12 Core Competencies

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These are the 12 core competencies that have been identified as
critical for successful job performance.

Different jobs demand different
competencies, however these twelve competencies are the most commonly
recognized behaviors required for success in nearly all career fields.

Competence and skills keyword illustration with words

Organizations will explore these 12 core competencies in the job interview by asking competency-based interview questions, otherwise known as behavioral interview questions.

First it is important to understand what a competency is.

What is a competency?

You will find many different definitions of this concept. Generally a
competency is described as the knowledge, skills and behavioral
attributes necessary for acceptable job performance.

Knowledge refers to previous education and experience, skills refers to the technical or practical skills required to perform the job and behavioral attributes refer to personality characteristics that are key to successful job performance.

The 12 core competencies for job success

Decision Making

Uses sound judgment to make good decisions based on information gathered and analyzed.
Considers all pertinent facts and alternatives before deciding on the most appropriate action.
Commits to decision.

Teamwork

Interacts with people effectively. Able and willing to share and receive information.
Co-operates within the group and across groups.
Supports group decisions and puts group goals ahead of own goals

Work Standards

Sets and maintains high performance standards.
Pays close attention to detail, accuracy and completeness.
Shows concern for all aspects of the job and follows up on work outputs.

Motivation

Displays energy and enthusiasm in approaching the job.
Commits to putting in additional effort.
Maintains high level of productivity and self-direction.

Reliability

Takes personal responsibility for job performance.
Completes work in a timely and consistent manner.
Sticks to commitments.

Problem Solving

Analyzes problem by gathering and organizing all relevant information.
Identifies cause and effect relationships.
Comes up with appropriate solutions.

Adaptability

Adapts to changing work environments, work priorities and organizational needs.
Able to effectively deal with change and diverse people.

Planning and Organizing

Plans and organizes tasks and work responsibilities to achieve objectives.
Sets priorities. Schedules activities.
Allocates and uses resources properly.

Communication

Expresses ideas effectively.
Organizes and delivers information appropriately.
Listens actively.

Integrity

Shares complete and accurate information.
Maintains confidentiality and meets own commitments.
Adheres to organizational policies and procedures.

Initiative

Takes action to influence events.
Generates ideas for improvement, takes advantage of opportunities, suggests innovations.
Does more than required.

Stress Tolerance

Displays emotional resilience and the ability to withstand pressure on an on-going basis.
Deals with difficult situations while maintaining performance.
Seeks support from others when necessary and uses appropriate coping techniques.

Assessing the key competencies

This is done by asking the job candidate competency-based or behavioral interview questions that explore these competencies.

A competency-based interview
question will ask the candidate to provide an example of when he or she
displayed the required competence or behavior in the past. For example:

“Tell me about a recent problem you discovered. What steps did you take to sort it out?”

A more detailed explanation of this type of job interview can be found at the behavioral interview guide

Exploring the 12 Core Competencies

A list of behavioral or competency-based interview questions with sample behavioral interview answers can be found at behavioral interview questions

Behavioral Interview Answers

Go to job-related competencies to find out the competencies relevant to different job types.

5 core competencies for a post-pandemic world

COVID 19 has changed the world of work. Here are 5 core competencies that are likely to be in high demand going forward.

Adaptability – the ability to adapt to the changes that are happening in the way companies operate and work is critical for survival going forward. Companies will look for employees who can demonstrate agility and flexibility in responding to new demands and challenges.

Creativity – the importance of creativity and innovation has been highlighted during the pandemic. Companies and employees have had to come up with new ways of doing business in order to respond to new demands.

Critical thinking – the ability to accurately and objectively evaluate data has become essential in a world overwhelmed with different ideas, arguments and information. Employees who can identify and analyze data systematically will be able to make sound decisions.

Resilience – the ability to maintain effectiveness in the face of difficulties has been widely put to the test during the pandemic. Employees with strong coping skills will be able to remain productive in the face of challenges.

Self management – the ability to organize one’s day, self discipline and the motivation to achieve goals independently is essential with remote work. Taking personal ownership of job performance is vital to goal attainment.

5 core competencies for a post Covid-19 world diagram

Leadership and management competencies

Find out about management competencies at What Makes a Good Manager?

Leadership Competencies

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Job duties, responsibilities and competencies

Visit these job description samples to find out which of the 12 core competencies are required for your specific job opportunity.

Job Descriptions for over 70 different jobs.

Job Interview Guides for assessing the key competencies required for over 35 different jobs.

Resumes and cover letters

Highlight relevant job competencies in your resume and cover letter.

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