Skills behaviors and Competencies

Skills behaviors and Competencies

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Section II- ������� Competencies, Key Behaviors & Sample Questions

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Achievement Oriented

Analytical Ability

 Communications Skills (Oral & Written)

 Creativity

 Decision Making Skills

 Diversity Orientation

 Flexibility

 Initiative

Interpersonal Skills

 Job Motivation

 Judgment

 Leadership

 Management Skills

 Persuasiveness

 Planning and Organizing Skills

 Presentation Skills

 Problem-Solving Skills

 Team Building/Team Work

 Time Management

Competencies, Key Behaviors

and Job-Related Questions

Job competencies are the skills and personal characteristics that an individual should possess in order to be successful in a position.� Below is a list of commonly identified competencies for which we have created examples of key behaviors.� On the pages that follow you will find questions that address specific competencies.� We hope they will be helpful to you as you begin the process of developing your interview questions.

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Competencies

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� Achievement Orientation	� Job Motivation
� Analytical Ability	� Judgment
� Communication Skills (Oral & Written)	� Leadership
� Creativity	� Persuasiveness
� Decision Making	� Planning and Organizing Skills
� Diversity Orientation	� Presentation Skills
� Flexibility	� Presentation Skills
� Initiative	� Problem Solving Skills
� Interpersonal Skills	� Team Building/Team Work
	� Time Management

You should feel free to create your own competencies, key behaviors and questions that apply to your specific recruiting needs.� In addition you�ll want to identify the job-specific skills needed, i.e., PC experience, ability to travel, etc.

Achievement Oriented

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Identifies and accomplishes challenging objectives or personal goals.

Key Behaviors

Questions to Ask

� Establishes challenging short-and long-term goals.
� Takes initiative, persists at tasks and pursues completion of objectives. � Takes reasonable risks. � Overcomes obstacles and resistance to change.
� Engages in healthy competition.

Additional Key Behaviors	Additional Questions to Ask

Analytical Ability

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Reviews & analyzes a wide variety of information and recommends a specific course of action.

Key Behaviors

Questions to Ask

� Grasps new concepts, approaches and systems. � Examines & interprets a wide variety of data/information and makes recommendations or decisions.
� Defines parameters of task and desired objectives. � Develops results-oriented conclusions.
� Anticipates problems, opportunities and needs of the organization and the constituent.
� Organizes ideas and information in unique ways.

Additional Key Behaviors

Communication Skill (Oral & Written)

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Takes the initiative to communicate accurate, up-to-date plans and information to subordinates, peers, and management.� Expresses thoughts clearly, both verbally and in writing.� Listens and understands the views of others.

Key Behaviors

Questions to Ask

� Writes in a concise and organized manner. � Writes results clearly & grammatically. � Appears knowledgeable & confident in communicating information.
� Shares information with others to help them perform their jobs & seeks information from others. � Is sensitive to the communication levels required by different audiences.
� Listens actively & speaks clearly and directly. � Conducts effective meetings.

Additional Key Behaviors

Creativity

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Develops new ideas and unique and novel solutions to problems.

Key Behaviors

Questions to Ask

� Challenges current procedures to develop other alternatives.
� Seeks ways to improve all aspects of the job.
� Brainstorms to develop suggestions and new ideas. � Develops several approaches or solutions to a problem.	�

Additional Key Behaviors	Additional Questions to Ask

Decision-Making Skills

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Makes decisions while exhibiting judgment and a realistic understanding of issues; ability to use reason, even when dealing with emotional topics.

Key Behaviors

Questions to Ask

� Identifies purpose and objectives.
� Gathers and analyzes data and develops rationale for decision. � As appropriate, involves subordinates and others in making decisions.
� Considers alternatives and assesses their impact and potential problems. � Implements decision and evaluates results.

Additional Key Behaviors

Diversity Orientation

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Recognizes and values the benefits in the diversity of people, ideas and cultures.� Encourages differences as a way to enhance group productivity.

Key Behaviors

� Treats each person in the department as an individual with individual needs and issues.	�
� Maintains and enhances the self-esteem of others. � Understands and responds to others� needs and priorities. � Values differences among team members.
� Promotes equal treatment while refusing to tolerate workforce bias or racism. � Gives equal time to all staff within department.

Additional Key Behaviors	Additional Questions to Ask

Flexibility

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Recognizes and responds to unanticipated events and requirements.� Willing to do what is necessary to get the desired results.

Key Behaviors

Questions to Ask

� Copes successfully with unexpected events. � Handles several projects simultaneously.
� Adapts own behavioral and communication style to gain cooperation of managers, co-workers, peers, customers or suppliers. � Adapts well to, and supports, change. � Brings simplicity and order out of complexity and chaos.

Additional Key Behaviors

Initiative

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Actively seeks opportunities to make a contribution rather than passively accepting situations.� Takes action to achieve goals beyond what is necessarily called for; originates action.

Key Behaviors

Questions to Ask

� Actively seeks solutions to problems before being asked or directed.
� Questions the way a process is done and suggests changes.
� Initiates self-development efforts.
� Seeks additional job responsibilities to assume.
� Looks for new ways to contribute to the business.	�

Additional Key Behaviors	Additional Questions to Ask

Interpersonal Skills

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Establishes productive, cooperative relationships with subordinates, peers and management.� Understands and responds to others� needs and priorities.� Resolves conflict in positive ways.

Key Behaviors

Questions to Ask

� Resolves conflict in positive ways. � Gives and seeks feedback that will increase the productivity of relationships.
� Deals with the diverse behavior of others in groups in order to increase the group�s productivity.
� Maintains and enhances the self-esteem of others.
� Recognizes strengths and limitations of self and others.

Additional Key Behaviors	Additional Questions to Ask

Job Motivation

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Maintains a high level of interest and enthusiasm for job responsibilities.� Has demonstrated record of being� a self-starter and self-motivated.

Key Behaviors

Questions to Ask

� Takes pride and derives satisfaction in one�s job.
� Assumes ownership for getting the job done. � Enthusiastic about taking on challenging projects.
� Goal oriented; concerned with achievement & doing better.
� Makes plans and follows through.

Additional Key Behaviors	Additional Questions to Ask

Judgment

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Weighs alternative courses of action and makes decisions that reflect factual information and are based on rational and logical assumptions that take organizational resources into consideration.

Key Behaviors

Questions to Ask

� Makes sound decisions by considering alternatives.
� Considers impact in other areas of the organization.
� Weighs alternatives and selects practical solutions.
� Reviews decision to see if it satisfies long-range plans.

Additional Key Behaviors	Additional Questions to Ask

Leadership

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Uses appropriate interpersonal styles and methods to guide individuals or groups toward achieving results.

Key Behaviors

Questions to Ask

� Develops and communicates a vision of challenging goals, growth and progress. � Motivates others to work together toward common objectives.	� Describe a situation in which you had to gain cooperation of others outside of your organization where you had no direct authority.� What were the challenges and how did you overcome them?
� Successfully gains cooperation in situations where the person has no direct authority.	� Have you ever developed a mission statement for your department?� How did you go about it?
� Works effectively in cross-functional groups.	� Describe the role you usually take in a task team situation.
� Takes on a leadership role in school, work and/or community.

Additional Key Behaviors	Additional Questions to Ask

Management Skills

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Motivates, trains, and develops a diverse workforce and provides an environment conducive to achievement and growth.

Key Behaviors

Questions to Ask

� Delegates effectively and acknowledges accomplishments. � Responds positively to innovative ideas and suggestions from subordinates.
� Resolves personnel problems quickly and effectively. � Communicates plans and information to staff in a timely & thorough manner. � Promotes teamwork and cooperation within the department. � Meets budget responsibilities. � Provides constructive, ongoing feedback. � Balances concerns for results, deadlines, tasks, and people.

Additional Key Behaviors

Additional Questions to Ask

Persuasiveness

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Utilizes appropriate interpersonal styles and methods to gain agreement or acceptance of an idea, plan, activity or product.

Key Behaviors

Questions to Ask

� Gains approval of a plan or idea by focusing on the benefits of the proposal to the audience.
� Persuades people from various levels, positions or backgrounds by using a variety of interpersonal techniques and approaches. � Improvises, thinks quickly on his/her feet.
� Sells ideas despite resistance.

Additional Key Behaviors	Additional Questions to Ask

Planning and Organizing Skills

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Establishes a course of action for self or others to accomplish a specific goal.

Key Behaviors

Questions to Ask

� Develops plans to achieve objectives.
� Identifies resources needed to accomplish objectives. � Resolves conflicting priorities and accomplishes work on time. � Utilizes a �to do� list, calendar, or some type of planning tool. � Maintains a balance and awareness of status of all projects. � Anticipates obstacles and ways to overcome them. � Develops short-and long-range plans.

Presentation Skills

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Expresses oneself in a clear, concise manner during individual or group situations.

Key Behaviors

Questions to Ask

� Presents in a confident and enthusiastic manner when addressing people in a large or small group.
� Demonstrates a sound knowledge of the subject matter. � Delivers information in a clear, concise, and logical manner. � Gains acknowledgment of audience and is able to understand the communication level required.
� Effectively uses various audio-visual media to enhance presentations.

Additional Key Behaviors

Problem Solving Skills

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Identifies and defines problems through the gathering of relevant information leading to the development of alternative solutions.

Key Behaviors

Questions to Ask

� Identifies the existence and cause of a problem
� Brainstorms potential solutions. � Identifies conditions that solutions must meet. � Evaluates alternative courses of action. � Identifies key people involved in evaluating solutions to the problem. � Implements solutions and evaluates results.

Additional Key Behaviors

Team Building/Team Work

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Promotes cooperation within the department and in interactions with other departments.� Values differences among team members and can manage work groups with diverse influences.

Key Behaviors

Questions to Ask

� Promotes open participation and communication within department and throughout the organization.
� Shares pertinent information with all members of the team. � Adapts to other people�s behavior style in order to achieve the desired goals of the team. � Provides opportunities for subordinates to participate in project teams, task forces, etc., for development purposes.
� Promotes a team spirit within and outside department; partners with other groups.

Additional Key Behaviors

Time Management

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Manages a variety of responsibilities in a timely, efficient manner.

Key Behaviors

Questions to Ask

� Effectively prepares and uses a daily �to do� list.
� Allocates time to planning, thinking and mapping out tasks. � Assigns priorities to tasks. � Controls time spent in attending meetings. � Controls interruptions.

Additional Key Behaviors