Position Title/Location: / Requisition Number:
Applicant’s Name: / Date:
Interviewer’s Name:
Instructions:
- Select the competencies and accountabilities from the ACE that you want to assess in the interview and list them in the chart below.
- Select the questions related to the competencies that you will use in the interview(pp. 2-5)and print those pages only to create the interview form.You may also include your own questions for each competency or add questions related to accountabilities; refer to the F-2 Tip Sheet for details.
- Conduct the interview.Begin by reviewing the applicant’s education and experience. Then ask the interview questions and take notes. Close by asking “What questions do you have for us? Use this time to promote the job and the organization. Refer to the F-2 Tip Sheet for additional suggestions for conducting an effective interview.
- Evaluate applicant responses to each question.Each interviewer should independently rateeach interview question at the bottom of the page on their own form. After the interview, ratings may be discussed (and changed if desired). Rating totals for each competency (using all interviewers’ ratings) should be recorded in the table below.
List the competencies/accountabilities evaluated in this interview: / A / B / C
Total
Instructions for Creating the Interview Form
- For the competencies that will be assessed, check the box next to the question(s) that will be used.
- If accountabilities will be assessed, complete the last page of this form. Copy the page as needed.
- Print the forms:
Click [Print]
Enter the page numbers you wish to print under “Pages” (e.g., 1-2, 5, 14, 27); include page 1 for the cover sheet
Enter the number of copies you need
Click [Print button]
Note: Feel free to replace “Describe a time…” with “Please tell us about…” or “Provide an example….”
Pg # PROFESSIONALISM
☐ / 6 / Describe a time when you had to choose between admitting a mistake and maintaining credibility to a client or customer.
☐ / 7 / Describe a time when you have had to defend an organization’s decision to others who did not agree with the decision, even when you did not agree with the decision either.
☐ / 8 / Describe a time when you observed others working in an unprofessional/unethical manner.
☐ / 9 / Describe a time when you were asked to “bend the rules” by a customer (or someone else).
ADAPTABILITY
☐ / 10 / Change in organizations is inevitable. Describe a major change you went through in a job that affected the way you did your job, or changed your responsibilities or goals in a significant way.
☐ / 11 / Sometimes policies exist that we don’t agree with. Describe a time when you disagreed with a new policy or procedure.
☐ / 12 / Describe a time when you had to take action and didn’t have enough time to prepare as much as you would like.
☐ / 13 / Describe a situation when you had to modify an existing plan or otherwise had to change direction in response to a changing situation.
ASSERTIVENESS
☐ / 14 / Describe a time when it was important for you to be assertive and appear confident.
☐ / 15 / Describe the toughest group you have had to get cooperation from.
☐ / 16 / Describe a time when you had to complete a project in which there was very little direction.
ATTENTION TO DETAIL
☐ / 17 / Describe a situation where it was especially important for you to correctly interpret and apply a policy or follow a procedure.
☐ / 18 / Describe a situation where you made an extra effort to ensure that your work was of the highest quality possible.
☐ / 19 / Describe a time when you identified problems that had been previously overlooked.
COMMUNICATION
☐ / 20 / Describe a situation when you had to explain something difficult to someone who did not have your knowledge or background.
☐ / 21 / Describe a difficult or sensitive situation that required careful communication.
☐ / 22 / Describe a situation where you had to be persuasive in an attempt to sell your idea to someone else.
COMPOSURE
☐ / 23 / Sometimes at work we are faced with opposition or hostility. Describe a situation where you experienced this stress.
☐ / 24 / Describe a time when you had to respond to a stressful crisis or emergency situation.
☐ / 25 / Tell me about a time when you recognized that a colleague or employee was upset.
CONFLICT MANAGEMENT
☐ / 26 / Describe a time when you effectively negotiated an outcome that allowed both parties to achieve their goals.
☐ / 27 / Describe a time when you identified potential conflict at work (or school) and prevented it.
☐ / 28 / Describe a situation in which you handled a conflict or confrontation.
☐ / 29 / Describe a time when you were responsible for negotiating something important.
CONTINUOUS LEARNING
☐ / 30 / Describe the things you have done over the past year or so to learn about advances in your discipline or develop new skills.
☐ / 31 / Describe a time when you realized you lacked a skill that you needed to do a task.
☐ / 32 / Describe an occasion when colleagues (or others) sought your advice or experience.
CREATIVITY
☐ / 33 / Describe a situation when you produced an imaginative solution to an on-going problem.
☐ / 34 / In what types of situations have you been least creative? Describe a couple of these situations.
☐ / 35 / Creative ideas may seem good initially but in practice are unusable. Describe a situation when this happened to you.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
☐ / 36 / Describe a time when you had to help a customer who was angry and upset.
☐ / 37 / Describe a time when you put a customer’s (or client’s) needs ahead of your own.
☐ / 38 / Describe a time you dealt with a customer who was different from you (e.g., culture, beliefs, age, disability) and had unique needs.
DECISIVENESS
☐ / 39 / Describe a time when you had to make a decision quickly, but information on which to base your decision was difficult to obtain.
☐ / 40 / Describe a time when you had to defend a decision you made even though others were opposed to your decision.
☐ / 41 / Describe a time when you were rushed to make a quick decision that you later regretted.
☐ / 42 / Describe the toughest, or most complex, decision you have needed to make at work (or school).
DEVELOPING OTHERS
☐ / 43 / Describe a time when you recognized that a coworker (or team member) was having difficulty performing their job.
☐ / 44 / Describe a time when you trained two different people on the same thing.
☐ / 45 / Describe a time when you provided feedback to someone about their performance.
EMPATHY
☐ / 46 / Describe a situation when you needed to deliver negative information (i.e., “bad news”) to someone.
☐ / 47 / Understanding how other people think and feel is often important for getting a job done. Describe a time when your understanding of others had that effect.
☐ / 48 / Describe a time when it was important for you to gather information about someone who had difficulty communicating their needs.
INFLUENCE
☐ / 49 / Describe a time when you attempted to convince multiple people, who each had different perspectives, of an idea or action.
☐ / 50 / Describe a new idea or procedure you implemented that was considerably different from the “usual” approach.
☐ / 51 / Describe a time when you were unable to convince others of the merits of an idea you had.
INFORMATION SEEKING
☐ / 52 / Describe a time when you lacked much of the knowledge or information necessary to get a task or project done.
☐ / 53 / Describe a time when you were asked to complete a task that required the use of information that wasn’t readily accessible.
☐ / 54 / Describe a situation in which you gathered or organized information that was needed by others.
INITIATIVE
☐ / 55 / Describe a situation where you had to see a project or task through to completion even though you faced several setbacks.
☐ / 56 / Describe a time that you went “above and beyond” to reach a goal.
☐ / 57 / Describe a time when you worked especially hard in your current or previous job (or school).
☐ / 58 / Describe a time that you worked toward a challenging goal.
ORGANIZATIONAL AWARENESS
☐ / 59 / Describe the steps you took to go about learning how your current organization works.
☐ / 60 / Describe a situation where you used your knowledge of an organization’s informal “power relationships” to get something done.
☐ / 61 / Describe how you have identified trends (such as technological, economic, political, or social) outside your organization that could impact the organization.
PLANNING & ORGANIZATION
☐ / 62 / Describe how you personally organize yourself when you have a lot of work and don’t think you’ll be able to get it done.
☐ / 63 / Describe the last project plan you had to prepare (or event you had to organize, or piece of work you had to create).
☐ / 64 / Describe a time when you missed a deadline.
PROBLEM SOLVING
☐ / 65 / Describe a situation in which you identified a problem, and evaluated alternatives to make a recommendation or decision.
☐ / 66 / Describe a time when you failed to handle a problem or situation effectively.
☐ / 67 / Describe an occasion when your past experience and existing skills were of little help to you in solving a problem.
☐ / 68 / Describe a situation in which you needed to carefully analyze and interpret information.
RELATIONSHIP BUILDING
☐ / 69 / Describe a time when you were able to use your contacts to further the efforts of your organization.
☐ / 70 / Describe a situation where an individual from outside your work unit (or in different organizations) sought your advice on an issue or help with something, when it wasn’t really expected of you as part of your job.
☐ / 71 / Dealing with other people on the job is sometimes not an easy task. Describe a situation in which you had to develop a relationship with someone with whom you did not like to work in order to complete an important task or project.
TEAMWORK
☐ / 72 / Describe a time when you went out of your way to assist a coworker (or member of a team you were on).
☐ / 73 / Describe a time when it was difficult to work with others on a team.
☐ / 74 / Describe a time when you have disagreed with a decision made by the majority of your team.
TEAM LEADERSHIP
☐ / 75 / Describe a situation where you were responsible for monitoring the progress of a team project and giving feedback to team members.
☐ / 76 / Describe a time you successfully led or guided a group or team effort.
☐ / 77 / Describe a situation where you clarified roles for others working on a project and needed to provide direction to them.
ACCOUNTABILITY:
☐ / 78
ACCOUNTABILITY:
☐ / 79
ACCOUNTABILITY:
☐ / 80
ACCOUNTABILITY:
☐ / 81
ACCOUNTABILITY:
☐ / 82
Optional Questions for Leadership Positions
The following questions are related to leadership competencies and are only intended for positions with supervisory responsibilities.
DISPLAYS HIGH INTEGRITY
☐ / 85 / Describe a time when you observed others working in an unprofessional/unethical manner.*
☐ / 86 / Describe what you have done in a previous organization to create an environment that fostered high ethical standards.
☐ / 87 / Describe a time when setting a positive example had a beneficial impact on your staff.
EXERCISES DUE DILIGENCE
☐ / 88 / Describe a situation that showcases your ability to use sound financial judgment to make good organizational/project decisions.
☐ / 89 / Describe a time when you were asked to undertake a course of action or project that conflicted with your assessment of the situation and in your opinion, involved significant risk.*
☐ / 90 / Provide an example of using a cost-benefit approach to setting organizational/project priorities.
ACTS DECISIVELY
☐ / 91 / Describe a complex decision you had to make in the last six months.*
☐ / 92 / Describe a time when you had to make a decision that had a significant impact on others.*
☐ / 93 / Describe a recent decision you had to make or problem you had to solve that involved a significant skill in gathering and analyzing information.*
LEADS ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE
☐ / 94 / Describe a time when you had to implement a significant change in your organization.
☐ / 95 / Describe a time when you were the originator, or “architect,” of a change effort.*
☐ / 96 / Describe a situation where you fostered a highly motivated and productive work environment during a time of change.
FOCUSES ON CUSTOMER NEEDS
☐ / 97 / Describe a time when you assessed customer needs to improve processes in order to deliver better products or services.*
☐ / 98 / Describe what you have done to establish a customer-focused culture in your organization.
☐ / 99 / Describe a situation in which you had to address a highly sensitive and/or complex problem for a dissatisfied customer.*
TAKES ENTREPRENEURIAL RISKS
☐ / 100 / Describe a situation in which you provided an innovative solution to make an organizational improvement.*
☐ / 101 / Describe a new service, program, or product you developed.*
☐ / 102 / Describe a situation where you used technology to improve a project or program.*
BUILDS STRONG ALLIANCES
☐ / 103 / Describe a period of time when you made an extra effort to build strong relationships with others inside or outside the organization.*
☐ / 104 / Describe a time when you were able to use your contracts to further the efforts of your organization.
☐ / 105 / Dealing with other people on the job is sometimes not an easy task. Describe a situation in which you had to develop a relationship with someone with whom you did not like to work.*
TURNS VISION INTO STRATEGY
☐ / 106 / Describe a situation where you were able to align personnel and resources and drive them towards the accomplishment of organizational vision and objectives.
☐ / 107 / Describe a time when you developed and executed a vision in an organization.
☐ / 108 / Describe a time when you had to rally your organization around a common goal or vision.
DEMONSTRATES ASTUTENESS
☐ / 109 / Being cognizant of the inner workings of your organization can be very useful in achieving results. Describe a time when you leveraged your knowledge of your organization and/or key personnel to achieve a desired result.*
☐ / 110 / Describe how you kept up-to-date in your last job on key organizational policies and priorities and any external trends affecting your organization.
☐ / 111 / Describe the steps you took to go about learning how your current organization works.*
MAINTAINS PROFESSIONAL CREDIBILITY
☐ / 112 / Describe a time when you took on a role or assignment that was a stretch or out of your comfort zone in order to further your development.*
☐ / 113 / Describe a time when you made a mistake or experienced a failure and were able to learn from the experience.*
☐ / 114 / Provide examples of how you continuously strive for self-development.*
BUILDS COMPETENCE
☐ / 115 / Describe a time when you were successful in helping someone work through a difficult situation or task.*
☐ / 116 / Describe a time when you helped someone identify and modify a behavior that was impeding his/her performance.
☐ / 117 / Describe a time when you delegated effectively among multiple people.
DEVELOPS SUCCESSFUL TEAMS
☐ / 118 / Describe a time when you managed or guided a team effort.*
☐ / 119 / Describe a situation where you led others in a group effort that was unable to accomplish what needed to get done.*
☐ / 120 / Describe a time when you led a team/group in which the members working on the project had different styles/ideas (either from each other, or from your own).*
INSPIRES HIGH PERFORMANCE
☐ / 121 / Describe a time when you confronted someone who had a performance problem.
☐ / 122 / Describe a situation where there were organizational challenges, yet you were able to maintain motivation and morale amongst your employees.
☐ / 123 / Provide examples of the various approaches you have used to motivate different people based on their individual differences.
PROFESSIONALISM – Is truthful and dependable, accepts responsibility for actions, maintains confidentiality, acts respectfully towards others, and demonstrates commitment to the organization.
Describe a time when you had to choose between admitting a mistake and maintaining credibility witha client or customer.
- What did you do?
- How did you decide what to do?
- How does your approach compare to others who have faced this situation?
- What would you do differently next time?
Notes:
SITUATION
ACTIONS
OUTCOME
What to Look For:
- Admitted the mistake, but apologized and explained why they did what they did or said to helpensure the mistake would not affect their credibility.
- Accepted full responsibility for their mistake.
- Identified and/or took actions to avoid making the mistake again.
- Worked to build/win/maintaintheir client’s(or customer’s) trust overtime.
Rating:
☐A Strong skill and/or potential in this area
☐B Some skill and/or potential in this area
☐C Limited or no skill and/or potential in this area
PROFESSIONALISM – Is truthful and dependable, accepts responsibility for actions, maintains confidentiality, acts respectfully towards others, and demonstrates commitment to the organization.
Describe a time when you have had to defend an organization’s decision to others who did not agree with the decision, even when you did not agree with the decision either.
- What was the specific situation?
- Why did you defend the decision?
- What did you say/do that was particularly effective?
- In hindsight, what would you have done differently?
Notes:
SITUATION
ACTIONS
OUTCOME
What to Look For:
- Expressed to the person that he/she understood where the other person wascoming from.
- Let the other person explain their viewpoint.
- Took extra time to carefully explain the organization’s rationale for the decision.
- Explained what they would do differently next time they encounter a similar situation.
Rating:
☐A Strong skill and/or potential in this area
☐B Some skill and/or potential in this area
☐C Limited or no skill and/or potential in this area
PROFESSIONALISM – Is truthful and dependable, accepts responsibility for actions, maintains confidentiality, acts respectfully towards others, and demonstrates commitment to the organization.
Describe a time when you observed others working in an unprofessionalorunethical manner.
- What were they doing?
- What did you do?
- What was the outcome?
Notes:
SITUATION
ACTIONS
OUTCOME
What to Look For:
- Immediately confronted the individuals and told them what they were doing was unprofessional or unethical.
- Took time to understand the situation before acting.
- Communicated professionally and respected the values, feelings, and priorities of those involved.
- Reported the situation to the appropriate individuals (if necessary).
Rating:
☐A Strong skill and/or potential in this area
☐B Some skill and/or potential in this area
☐C Limited or no skill and/or potential in this area