𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲-𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
“Communication”, part of a short series exploring competency-based interview questions, the different angles you could consider in your answers, and what interviewers may be trying to understand from them.
The aim isn’t to tell you what to say, but rather to offer a few ideas to help you think about what a question is really trying to uncover and approach your answers with that in mind
“Describe a time you had to convey a complex message and ensure it was understood and acted upon.”
This question may be less about how clearly you speak and more about how you think through complexity, risk, and impact when people need to understand something well enough to act on it.
It’s possible that a question like this is intended to touch on more than one competency, for example communication alongside strategic thinking or influencing others.
Angles you could consider:
• What made the message complex
(e.g. technical detail, the subject matter, the audience, competing priorities, or potential consequences)
• Who would be affected by the message
(e.g. different teams, stakeholders, or customers, what the impact might be for them)
• How did you structure the message so others could follow it
(e.g. conversations, presentations, storytelling, written updates, data, visuals, demonstrations, or a phased approach)
• How did you decide what information was essential, and what could be left out
(e.g. highlighting what mattered most for each audience, not overwhelming with detail)
• What risks you were aware of
(e.g. misunderstandings, resistance, or unintended consequences)
• How you checked understanding and alignment
(e.g. questions asked, decisions made, follow-up actions, soliciting feedback, or changes in behaviour)
What an interviewer may be listening for:
• Whether you recognize which parts of a message others may find difficult to grasp. or perceive as risky or uncertain.
• Whether you think about the impact of how a message is received.
• Whether you adapt both your message and delivery to different audiences.
• Whether your communication draws on facts, data, or sound reasoning to help others understand and decide, rather than simply informing them.
• Whether you reflect on what worked and what you would handle differently next time.
“Communication” questions can take many forms. Considering what they may be exploring, such as how you assess risk, impact, understanding, and delivery (not just clarity), can help guide how you share your experiences.
