A competency-based interview (CBI), also called a behavioural interview, asks candidates to describe specific past situations - "tell me about a time you..." - rather than hypothetical or opinion-based questions, on the principle that past behaviour predicts future behaviour better than a stated intention does.
What it means
The competencies probed are usually drawn directly from the job description's key responsibilities, so the questions test for evidence of the specific behaviours the role actually requires, not generic traits.
Where it fits in
A CBI is one of several structured interview formats; an assessment centre extends the same competency-based logic across multiple exercises rather than a single conversation.
Key rules
- CBI = competency-based interview, also called behavioural interview.
- Asks for specific past examples, not hypothetical answers.
- Competencies probed are drawn from the job description's responsibilities.
- A more structured alternative to a generic, unstructured interview.
