Understanding Competencies in the Professional World

Types of Employers, Introduction to Competencies, Skills Versus Competencies

Some years ago, when executives and managers began to realize that employees' skills were not the only factor determining their success, they started to use competencies. Competencies are a concept taken on board by human resource departments to measure a person's appropriateness for a particular job.

What is a Competency?

In simple terms, a competency is a tool that an individual can use in order to demonstrate a high standard of performance. Most organizations recognize two main groups and then have numerous subgroups into which competencies can be further divided.

Competencies in the Business World

There has been a lot written about competencies. It is easy to see how people can become easily confused by the terminology. However, competencies are an important tool in self-development, or as an employer looking for the best candidate for a job.

Types of Competencies

Competencies can be divided into two distinct types: technical competencies and personal competencies. An example of a personal competency is: "Demonstrates respect for the opinions of others, even when not in agreement."

How to Express a Competency

As you can see from the examples above, there is a particular way of expressing competencies. They are usually divided first into the two subcategories mentioned above and then into a more detailed list.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What are competencies?

A competency is a tool that an individual can use in order to demonstrate a high standard of performance.

Because they help achieve success.

Competencies are a concept taken on board by human resource departments to measure a person's appropriateness for a particular job.

An individual can use their competencies in order to demonstrate a high standard of performance, including things like knowledge, aspects of leadership, self-esteem, skills, or relationship building.

The two groups into which they are divided are technical competencies and personal competencies.

Grammar Exercise

Complete these sentences with the correct form of the verb in brackets:

1. Books are written (write) by authors.
2. The pictures and illustrations are drawn (draw) by artists.
3. A special program is used (use) to teach students how to write stories.
4. Most books are sold (sell) by bookshops.
5. Lots of books are bought (buy) online through companies like Amazon.
6. The website is designed (design) to advertise the new titles.
7. Books are printed (print) on paper.