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  • Lama ALZahrani

Competency-Based Interviews (CBI): The Key Approach to Organizational Success

Updated: Sep 18, 2023

Competency-Based Interviews (CBI) help organizations assess the skills, abilities, and attitudes of existing and/or potential employees. In addition, they measure the candidate’s readiness for the job. CBI can be much more effective in recognizing employees’ strengths and unlocking areas for development, and when used properly by employers, they allow better training and support for existing employees so that their performance improves over time as well as their career prospects.

In this blog, we will dive through the fundamentals of CBI and how they play a major role in organizational success.

Competency-Based Interviews Saudi People

What are Competency-Based Interviews?

CBI are a type of interview that assesses a candidate's skills, experience, and knowledge related to the position for which they are applying. They focus on asking direct and specific questions based on the job description such as: how the interviewee has adapted to challenging situations in the past? What is his/her approach to problem-solving? And how would he/she handle certain scenarios? These questions aim to evaluate the interviewee’s ability to handle a specific task or perform a competency, thereby providing clear evidence of their level of ability, knowledge, skills, personal characteristics, and values. Through this, employers can make a better-informed decision regarding the candidate's suitability for the role and can help them eliminate candidates who do not have the necessary skills for the job.


What are the benefits of using CBI?

CBI have a lot of great advantages especially when used correctly by managers. It is an excellent method for assessing potential and current employees. Below are some benefits of using this type of interview:

  • Assisting the employer to gain a better understanding of the potential or existing employee’s behavior and technical competencies.

  • Matching the interviewees with the role and the vision, mission, and strategy of the organization.

  • Determining whether a candidate has the right skills for the position by targeting specific skills and abilities.

  • Uncovering the training needs of the internal employees.

Why would an employer conduct CBI?

CBI are crucial for any organization that aspires to success. In fact, it enables managers to identify the right candidates with the necessary competencies and skillsets that match the position and organizational requirements, therefore, allowing them to form an effective and efficient workforce that drives the best results. Furthermore, by utilizing CBI, organizations can hire staff members who share a common vision, purpose, and strategy which will help them reach their business objectives more quickly and easily. To sum up, CBI, if applied properly, are the cornerstone to your organization’s success.


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