12 Core Competencies

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

Different job types require specific competencies, however these 12 competencies are the most commonly recognized behaviors required for success in nearly all career fields. Organizations will explore these core competencies in the job interview by asking competency based interview questions, otherwise known as behavioral interview questions.

What is a competency?

You will find many different definitions of this concept. Here we define a competency 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 identified for job success

Judgment/decision-making - able to make sound decisions based on information gathered and analysed. Consider all pertinent facts and alternatives before deciding on the most appropriate action.

Teamwork /interpersonal - able to interact with people effectively. Able and willing to share and receive information. Cooperate within the group and across groups. Support group decisions.

Quality Orientation/work standards - maintain high standards, attention to detail, accuracy and completeness. Show concern for all aspects of the job.

Work Ethic/motivation - Energy and enthusiasm in approaching the job. Commitment to putting in additional effort.

Reliability - take personal responsibility for job performance. Complete work in a timely and consistent manner. Keep commitments.

Problem Analysis/problem solving - gather and organize all relevant information. Identify cause-effect relationships. Come up with appropriate solutions.

Planning /organizing - plan and organize tasks and work responsibilities to achieve objectives. Set priorities. Schedule activities. Allocate and use resources properly.

Communication - express ideas effectively. Organize and deliver information appropriately. Listen actively.

Honesty/integrity - share complete and accurate information. Maintain confidentiality. Adhere to organizational policies and procedures. Meet own commitments.

Initiative - take action to influence events. Generate ideas for improvement, take advantage of opportunities, suggest innovations, do more than required.

Stress tolerance- emotionally resilient and able to withstand pressure on an on-going basis. Deal with difficult situations while maintaining performance. Seek support from others when necessary. Use appropriate coping techniques.

Assessing the 12 core competencies in the job interview

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

A more detailed explanation of this sort of job interview can be found at The Behavioral Interview.

A list of behavioral or competency based interview questions with sample answers can be found at Behavioral Interview Questions. These behavioral or situational interview questions can be used to explore the 12 core competencies.

Behavioral Interview Answers

Go to Behavioral Interview Tips to find out the competencies relevant to different job types.

Visit this comprehensive list of Free Job Descriptions to find which competencies are required for your particular job.

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