solving.
- Quick thinking/learning.
- Team work.
- Communication.
- Self confidence/resilience.
- Judgement/decision making.
What do you mean by competency based interview?
What is a competency-based interview? A competency-based interview is an interview in which questions are used to determine how you handled tasks, challenges and other aspects of your previous or current job. Interviewers will use competency-based questions to inquire about specific examples in which you demonstrated various skills …
Which is the best example of a competency based question?
If you find yourself struggling to think of any prior experiences which are relevant to the question asked, give a hypothetical answer and describe what you would do if a similar situation were to occur in the future. “Tell me about a time when you failed to complete a task or project on time, despite intending to do so.”
How many questions should I ask in a competency interview?
Typically you should expect from 1 to 3 questions per competency with additional probing questions. These will draw out the information necessary to establish whether a candidate will be likely to fulfil the needs of the job.
How are competencies used in the selection process?
They may also be referred to as Behavioural Interviews or simply Competency Interviews. Originally seen as a way to measure performance and help with training and development, the use of competencies are widely used in the selection and recruitment process.
