FOR THE WIN COMPETENCIES

As we’ve previously mentioned, our work environment is ever increasingly considering far more than just experience and work history when it comes to finding the right talent for companies. You may have Heard terms such as “competency-based reviews” and “Competencies interviews” since competencies are being valued more and more in internal processes. That’s why we’ve decided to use this space to talk to you, issue by issue, a little bit more about competencies so you get to know them better.

In this issue we’ll start with the basics… what even are competencies?

Well, the reality is that their concept has existed for quite a while and there are in fact many different definitions coming from different authors, usually depending on the topic they are being applied to. At the end of the day, all definitions agree that competencies are a series of characteristics necessary to perform an activity effectively.

Applied to the work environment, we wish to propose to you the following definition of competencies as “Knowledge, attitudes, abilities and skills that a colleague needs to succeed in their job”. This means that if you have these competencies developed, you’ll probably have a good time at your job!

Knowledge

Information developed or learnt through experience, study or research.

Skills

The results of applying knowledge multiple times.

Competencies

Abilities

Innate potential to perform physical or mental tasks.

Attitudes

An individual’s behaviour or observable reaction towards a determined situation.

Now, another main feature of a competency is the fact that they are transferable and flexible. This means that you are able of applying them in more than one job position in a similar fashion, though of course in different grades and potential.

The best way to explain this is through an example. Imagine a surgeon and their activities. Now think what kind of competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, or attitudes) they would need to succeed at their job. Have you thought them yet? Well, you may have thought of “knowing how to perform surgery” as one of them, being a surgeon and all. Well, you may be shocked to know that this skill would not be considered a “competency” since it is a rather specific one that very few other job positions would need to know.