Which competencies do you consider core for your organization and why?
When starting a job search you should be aware of core competencies and how employers use them to determine your suitability for a particular role. In essence, core competencies are a group of skills or attributes that employees need to carry out their work effectively. Show
Competencies can vary between different industries and levels of seniority, though the majority are found across many industries. They are often sprinkled throughout job descriptions and person specifications. As part of your application, you will need to demonstrate how you meet each of the core competencies identified by the employer. This guide outlines the most popular competencies that you will come across during your job search. People ManagementManaging people is usually a competency reserved for supervisory or managerial roles but it can also be expected of junior staff. Being able to manage employees may form a significant part of your role. It is therefore important that you can demonstrate superior people management skills. 1. Training and DevelopmentThis core competency can range from identifying training and development opportunities to helping individual employees update their knowledge of emerging technologies. It can also involve skills development so that employees can go for promotions or increase their responsibilities. In a number of roles, employers will want to see that you are committed to developing your skills and you are willing to participate in training and development. Examples include:
2. Managing PerformanceThis is a continuous process that involves making sure that employee performance contributes to the goals of the department and the wider business. This competency may be included in the person specification. Within your application, you should demonstrate how you help the organisation achieve its goals, how you maintain high standards, what you do when performance problems arise and how you develop your own performance through training or shadowing. Examples include:
3. Coaching and MentoringIn certain roles, particularly technical jobs in IT or programming, you may be expected to provide coaching and mentor junior staff. Managers should also possess these skills. In your application, you should be able to demonstrate how you have worked with colleagues or partners to offer coaching and mentoring to improve their practice, enhance their skills or advance their knowledge. It takes a certain aptitude to coach and mentor staff, so you must be able to convey how you have used this skill in the past and how you can relate it to the role you are applying for. Examples include:
4. Team BuildingEmployers need to know that you can work collaboratively as part of a team to meet defined objectives. People who possess this competency will encourage information sharing and partnership working, and actively encourage others to participate in the decision making process. Team building is important at every level within an organisation, not just at the managerial level. Through your application and interview, you should be able to demonstrate your ability to work across departments, help colleagues outside of your immediate working group and obtain feedback to see how colleagues could work together more cohesively. Examples include:
Team building is an important competency, whatever your seniority. Personal DevelopmentPersonal development is a career-long process and is a way to regularly assess your skills and capabilities, consider your goals and maximise your potential. There are a number of ways in which you can improve your own development in the workplace, such as re-evaluating your time, conducting a skills appraisal, reviewing your transferable skills or overcoming any barriers to acquire a new skill. 5. Commitment to ExcellenceDemonstrating a commitment to quality means that you take pride in your work and strive to deliver the best possible results. You should always be looking for opportunities to improve the way you work, generate ideas for streamlining processes and thoroughly check your work. Resilience, determination and innovation are all qualities that you should emphasise if this core competency is required. Examples include:
6. Mind Mapping and Structured ThinkingIn certain careers, employees are required to deploy structured thinking skills and generate ‘mind maps’ (diagrams used to display connections between ideas or concepts). This could be either in a project-based role or a technical capacity. Setting out your ideas and thoughts in a logical pattern using mind maps is an essential skill in these types of roles. Examples of this competency include:
7. Career ProgressionEmployers look favourably on employees who are committed to career progression and development. It shows that you are driven, committed and aim to deliver the very best that you can for the business. Career progression may appear in the form of promotions or can be as simple as being assigned more senior duties. Examples include:
LeadershipLeadership competencies help businesses determine which level of management requires certain skills. When selecting and developing management professionals, organisations should consider a candidate's competencies and compare these with the skills that need further development in order to succeed within a leadership role. Approaching leadership competencies in this manner can help businesses make accurate decisions about recruiting, developing and promoting the highest quality candidates. 8. Strategic ManagementAll businesses need to be managed effectively to succeed. A strategic management competency relates to the coordination of business operations to achieve and maintain an advantage over the competition. Strategic management is about reviewing multiple business areas and evaluating data, systems and processes to make informed decisions. Examples include:
9. Future PlanningAll successful managers need to be able to plan effectively. There will be a number of business areas that require careful planning from finance through to marketing and general operations. You will need to demonstrate your capacity to meticulously plan business activities and implement projects successfully. Examples include:
10. Persuading and Influencing StaffAs a manager, you will be expected to influence and persuade a wide range of people in a variety of situations. This may include influencing budget managers to take greater control of their finances or persuading a member of the team to change an approach or behaviour that is negatively impacting on performance. If you want to effectively persuade and influence people in a business, you should clearly define what you expect, plan ahead and listen carefully to those you are communicating with. Examples include:
11. Change ManagementAs a management professional, there will be occasions where you will have to undergo a period of organisational change. This may relate to streamlining services, cutting budgets or improving performance. To drive change initiatives, you need to be receptive to change occurring within the workplace. You also need to demonstrate strong people skills and define a clear direction for the organisation so employees understand what is expected. Examples include:
CommunicationIn any business, communication skills are absolutely essential. Being able to share information verbally and in writing is an integral part of any position. 12. Commitment to Customer ExcellenceWhether you are providing products or services, your customers should always be at the forefront of decisions and service delivery. Customer excellence involves responding to queries promptly, offering as much information as possible and providing products or services that customers value. Examples include:
13. Collaborative WorkingThis involves establishing strong partnerships with fellow professionals and outside agencies. Being able to promote inter-departmental working and relationships with other organisations is essential in some roles such as healthcare. Collaborative working can involve a range of different aspects including networks, partnerships or alliances. Examples include:
14. Customer Relationship ManagementBeing able to manage your customer relationships is important. Customer refers to anyone who purchases your product or accesses your service. Promoting customer loyalty and delivering excellence are important qualities that employers look for. Examples include:
15. Social and Emotional LearningThis competency is very important in industries such as education and welfare. It is the process through which you implement strategies to understand and effectively manage emotions to achieve a particular outcome. Examples include:
16. Persuasive TechniquesIn certain careers, you will be required to persuade people to adopt your way of thinking and initiate some kind of action. This may be changing a way of working or signing a contract. Persuasive techniques are very important in certain careers such as sales- or marketing-based roles, as well as for professionals who work in a managerial capacity. Examples include:
17. Writing SkillsBeing able to communicate clearly and concisely is an important skill for a number of reasons. You may be required to draft reports or prepare correspondence. Even communicating with fellow colleagues and partners is often achieved through email, so it’s important to be able to convey what you need to succinctly and effectively. Examples include:
18. Speaking and Listening SkillsProfessionals must be able to communicate effectively when speaking to people. Demonstrating that you can communicate complex information to a non-technical audience is also valued by employers. In any verbal communication, you should always ensure that you speak carefully and clearly so that you are easily understood. Examples include:
Logical ReasoningSound reasoning skills are important. You need to be able to demonstrate that you are capable of considering all the facts, thinking them through intelligently to reach important decisions. 19. Making DecisionsWithin many different roles, you will be expected to make decisions - from prioritising your workload through to managerial decisions involving staff, working patterns or processes. To do so, you will need to deploy logical reasoning to assess the information that you have and make the best decision in the current situation. Examples include:
20. Methodical ApproachCertain tasks in the workplace require a methodical approach, particularly those that are complex or involved. This may mean breaking the task down into more manageable segments or splitting the task between a team. Approaching a project methodically will produce better results than simply jumping straight in and trying to find an immediate solution. Examples include:
21. Identifying Patterns or ConnectionsWithin many different roles, finding patterns, evaluating data and reaching conclusions is essential for the business. Positions such as marketing, business analysis and even general management all require candidates to demonstrate the ability to identify patterns. These could relate to performance, customer retention, sales or finance. Examples include:
22. ResearchReviewing information, collating data and reaching informed decisions features significantly in many different roles. As a core competency, it involves looking at data from a critical perspective, seeing the bigger picture and identifying gaps so that you can explore all possibilities. Examples of this competency include:
23. Problem SolvingSolving problems is a fundamental skill that all employees should possess. It could range from something as simple as addressing a staff shortage through to something much more technical, such as overcoming a major stumbling block during the course of a project. Examples include:
Transferable CompetenciesWhile some of the above competencies relate to specific industries, there are several competencies which are ‘transferable’. This means that you can take them from one industry such as marketing and apply them in another such as IT. 24. ResourcefulnessBeing resourceful is all about finding innovative ways to overcome obstacles or solve problems. It can also relate to finding ways to deal with unforeseen or challenging situations using the resources that you have available. Examples include:
25. TrustworthinessIn the workplace, honesty is a sign of trust. Colleagues and clients depend on your ability to make trustworthy decisions and provide an honest service. Being trustworthy can also relate to your ability to get things done without being constantly chased, or completing work without it being checked to ensure it is of the right standard. Examples include:
26. Stress ReductionAlthough a certain degree of stress in the workplace is normal, things can spiral out of control. Excessive stress can impact on many different areas, including your emotional health. It is impossible to control everything in your working environment, but you should implement steps to reduce your stress levels. Being able to cope well under pressure and facing excessive amounts of stress are completely different things, so you need to be able to distinguish between the two and seek the support of a senior colleague if required. Examples include:
27. Moral Principles and Ethical StandardsEthics are all about moral principles or knowing the difference between right and wrong. They can also refer to behaviours and standards such as how you carry out your work and the way in which you handle certain situations. Examples include:
28. Planning and OrganisationBeing able to effectively plan and organise your workload is very important, particularly in careers such as law, finance and even marketing, as these are industries that are extremely deadline-driven. Planning is about coordinating your resources and budgets to meet deadlines or achieve targets. Examples include:
29. Business AcumenEmployers want to see that you have an aptitude for business. This could be reflected in your knowledge, qualifications or achievements through your work or academic studies. Examples include:
Technical CompetenciesCompetencies in this category relate not only to computer skills but also to your ability to think creatively, devise innovative systems and processes and develop policies to facilitate operations. Technical competencies are set to become ever more important to the graduate workforce. 30. Creative thinkingDeveloping innovative solutions and thinking creatively is important in a number of different sectors. It can relate to using mind mapping to brainstorm ideas or looking at something from a different perspective. Examples include:
31. Technical CapabilitiesThe ability to identify how you can use systems and technology to improve ways of working. It may be implementing a new strategy for collecting customer data, or rolling out a system to collect performance data. Examples include:
32. Computer LiteracyIn many industries, you will be required to operate various computer systems and familiarise yourself with different software packages. This could range from the basic Microsoft Office to more complex computer software for roles such as accountancy or website design. Mastering certain computer skills is essential in certain roles. Examples include:
33. Data ManagementThis is important for collecting, managing and reporting data. It involves the capacity to use data to improve processes and operations while analysing results and presenting findings to others. Examples include:
34. Equipment and Program KnowledgeIf your role involves delivering technical support to customers, you need to acquire in-depth knowledge of equipment and programs. This not only allows you to deliver excellent customer service but to also diagnose and troubleshoot problems more quickly. Examples include:
35. Policies and PlanningPolicy development establishes a foundation on which businesses build their culture and values. Consequently, understanding how policies are created and more importantly how to comply with them is an important competency that many employers will look for when recruiting new team members. Examples include:
Any post that you apply for will usually incorporate several of the above competencies. If you can demonstrate how you apply each competency, drawing on past academic or work experience, there's every chance that you will succeed and go on to secure an interview. What are core competencies of an organization?Typically, a core competency refers to a company's set of skills or experience in some activity, rather than physical or financial assets. An organizational core competency is an organization's strategic strength. Honda's strategic strength, for example, lies in its engine and propulsion systems.
What are the 3 main core competencies?The 3 Core Competencies. Communication.. Thinking.. Personal and Social.. What are the 5 core competencies that you would want a manager to have and why?What Are The Top 7 Competencies Of A Great Manager?. Communication. Being able to communicate your own 'vision' to the team is so vital for any manager. ... . Delegation. ... . Motivating Others. ... . Organising & Task Management. ... . Patience. ... . Building Effective Teams. ... . Self-development.. What is a core competency and why is this important?For any organization, its core competency refers to the capabilities, knowledge, skills and resources that constitute its "defining strength." A company's core competency is distinct, and therefore not easily replicated by other organizations, whether they're existing competitors or new entrants into its market.
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