The Mysterious Language of Competencies

Introduction and housekeeping

In your groups Introduce yourself to the others in your group Why have you come to this session today? What do you know already about ‘competencies’?

Objectives By the end of this session you will: Understand what competencies are and why they are important Have looked at the Competency Framework for your degree programme Have considered your own individual mix Have identified which competencies you want to work on Have practised describing your competencies and the situations in which you developed them

What is a ‘Competency’? Competencies are: The skills and experiences you have already The skills and experiences you will want to develop to be able to confidently pursue your goals – whatever they are The skills and experiences that employers look for when they recruit for a role

Competency Development 4. Unconscious Competence: “I am so familiar with this skill that I no longer need to think about how to do it well” 3. Conscious Competence: “I have learned how to do this skill and I know the processes I must go through to perform” 2. Conscious Incompetence: “Now I’ve tried this skill, I realise that I need to learn how to do it” Using the example of learning to drive, play a musical instrument or do a sport is a great way to demonstrate this model. 1. Unconscious Incompetence: “I have never tried and I have no idea how bad I am at this skill!” Four Stages of Competence - Model developed by Noel Burch, Gordon Training International,

Competency Framework Specific to your degree programme Guide to the competencies that you have from your degree and other activities Help you in applications and interviews for internships, graduate jobs or further study

What competencies do I get from my degree? Working in teams and leading others Communication: written/verbal Meeting deadlines and project planning Self management and motivation Technical skills/subject knowledge Also from membership of societies/part-time work/volunteering On top of this: your values, interests and motivations You each have a unique combination

How will employers assess your competencies? Assessed throughout whole application process (CV/cover letter/application form/interview) Demonstrate your competencies using the STAR approach SITUATION/TASK/ACTION/RESULT Happy Ending (make it measurable and positive!) Important to provide evidence of each skill

Competency Framework for your degree Insert URL of completed tailored Competency Framework here

Competency Framework Team-working Scientific Leadership & Management Skills Leadership & Management Potential Ethical and sustainable practice Communication Self – management & motivation Professionalism Professional Development Commercial and business operation

Sports teams and societies Laboratory practicals Previous employment School activities: eg. Duke of Edinburgh Award Tutorials Previous employment: Supervision of staff School activities: eg. Duke of Edinburgh Award Sports teams and societies

Oral Presentations Tutorials Project reports Poster Presentations Written assignments Balancing Work vs Play Previous work experience Final Year Project Meeting deadlines Perseverance during difficult work

Fundraising Activities Previous work experience Modules studied at A-level and during degree Committee Position in Student Society Summer placements Volunteer Programs Previous work experience Involvement in student societies Outreach Activities

Maintaining accurate records of your experiments and your work Awareness of plagiarism and fabrication in your work Understanding good laboratory practice Managing research projects Subject knowledge from degree – module results Technical experience of biological techniques Technical knowledge from Laboratory placements Understanding of biological techniques

Thinking about your competencies In your groups, look at the competencies you have been given. Using the Competency Framework as a starting off point, describe the competencies you have, and how you developed them. Write these examples onto your flipchart page and be ready to discuss them.

How to talk the talk Describing competency in team- working: On a CV…… Experience of working within groups including planning, co-ordinating and implementing. Gained from laboratory placements and organising sporting tournament for netball team. As a result of efficient team working during a laboratory placement, the hypothesis was answered and the assignment was graded 80%.

How to talk the talk Describing competency in team- working: On an application form….. During my undergraduate degree I regularly perform group laboratory practicals, where I have gained experience in team-working. In this setting I plan and co-ordinate experimental tasks within a small group. I have learnt how to work well with others and efficient planning resulted in 1st class grades in the associated assignments.

How students talk about their competencies Insert appropriate videos of students articulating their competencies.

What competencies are employers looking for? And how to find them! Some adverts may be very vague Look at the descriptions for similar positions Read company websites (company values) Look at job descriptions for other job roles within the company

What competencies are employers looking for? And how to find them! …….should be proficient in Microsoft office software (Word, Excel, etc.). Previous experience in ornithological and habitat survey skills would be an advantage. A clean driving licence is essential and access to a personal vehicle is advisable given the remote nature of the field station…….The candidate should be fit and capable of working alone in mountainous areas.

What competencies are employers looking for? And how to find them! The role will provide the opportunity to learn enzyme assays as well as cell and molecular biology techniques……The successful placement student will have the opportunity to work on drug discovery projects at different stages. They will work within multi-disciplinary project teams, but will also have the opportunity to work independently on their own research project. More emphasis on the role itself rather than the competencies but can still directly pull them out

What competencies are employers looking for? And how to find them! Look at person specification and job advertisements you have been given: What are the competencies required? How do they relate to the Competency Framework you’ve been given? How many of these competencies can you demonstrate? Look carefully at the job advert and description and use this to identify the skills and expertise that are required in this role Sandwich placements – may not have person specifications

Summary Employers use the language of competencies to describe the skills required for a role You will have gained and will be developing competencies from your degree and other activities Competency framework available insert the site of your edited Competency Framework/HEA document Consider examples of the competencies you have and evidence of them, STAR and Happy Ending