Crack the Competency Code - Identify, Improve, and prepare for excellence

 Competencies encompass the skills, behaviour, and knowledge required for a role. As an example, the competencies for a senior management role can include: Skills such as Communication and Data Analysis Knowledge about Change Management and Policy Development Behaviours such as Emotional Resilience.

Why are competencies significant?

• Critical Thinking: It allows you to think beyond your current skills and consider the other aspects that you might need to perform a role.

• Career Development: By identifying and developing your competencies, you are more likely to maximise new opportunities.

• Marketability: A wider range of competencies can increase your attractiveness to potential employers.

How to identify your competencies:

• Self-reflection is a key starting point. This enables you to identify your current competencies and highlight areas for development. Using the description for your dream job can highlight how well your competencies align with those required for your desired role.

• Reviewing feedback from your managers, peers, and stakeholders.

• Psychometric tests and assessments can highlight competencies and gaps.

How to develop your competencies: Once you have identified the gaps in your competency, you will need to consider the actions you can take to address them. Your choice of action will depend on your aspiration, time, money, and circumstances. Actions can include mentoring, coaching, accredited courses, or training.

How do employers assess competency at the job interview stage? Using the TED framework allows interviewers to ask you competency-based questions. TED is an acronym for Tell, Explain and Describe.

Here are some examples:

Tell me about a time your experience of working with stakeholders.

Explain the strategies you have used to deal with negative customer feedback. Describe how you have developed a high-performance team.

In addition to TED questions, interviewers can use role play, assessments, group tasks, and presentations to assess your competency.