The most popular interview question is how job seekers’ handle stressful situations, experts have revealed.
According to A&DC, suppliers of online competency-based interviewing tool CBI-Smart, the question that comes up most frequently at interview is: “Can you please describe a situation when you have had to cope with a particularly high workload for a significant period of time?”
Rory Fidgeon, senior consultant occupational psychologist for A&DC, the creators of CBI-Smart said: “It’s perhaps not surprising that the most popular question is about handling stress, as the pressures of modern day living and juggling life and work commitments are a key priority for many individuals.
“This is heightened with awareness of stress within the workplace through recent events like national Stress Down Day launched by the Samaritans this month and the continued resources put into managing stress within the workplace by the industry.”
Planning and organising, problem analysis and flexibility join the list of desired competencies; a mix of traits, according to Fidgeon, that are hard to come by: “There is a global trend amongst employers to find employees who are rigid with organisational skills, yet demonstrate flexibility to move with the organisation, which could indicate employers are almost looking for candidates with a split personality.”
The least chosen competencies are ‘written communication’ and ‘numerical analysis’.
