What are
competencies?

“Competencies” are the knowledge, skills and attributes that you use at work, school, and in other environments. They can involve expertise that you already have but don’t know how to describe.

Let’s say you’re an expert with your smart phone and use it to keep track of appointments, social activities and academic work. This everyday activity has probably helped you develop a competency in communication and organization—not bad! For example: Accurately organized my schedule using calendar software and communicated with a diverse group of individuals to plan events and complete projects in a timely manner.

How are competencies described?

How are competencies described?

Competencies are described in ways that are:

• Observable
• Measurable
• Linked to the workplace, academic environment and other life experiences
• Transferable
• Based on performance

What makes up a competency?

What makes up a competency?

A competency is made up of the following three elements: skill, knowledge and attribute.

A skill is about doing something well – your ability to choose and perform the right technique at the right time. It’s usually developed through training and practice. For example, you could become a skilled writer by practicing writing in a particular style. You can become skilled at being safe in the workplace by practicing techniques during classroom exercises or labs.

Knowledge is the information that you know, including theories, facts and procedures, and the ability to apply this information in different situations. For example, you could have knowledge about different communication styles.  You may know the key steps to plan a program or project and be well versed in strategies for evaluating success. Putting these together takes knowledge.

An attribute is an inherent characteristic or quality and is often expressed through what you think, do and feel. For example, you could be known for staying positive and calm in challenging situations. You may also bring a 'can-do' attitude to your work - able to try new things, ask for new assignments and demonstrate initiative.

Together, these three elements make up a competency. For example, you could develop competency regarding communication by practicing your writing and listening skills, acquiring knowledge about different communication styles and learning techniques that help you keep calm under pressure. Or you might develop competency around workplace safety by taking a natural attribute like attention to detail, and using it to practice safe work techniques (skill development) and then researching new and different methods (gaining knowledge) that can be implemented to increase safety.

RESOURCE: Want to take this information to go? Download the What makes up a competency-info sheet and add it to your career file.

Why use
competencies?

Most employers are assessing potential and existing employees based on their competencies rather than on skills alone.

If you can describe your competencies, you’ll have an advantage as you apply for a wide range of opportunities. You can describe your competencies in your applications, résumés and cover letters and talk about them during your interviews. You can use your competencies to further develop your knowledge and understand how your school, work and other experiences align.

There are 3 main reasons to identify, develop and express your competencies.

RESOURCE: Want to take this information to go? Download the Why use competencies - info sheet and add it to your career file.

1) Express your value to employers

1) Express your value to employers

Employers often ask competency-based or behavioural questions during the interview process. This type of question includes questions like:

• Tell me about a time when you had a communication breakdown with a co-worker
• Please give me an example of how you've used teamwork to solve problems
• Describe an experience that demonstrates your research and analysis competence 

If you were asked to “give an example of when you had a conflict with someone at work”, you could answer by telling the employer how you used your communication and personal management competencies to mediate the conflict so that everyone was satisfied with the outcome.

2) Reflect on your experiences

2) Reflect on your experiences

Consider your past work experience to assess your own competency development and you’ll:

• Improve the quality of your work
• Measure your progress towards your goals
• Identify your own competency level and employability

3) Strengthen the link between your academic and workplace learning

3) Strengthen the link between your academic and workplace learning

Thinking about the competencies you’ve developed through your experiences can help bring your learning to life. You’ll bring competencies into the classroom and apply them to your classroom projects. You can also use your academic, volunteer, athletic and other extracurricular experiences when describing your competencies to employers, supervisors and others.

By applying your competencies in different situations, you’ll learn faster and understand yourself even more. Plus, you’ll wow employers and others with examples of how you’ve applied your competencies in diverse scenarios.

RESOURCE: Want to take this information to go? Download the Why use competencies - info sheet and add it to your career file.

Where to develop
competencies

• Formal education (university, college or continuing studies)
• Work experience (paid employment, contracts, volunteer work, co-op work terms, internships and more)
• Training (workshops, seminars, certificate course, professional traning and more)
• Life experiences (travel, recreational activities, interests, hobbies, community involvement, family commitments and more)

EXERCISE: Use the Where to develop competencies - info sheet to think of new opportunities to develop your competencies.

Assess and express
your competencies

You can assess your competencies before, during and after your work and life experiences. Want help? Contact a career educator or speak with your co-op coordinator.

How to assess your competencies

How to assess your competencies

You can learn to be competent in a wide range of areas and in many contexts, including work, home, school, athletics, volunteering, etc. You may demonstrate our competencies well in one context and less well in others. For example, you may be able to demonstrate an accomplished level of communication in a school setting
but are only beginning to develop this competency in the workplace.

EXERCISE: Use the How to assess your competencies - info sheet to learn how to complete a competency assessment, and then use the Competency assessment - worksheet to:

• Document your current competencies
• Describe your competencies

How to express your competencies

How to express your competencies

Whether you’re exploring new career options, or considering further education, describing your competencies effectively will demonstrate your value to prospective employers or programs.

Analyzing your competencies will help you understand what you’ve accomplished and figure out what you want or need to do next.

EXERCISE: Use the How to express your competencies - info sheet to learn how to put together a competency inventory about your work of life experiences. Then use the Competency statement - worksheet to document those competencies.

RESOURCE: Need a strong verb to write your competency statement? Take your pick from the Action verb list - info sheet.

How to identify competency gaps

How to identify competency gaps

Reflecting on your work, school and life experiences will help you determine your current competency level, AND help you identify areas of improvement.

EXERCISE: When documenting your current competency level, use the Competency statement - worksheet to identify gaps and plan your next steps.