Beyond CV: The importance of competencies in recruitment
When I began my career in recruitment, I quickly discovered that a resume showcasing impressive skills wasn't sufficient to predict a candidate's success. It was the competencies—a unique combination of skills, knowledge, and behaviours—that truly distinguished individuals. This insight transformed my approach to recruitment and deepened my understanding of what makes a candidate genuinely valuable.
Defining skills
Skills are the specific abilities or technical expertise a person has acquired to perform tasks. These are often developed through education, training, or experience, are typically measurable, and can be learned relatively quickly.
Examples of skills include:
- Using software like Excel for creating spreadsheets and conducting data analysis.
- Mastering programming languages.
- Communication skills.
In an earlier blog, we presented a method by Uppsala University on how to find your hidden skills. Specially developed for students, but also suitable for candidates at all levels.
Understanding competencies
Competencies, however, are more comprehensive. They encompass skills, knowledge, and behaviours that enable effective performance in a particular role or situation. Competencies include not only what someone can do (skills) but also how they do it, their decision-making capabilities, and their ability to apply skills in real-world contexts.
Examples of competencies include:
- The ability to analyze data, interpret trends, and make informed decisions that influence business strategy.
- Critical thinking and business acumen.
The importance of competencies over skills
In my opinion, competencies are more crucial than skills. A resume that focuses mainly on skills can be misleading in the recruitment process. Competencies offer a more complete picture of a candidate and their potential to excel in a role. They demonstrate how someone applies their skills and manages complex situations.
See Beyond the CV and the use of interview techniques
To truly understand a candidate's skills, you need more than just their CV. Personal interaction and good interview techniques are key. Talking directly with candidates shows their real strengths and flexibility, which might not be clear on paper. Using structured and behavioural questions helps fairly assess their skills. Interviewers should listen actively to learn more and connect with candidates. By combining personal interaction with systematic questions, employers can better understand a candidate's abilities and how well they might fit into the company culture.
The role of professional recruiters
A professional recruiter, like Beyondo, can look beyond the resume to identify a candidate's true competencies. This leads to more successful recruitment because it’s not just about what someone can do, but also how they do it and how they adapt to various situations.
By focusing on competencies, recruiters can ensure they are selecting candidates who not only have the necessary skills but also the right approach and mindset to thrive in their roles. This holistic view of a candidate's potential can significantly improve the recruitment process and lead to better long-term outcomes for both the candidate and the organization.
