What does the Competency-Based Interview (CBI) involve?

In this stage of the online assessment process, you'll be asked a series of questions about how you've dealt with specific situations in the past.

This is your opportunity to provide some examples of the key competencies and values from the Competency & Values Framework that are important for police constables:

Core values:

Integrity
Public service
Transparency

Competencies:

We take ownership
We are innovative and open-minded

What to expect

The CBI will take up to 40 minutes.

You’ll be asked 5 questions on how you’ve dealt with specific situations in the past.

You should then give examples from your work and personal life that show you have the values and competencies we’re looking for.
Each question will appear on screen one at a time, along with some supplementary points for you to consider. You’ll have:

1 minute to consider the question and prepare your answer
5 minutes to record your answer to each question
40 minutes to complete the whole interview

Please note the timings will vary if you have any reasonable adjustments.

Example competency question

Here’s an example question similar to one you might be asked on the day. We’ve included some key prompts to help you expand on your answer.

Q. Please provide an example of a time when you have intervened to take control of a situation.

Consider the following areas when providing your response to the question:

Why was it necessary to intervene?
How did you take control of the situation?
What was particularly effective about how you took control of the situation?
What difficulties did you experience and how did you overcome them?

What you’ll need

Ideally, you’ll use a laptop or desktop computer with speakers, although a mobile or tablet can be used. You’ll need a working microphone and webcam or inbuilt camera.

Top tips to help you perform well

Here are our top tips to help you perform at your very best in this stage of the recruitment process.

Top priority:

Read the Candidate Guidance documents you’ve been sent carefully.
Read and understand the Competency & Values Framework – this is what you’re being marked against.

Before the interview:

Think about examples from your personal or work life that show you share the values and competencies needed to be an outstanding police officer. You may find it useful to practise answering example questions – recording yourself can be helpful.
For competency questions, think ‘STAR’. The STAR model can help you keep your responses focused:

Situation – give a brief description of the event or situation.
Task – describe the task at hand.
Action – give details of the action you took. This is the main part of your answer where you can explain how you displayed the relevant behaviours and understanding. Focus on the part you played, what you said, did and how you behaved.
Result – talk about the results or outcome achieved, including whether the outcome was good or bad. If it was negative, include what you’d do differently next time.

Getting your results

You’ll find out if you’ve passed the online assessment at a later date. Your recruiting force will provide you with information about how and when you’ll receive your results.

Reasonable adjustments and accommodations

If you have any condition that might cause you to be disadvantaged during the online assessment process, temporary or otherwise (for example pregnancy, injury, medical conditions, disability or neurodivergence such as dyslexia and autism) you may be entitled to an accommodation or reasonable adjustment.

Looking for more guidance?

You can find out more about the online assessment process and the reasonable adjustments provided at Sift and online assessment process | College of Policing.