Hey!@Abbie Whitlock
Hey, I hope you're well! Thank you for your advice on these forums - they're really helpful!
For competency questions in an interview, is it fine to use the same examples but frame them differently depending on the question? I know it'd be best to have different examples for different questions, but I'm not sure I have enough experiences for a 35-40 min competency interview
I am doing well, thank you - hope you are too! I'm glad to hear that it is helpful
This is a great question, and I totally get what you mean as it does sometimes feel like you need to have an endless supply of different experiences.
However, I'd say it is absolutely fine to use the same example more than once in a competency interview, as long as you are genuinely answering the question being asked each time. The interviewers won't be marking how many different experiences you have, and they'll instead be looking at the skills and behaviours that you are able to demonstrate through your examples. Therefore, one strong experience can often cover multiple competencies if you frame it well and use different situations.
The key is to make sure that you shift the emphasis depending on the question. For example, the same experience could highlight teamwork in one answer, but focus on problem-solving or leadership in another. What matters is that you are not just repeating the same story word-for-word, but tailoring what you bring out of it and the reflections you make.
It is still a good idea to have a small bank of examples (even just 3-5) that you know really well and can adapt to different competency questions. But I wouldn't worry too much about not having "enough" experiences - most candidates will reuse examples to some extent, particularly if you are still a student or haven't experienced a wide range of job roles yet. As long as you are clear, reflecting, and directly answering the question, you'll answer the question well!
