RESOURCE 6: Cmpetency-based Interview Questins SAMPLE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS FOR CBHA COMPETENCIES (develped frm several CBHA agencies resurces, including ActinAid, CARE, Oxfam and Save the Children plus additinal new questins fr the CBHA cmpetencies) Understanding f humanitarian cntexts and applicatin f humanitarian principles The humanitarian cntext Cmpetencies Suggested Interview Questins Things t lk fr in the respnse Cre Behaviurs fr all staff in humanitarian respnse Demnstrate understanding f phases f humanitarian respnse including preparedness and cntingency, DRR, respnse and recvery Apply understanding f the plitical and cultural cntext and underlying causes f the humanitarian crisis Demnstrate understanding f the gender and diversity dimensins f humanitarian situatins Keep vulnerable peple at the centre f the humanitarian respnse What in yur pinin, and frm yur experience in the field, d yu think are the current three main issues in the humanitarian respnse debate? Hw d yu ensure a sund technical basis fr a prgramme at the utset (including humanitarian standards eg SPHERE) in places where technical understanding and capacity is likely t be limited? (use an example frm yur wn area f expertise) Ability t demnstrate capacity t think abut issues; awareness f cntext f rle and wider issues. Understanding f pririties. Ability t priritise and apply apprpriate standards as a base line. Adaptabil/ity but als clarity n cre issues. Additinal Behaviurs fr 1 st level respnse Able t assess and analyse key issues in the humanitarian situatin and frmulate actins arund them Give an example f when yu have had t assess a humanitarian situatin and make recmmendatins regarding the actins t be taken. What were the steps that yu tk in making the analysis? Ability t cnduct a baseline analysis and reach apprpriate cnclusins; systematic apprach; lgical analysis and cnclusins. Applying humanitarian standards/principles Cmpetencies Suggested Interview Questins Things t lk fr in the respnse Cre Behaviurs fr all staff in humanitarian respnse Ensure that prgramme gals and activities uphld the principles f the key natinal and internatinal humanitarian framewrks, cdes and cmmitments under which humanitarian rganisatins perate Demnstrate understanding f yur rle and that f yur rganisatin and thers within the humanitarian system Integrate beneficiary accuntability principles int yur apprach Demnstrate an understanding f crdinatin mechanisms Tell us abut an pprtunity yu ve had t netwrk with representatives f similar rganisatins. What benefits t yur rganisatin resulted? What is yur experience f using internatinal cdes f practice and law in relatin t emergencies? Hw useful have yu fund these? Ability t wrk within a wide cntext; t understand wn rle and relatinship with ther rganisatins and t understand the need t crdinate t achieve the greater gal. Awareness f cdes f practice; experience f applying them and ability t evaluate their applicatin.
Additinal Behaviurs fr 1 st level respnse Participate in the develpment f an rganisatinal respnse based n an understanding f the cntexts Actively engage in disaster crdinatin mechanisms and interagency cperatin frm an understanding f yur agency s perspective and apprach When develping a disaster respnse strategy, hw d yu g abut incrprating infrmatin frm the cntext analysis? Hw d yu assess the imprtance f infrmatin? Ability t assess infrmatin and adapt accrdingly. Cntext awareness and applicatin f infrmatin apprpriately. Negative Indicatrs Cnsistently des nt acknwledge cultural/plitical cntext in discussins Cnsistently demnstrates lack f beneficiary fcus and des nt cnsider needs f beneficiaries while addressing slutins Appears t be unclear abut wn and rganisatin s respnsibilities Is t influenced by dnr requirements rather than beneficiary r rganisatinal pririties Achieving results effectively Prgramme quality Cmpetencies Suggested Interview Questins Things t lk fr in the respnse Cre Behaviurs fr all staff in humanitarian respnse Demnstrate understanding f agency prject cycle management Participate in the design and implementatin f effective prjects and prgrammes What has been yur experience in prmting quality and accuntability in emergency prgrammes? What was successful and why? Give me an example f hw yu stay infrmed abut issues and events in yur area f respnsibility. Can yu please with me why prject cycle management is imprtant even in the first stages f humanitarian respnse? Give me an example f when yu were invlved with the design and implementatin f a prject. What steps did yu fllw in develping a sund prject plan and what impact did yu planning have n achieving the intended results? Ability t learn frm experiences and imprve quality and accuntability. Openness t cntinuus imprvement. Attitude f cntinuus imprvement; willingness t learn and intrduce new thinking. Additinal Behaviurs fr 1 st level respnse Set standards in yur wrk and fllw agreed prcedures at wrk Dcument lessns learned and apply them t future prjects Hw have yu mnitred yur team's/grup's prductivity r perfrmance? Give me a specific example. Evidence f active mnitring, evaluatin and learning; an attitude f cntinuus imprvement
Accuntability Cmpetencies Suggested Interview Questins Things t lk fr in the respnse Cre Behaviurs fr all staff in humanitarian respnse Cllect, analyse and disseminate infrmatin t and frm cmmunities and ther stakehlders Demnstrate accuntability t partners and disaster and cnflict affected peple and cmmunities Additinal Behaviurs fr 1 st level respnse Ensure efficient and transparent use f resurces in accrdance with internal cntrls Establish cmmunity engagement mechanisms Tell me abut a time when yu were accuntable fr the cmpletin and success f a majr assignment. What was the utcme? What wuld yu d differently? Why is being accuntable t the beneficiaries imprtant? Hw d we ensure the right level f accuntability? Share an example f when yu demnstrated accuntability t ther stakehlders. What steps have yu taken t make yur jb easier/mre efficient/mre prductive? Give me an example. Decisin making Experience f accuntability; willingness t take wnership f the utcmes and t learn and adapt apprach. Evidence f a practive apprach; efficient use f resurces; wnership Cmpetencies Suggested Interview Questins Things t lk fr in the respnse Cre Behaviurs fr all staff in humanitarian respnse Demnstrate flexibility t adapt plans and make decisins in rapidly changing envirnments Demnstrate understanding f when a decisin can be taken and when t invlve thers Cnsider the wider impact f the decisins yu make in yur wrk t achieve psitive results Describe a situatin where yu had t change yur apprach half-way thrugh a prject r task fllwing new input int the prject. Describe an ccasin when yu decided t invlve thers in making a decisin. Why did yu d s? T what extent did yu use their cntributins? Ability t assess new infrmatin and adapt accrdingly. Examples f judgement, flexibility and adaptability. Evidence f apprpriate cllabratin (as ppsed t indecisiveness), ability t assess input and reach cnclusins. Ability t take respnsibility fr the decisin. When faced with a situatin where a grup decisin needs t be taken and yu have a clear view n the issues, what rle d yu naturally take? Can yu give an example? Rle in grup decisin making, and ability t accept the utcme. Willingness t g alng with decisins even if they believe them t be wrng. What d yu d if a decisin taken varies frm yur preferred ptin and is, in yur pinin, the wrng decisin? Tell us abut the hardest wrk-based decisin yu have had t make recently and why yu had t d s. What steps r actins did yu have t take prir t making the decisin and what was the utcme? Hw did yu cmmunicate yur decisin? Have they made difficult decisins in the past and what d they cnsider t be difficult. Hw did they g abut making the decisin, what prcess did they use. Were they aware f the impact f that decisin. Impact Cmpetencies Suggested Interview Questins Things t lk fr in the respnse Cre Behaviurs fr all staff in humanitarian respnse Tell me abut a time when yu faced Ability t determine and fcus n
Maintain fcus n delivery f timely and apprpriate results using available resurces cnflicting pririties/deadlines. Hw did yu determine the tp pririty? What did yu d abut the issues yu were nt able t cmplete? Sner r later, everyne cmes under sme pressure t sacrifice quality in rder t get wrk dne n time. Tell me abut a time when this happened t yu. What did yu d? pririties and mitigate issues arund thse deadlines nt met. Ability t balance delivery with quality; priritisatin; use f resurces. Additinal Behaviurs fr 1 st level respnse Clarify rles and respnsibilities within yur team t maximise impact Cntinuusly prvide feedback and updates t achieve imprved results Crdinate with stakehlders t avid duplicatin and maximise resurces Can yu share an example f when yu had t manage a prject r prcess within cnstrained resurces. What was the situatin? What did yu d t ensure that results were delivered n time and within budget? Hw did yu reslve issues that arse? Tell me abut a time when yu were respnsible fr determining assignments, schedules, and timelines fr a prject yu were managing. Describe hw yu wrked ut a prject plan. What happened? Negative Indicatrs Ability t deliver in a planned and fcused way; management f a prject. Displays an inflexible attitude in the face f changing plans/decisins which can have a negative impact Cnsistently fails t deliver results by nt fcusing n utcmes Gives up easily when presented with challenges Des nt seem able t meet deadlines regardless f the situatin and resurces. Develping and maintaining cllabrative relatinships Listening & Dialgue Cmpetencies Suggested Interview Questins Things t lk fr in the respnse Cre Behaviurs fr all staff in humanitarian respnse Actively listen t different perspectives and experiences f stakehlders Establish and maintain clear cmmunicatin and dialgue with disaster and cnflict affected peple and ther stakehlders Tell us abut a time yu cmmunicated effectively under difficult circumstances. What have yu dne t make yur rganizatin's visin and values meaningful t thers? Which strategies have wrked, and which have nt? Ability t think hw best t cmmunicate in different circumstances. Adaptability in difficult circumstances. Evidence f using varying and apprpriate methds t cmmunicate cmplex issues in a meaningful way. Ability t bserve and analyse what wrks and mdify apprach. Tell me abut a time at wrk when yu bjectively cnsidered thers' ideas, even when they cnflicted with yurs. Can yu give an example f when yu have had t cmmunicate an imprtant message r piece f infrmatin? Flexibility f apprach; willingness t listen and cnsider ther views Willingness t think seriusly abut hw t cmmunicate and what methd will wrk best. Ability t
Additinal Behaviurs fr 1 st level respnse Ensure beneficiary and partner feedback is incrprated int prgramme design, planning and learning Hw did yu prepare t deliver the message and decide what methd f cmmunicatin t use (eg e-mail, meeting etc)? What feedback did yu seek / receive? Hw have yu (wuld yu) ensured that feedback frm beneficiaries and/r partners is incrprated int yur agencies future wrk? reflect n the utcme and adapt Willingness t learn. Openness t the pinins and ideas f thers. Awareness f the need t listen t beneficiaries and partners Wrking with thers Cmpetencies Suggested Interview Questins Things t lk fr in the respnse Cre Behaviurs fr all staff in humanitarian respnse Cntribute psitively in the team t achieve prgramme bjectives Share apprpriate infrmatin and knwledge with clleagues and partners as and when apprpriate Actively participate in netwrks t access and cntribute t gd practice Challenge decisins and behaviur which breach the ICRC/NGO and individual agency Cdes f Cnduct Tell us abut a time when yur actins inspired thers t wrk twards achieving a cmmn gal. Give an example frm yur wn experience f hw yu manage a new r recently frmed team and/r a team made up f staff and partner staff? Hw d yu like t be managed? What d yu lk fr frm yur manager? Ability t inspire thers and t lead by example. Team attitude rather than directive style. Ability t apply an adaptive style; priritisatin; wrking in virtual team situatins and with netwrks/matrix management Willingness t keep manager infrmed; adaptability; understanding f requirements in a humanitarian situatin Additinal Behaviurs fr 1 st level respnse Establish clear bjectives with teams and individuals and mnitr prgress and perfrmance Establish agreed ways f wrking at a distance with partners and staff Wrk with yur team t build trust with partners, cmmunities and stakehlders Fster cllabrative, transparent and accuntable relatinships thrugh partners t frmalise and peratinalize partnering agreements Use negtiatin and cnflict Describe a team that yu have wrked in that yu felt was particularly successful. What made that team successful? What did yu learn frm this? Hw can yu minimize the pssibility f creating a dysfunctinal team? Smetimes interacting with thers at wrk can be difficult. Describe the mst stressful interactin yu've had with yur manager/supervisr/team leader r a peer/team member. Hw did yu respnd? Describe the mst effective techniques yu've used t encurage full participatin frm every member f a team yu were n. Have they thught abut building team success r is this left t chance? What d they cntribute t this prcess? Willingness t discuss/recgnise a negative situatin; penness t wn rle; ability t handle and reslve cnflict/stressful situatin Diversity/gender awareness; ability t adapt apprach t team; wrking with virtual teams
reslutin skills t supprt psitive utcmes Negative Indicatrs Des nt actively listen t thers cntributins r ask fr their input (including team members, beneficiaries, ther NGOs, r ther key stakehlders) Lacks wnership and relies n ther team members t cmplete wn tasks Is ineffective in cmmunicating ideas/thughts t the team as a result f either lack f cnfidence; withhlding infrmatin; r inapprpriate audience Operating safely and securely in a humanitarian respnse Security cntext and analysis Cmpetencies Suggested Interview Questins Things t lk fr in the respnse Cre Behaviurs fr all staff in humanitarian respnse Identify and cmmunicate risk and threats and minimise these fr yu and yur agency What des risk mean in the humanitarian cntext? Give me an example f when yu have identified a risk (t a prject, persn r rganisatin) and describe hw yu cmmunicated and managed this risk? Additinal Behaviurs fr 1 st level respnse Demnstrate an understanding f wider UN/NGO security crdinatin and hw yur rganisatin can benefit frm, and cntribute t, thse mechanisms Undertake effective risk assessments and develp cntingency plans What d yu understand by the term security management framewrk? What are the key strategies it might cmprise f? What strategies have yu used t encurage thers t challenge established assumptins abut security and risk? Awareness f security framewrk and key issues t be addressed. Treating security as a basic principle. Willingness t challenge; lack f cmplacency Persnal safety and security Cmpetencies Suggested Interview Questins Things t lk fr in the respnse Cre Behaviurs fr all staff in humanitarian respnse Build and maintain a reputatin in line with humanitarian standards and acceptance fr yur wrk Take apprpriate, crdinated and cnsistent actin t handle situatins f persnal risk and situatins f risk fr thers Reduce vulnerability by cmplying with safety and security prtcls set by yur rganisatin and cntextualise apprpriately t lcal scenaris Champin the imprtance f safety and keep the safety f clleagues and team members in mind at all times Can yu give us an example f when yu persnally felt at risk. Hw did yu manage this risk? What steps did yu take t handle the situatin? Tell me abut a time (r what wuld yu d) when yu have been asked (pssibly by yur manager/supervisr/team leader) t d smething that yu felt cmprmised safety r security standards in the interests f the wrk. Hw did yu (wuld yu) respnd? Hw d yu balance these cnflicting issues? Ability t assess situatin; priritise safety/security; use judgement; withstand pressure and maintain balance/avid cmplacency
Additinal Behaviurs fr 1 st level respnse Mnitr security risks and ensure rganisatinal prtcls are cnsistently fllwed by staff Take apprpriate actin and prvide apprpriate directin and supprt t team members in the event f a critical incident Frm yur wn experience, can yu prvide an example f hw yu have changed the culture f a team r rganisatin t encurage greater wnership and adherence t security prcedures at any level? Setting a persnal example regarding security standards. Willingness t challenge the status qu where standards need imprving and t inspire change. Minimising risk t cmmunities and partners Cmpetencies Suggested Interview Questins Things t lk fr in the respnse Cre Behaviurs fr all staff in humanitarian respnse Take measures t d n harm and t minimise risks fr yur partners and the cmmunities yu wrk with Additinal Behaviurs fr 1 st level respnse Undertake effective risk assessments with cmmunities and partners What are the ptential risks f humanitarian prgrammes t the cmmunities we wrk with? Hw might yu minimise these risks? What experience have yu had f develping a natinal r lcal security risk assessment? Hw did (wuld yu, if n experience) yu g abut it and what aspects did yu (wuld yu) take int accunt? What experience have yu had f delivering training in security and safety practice and prcedures? What were the main challenges yu faced? Prvide an example f hw yu vercame the challenge. Awareness f cntext and key players t include partners and cmmunities. Evidence f methdical apprach. Evidence f willingness and ability t cmmunicate security issues t thers. Awareness f need t prmte security and minimise risks. Negative Indicatrs Cnsistently presents ideas/pprtunities that may be a risk t self r thers Actively disregards r lacks clear understanding f security prtcls leading t persnal/rganisatinal risk Demnstrates a casual attitude t risk Is ver familiar with the cntext, leading t cmplacency Managing yurself in a pressured and changing envirnment Resilience Cmpetencies Suggested Interview Questins Things t lk fr in the respnse Cre Behaviurs fr all staff in humanitarian respnse Recgnise stress and take steps t reduce it Remain cnstructive and psitive under stress t be able t tlerate difficult and smetimes threatening envirnments Remain fcused n yur bjectives and gal in a rapidly changing envirnment Able t adapt t changing situatins What was the last pressure situatin yu were in? Hw did it emerge? What was yur part in the situatin? What did yu d t handle the pressure? Hw did yu reslve it? Please describe yur experience f wrking in remte, harsh r insecure envirnments. Hw d yu recgnise when yu are becming stressed? What d yu d t manage this? Ability t analyse the causes f a situatin; t respnd in a mature way and take respnsibility fr dealing with it. Techniques fr handling pressure. Past experience, realistic attitude, ability t take respnsibility fr self. Methds used t deal with stress persnal and/r invlving thers?
Keep yurself emtinally stable when helping thers Additinal Behaviurs fr 1 st level respnse Help team members t practise stress management thrugh priritisatin f wrklads and mdelling f apprpriate self care Can yu give us an example f when yu have had t change yur wrk plan quite significantly? Why was this and what/wh instigated the change? Hw did yu feel abut it and what was the utcme? Give an example f when yu have bserved that a clleague r member f yur team is nt cping well with stress. What did yu d and what was the utcme? Wuld yu d anything differently? Willingness t adapt plans accrding t circumstances. Ability t be cmfrtable with requirement t change plans Sensitivity t staff/clleagues; ability t intervene in a psitive way; ability t reflect and learn frm the experience Maintaining prfessinalism Cmpetencies Suggested Interview Questins Things t lk fr in the respnse Cre Behaviurs fr all staff in humanitarian respnse Take respnsibility fr yur wn wrk and fr the impact f yur actins Plan, priritise and perfrm tasks well under pressure Maintain ethical and prfessinal behaviur in accrdance with relevant cdes f cnduct Demnstrate persnal integrity by using ne s psitin respnsibly and fairly Have yu ever been faced with an ethical r value cnflict in yur jb? Give me an example f when this happened t yu. What did yu d? Tell me abut a time when yu had a particularly heavy wrklad. What impact did it have n yu and hw did yu set abut priritising this wrk? What d yu d if yu simply cannt get everything dne? Integrity, ability t apply standards and deal with cnflict. Past experience and cping mechanisms realistic expectatins and cping systems Additinal Behaviurs fr 1 st level respnse Set realistic deadlines and gals Facilitate thers t carry ut their rles and respnsibilities Make time t learn frm experience and feedback, and apply the lessns t a new situatin Can yu give me an example f when yu prvided feedback and assistance t anther persn abut substandard perfrmance? What did yu d? Hw did yu d that? What happened next? Evidence f setting and maintaining apprpriate standards; assisting thers t meet standards; ability t learn frm experience. Negative Indicatrs Demnstrates cnsiderable stress and des nt shw signs f taking steps t reduce it Displays unprfessinal cnduct that is nt in line with the relevant Cde f Cnduct and shws demnstrable damage t reputatin f agency Resists adapting behaviur and actins t changing envirnment Des nt demnstrate a gd wrk/life balance and shws evidence f lss f perspective. Leadership in humanitarian respnse Self-awareness Cmpetencies Suggested Interview Questins Things t lk fr in the respnse Cre Behaviurs fr all staff in humanitarian respnse Shw awareness f yur wn strengths and limitatins and their impact n thers Reflecting n yur past experiences, what are the 3 things that yu wuld be able t immediately cntribute t this psitin? The ability t reflect n past experiences, understand strengths and assess hw they can cntribute t the new rle. D they have a realistic
Demnstrate understanding f yur skills and hw they cmplement thse f thers t supprt team effectiveness Seek and reflect n feedback t imprve yur perfrmance Have yu received tugh feedback frm a manager r clleague? Did yu feel that it was valid and hw did yu respnd? (Or if nne received in the past - What wuld yu d if a clleague criticised yur management f a situatin, unfairly, in yur pinin?) Hw wuld yur clleagues describe yu? What wuld they identify as yur strengths and weaknesses? Tell us abut a time when a mistake yu made affected thers and hw yu dealt with this. view f themselves. Ability t take criticism and cnsider it. Or if nne received, this may indicate insensitivity r a denial, which shuld be explred in the hypthetical questin. Ability t see self as thers see them. Realism abut hw they cme acrss. Learning frm the mistake Acknwledgement f cnsequences Actins taken t wn the cnsequences and rectify the situatin. Mtivating and influencing thers Cmpetencies Suggested Interview Questins Things t lk fr in the respnse Cre Behaviurs fr all staff in humanitarian respnse Cmmunicate humanitarian values and mtivate thers twards them Inspire cnfidence in thers Speak ut clearly fr rganisatinal beliefs and values Demnstrate active listening t encurage team cllabratin Influence thers psitively t achieve prgramme gals Tell us abut a time when yur actins inspired thers t wrk twards achieving a cmmn gal. Tell us abut a time when ther members f yur team disagreed with yu, what happened? Describe a situatin r prject in which yu had n frmal psitin authrity, yet still maintained a clear leadership rle. Talk us thrugh hw yu demnstrated leadership. Ability t inspire thers and t lead by example. Team attitude rather than directive style. Openness t thers views and t take thers ideas n bard. Ability t assess ideas, t influence where needed t reach a successful utcme. The ability t shw leadership when it is nt assigned. Ability t use strengths t gain respect and lead when nt in a psitin f authrity. Additinal Behaviurs fr 1 st level respnse Inspire thers by clearly articulating and demnstrating the values, cre purpse and principles that underpin humanitarian wrk Prvide regular and nging infrmal and frmal feedback t recgnise the cntributin f thers Adapt leadership apprach t the situatin D yu have an example f a situatin where yu felt that yu succeeded in building the cnfidence f thers? Hw did yu d this? What have yu dne t make yur rganizatin's visin and values meaningful t thers? Which strategies have wrked, and which have nt? Awareness f thers and their different needs. Examples f interactins with thers Evidence f using varying and apprpriate methds t cmmunicate cmplex issues in a meaningful way. Ability t bserve and analyse what wrks and mdify apprach. Critical judgement Cmpetencies Suggested Interview Questins Things t lk fr in the respnse Cre Behaviurs fr all staff in humanitarian respnse Analyse and exercise judgement in new situatins in the absence f Can yu tell us abut a situatin, invlving yur staff r team, where yu Ownership and the willingness t take the initiative t reslve an
specific guidance Demnstrate initiative and ingenuity Demnstrate tenacity t achieve slutins Address difficult situatins and make tugh decisins cnfidently and calmly Suggest creative imprvements and different ways f wrking Additinal Behaviurs fr 1 st level line managers in humanitarian respnse Maintain simultaneusly a brad strategic perspective and awareness f the detail f a situatin Adapt plans quickly in respnse t emerging situatins and changing envirnments Take calculated risks t imprve perfrmance Able t act decisively and quickly felt that things were nt dne well enugh, r the right way? Hw did yu take the initiative t put it right as yu felt it shuld be? What did yu learn frm that experience? What new ideas wuld yu bring t this psitin that thers wuld nt? Tell me abut a time when yu have had t take an immediate decisin, with imprtant cnsequences, but did nt have all the facts that yu wuld have liked? What prcess did yu fllw fr decisin making in such a critical situatin? What was the utcme? What wuld yu d differently in the future? Describe a situatin in which yu identified a prblem and tk actin t crrect it rather than wait fr smene else t d s. What types f rganizatinal systems (cntrls, cmpensatin, cmmunicatin, etc.) have yu put in place t supprt a specific rganizatinal strategy? Explain the prcess. What were the results? utstanding matter Innvatin and ability t apply experience t a new psitin Ability t deal with uncertainty, assess the risks and fllw a decisin-making prcess under pressure. Ability t assess utcme and learn frm it Evidence f a practive apprach; willingness t take wnership Ability t implement the rganisatins strategy thrugh peratinal actins; demnstrates helicpter visin and practical planning/implementatin Negative Indicatrs Resists r delays taking decisins when it is clearly required Attempts t maintain cntrl by nt delegating effectively t cater t specific skills f team members resulting in lack f cnfidence amng the team Puts frward prblems withut slutins Cmmunicates withut clarity r structure in a way that is generally pessimistic Sees cnsultatin as time cnsuming and irrelevant