Competency-Based Interviewing for Talent Acquisition Professionals

Courses Syllabus

Introduction

This five-day programme equips Talent Acquisition professionals with
the knowledge and practical skills to plan, conduct, and evaluate competency-based
interviews. Participants will learn how to identify job-related competencies, develop
structured interview questions, assess candidate responses objectively, minimise
unconscious bias, and make evidence-based hiring recommendations.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the principles of competency-based interviewing
• Develop competency frameworks aligned to job requirements.
• Create effective behavioural interview questions using the STAR methodology.
• Evaluate candidate responses using structured scoring techniques.
• Reduce bias and improve consistency in recruitment decisions.
• Conduct professional, compliant and inclusive interviews.

Contents

Day One

Foundations of Competency-Based Interviewing

• Introduction to competency-based recruitment
• Understanding competencies, behaviours and values
• Identifying core and role-specific competencies
• Legal and ethical considerations in interviewing
• Practical exercise: Creating a competency profile

​Day Two

Designing Effective Interview Questions

• Principles of structured interviews
• Behavioural interviewing techniques
• Developing competency-based questions
• Using the STAR model to assess evidence
• Probing techniques and follow-up questions
• Workshop: Designing interview guides

​Day Three

Conducting Competency-Based Interviews

• • Preparing for interviews
  • Building rapport while maintaining structure
  • Active listening and note-taking
  • Managing difficult interview situations
  • Virtual interview best practices
  • Role-play exercises with peer feedback

​Day Four

Candidate Assessment and Decision Making

• • • Evaluating interview evidence objectively
    • Competency scoring methods
    • Calibration and consistency between interviewers
    • Identifying and reducing unconscious bias
    • Writing interview summaries and recommendations
    • Practical assessment workshop

​Day Five

Advanced Interviewing and Best Practice

• • • Interviewing for leadership and specialist roles
    • Diversity, equity and inclusion in recruitment
    • Candidate experience and employer branding
    • Integrating competency interviews with selection processes
    • Individual feedback, action planning and course assessment

Assessment
Participants will complete:

• • Practical competency interview exercises
  • Interview question design assignment
  • Candidate assessment and scoring activity
  • Final observed competency-based interview
    Target Audience Talent Acquisition Specialists, Recruiters, HR Advisors, HR Business Partners,
    Recruitment Consultants and Hiring Managers responsible for interviewing and
    candidate selection.

    Expected Benefits

    Upon completion, participants will be able to conduct fair, structured and evidence-based
    competency interviews, improving hiring quality, reducing recruitment bias, enhancing
    candidate experience and supporting more effective selection decisions across the
    organisation.