Competencies

Author: Mshahara Kenya   |   Posted on: October 04, 2011

We have already discussed the curriculum vitae in great detail, but the CV is only your foot in the door. At the interview, the organization will be trying to get more information on you and on whether you are a good fit for the organization. The questions asked are geared to find out what you know about the organization and for them to hear the argument for how your skills will further the organizations goals.

Employers all over the world are looking for employees who have a drive for achievement. This is characterised as an employee who is enthusiastic and energetic in his job. Organizations want someone who is motivated by success and job satisfaction mainly and not on monetary terms. That means that they are self driven, can work with minimal supervision and take initiatives to exceed organizational goals. At the interview, questions will be asked to gauge the candidates’ flexibility and resourcefulness.

Relationships in the work place are a very important aspect that interviewers must consider. Every individual has a role to play in the organization and if one person creates disharmony, they are the person to be removed. At the interview, panellists may throw dilemmas at the interviewee to gauge how they interact with other people, looking for people who lead by example, those who can network with the aim of building internal and external relationships and those who work well with others.

An interviewee’s dynamism is also measured by how well he reacts to change. The business world is ever changing and thought leadership on how to harness opportunities is a skill employers are looking for. If you can identify and initiate change while understanding what it can do for the organization, then you are well on your way to becoming indispensable.

Using logic and analytic skills are the necessary skills needed for strategic thinking. Strategic thinking is the ability to identify threats and opportunities, manage multiple priorities and thus be able to see the outcome of any action undertaken with the connections to the different aspects of the business. For example, an employee must understand how an executive decision focussed on sales would affect the marketing, production, procurement, accounting, HR and finance functions.

A deep understanding of how the business works and the ability to apply commercial principles with the aim of financial progress are other key skills that are sought.
The customer is the most important aspect of any business; without whom the organization would not exist. Employers are looking for people who recognize the importance of the customer and anticipate their future needs. As with the networking skills, they are also applied with regard to the customer as customer relationship management is how the organization keeps making money.

Man is not a stagnant being; he will develop if exposed to the right conditions. But employers are not only looking for people who make continuous improvements but also those who take an interest in the development of others on the side of learning new skills, mentoring and coaching colleagues and challenging the status quo; because doing the same thing begets the same results.

It is up to the interviewee to show how he has acquired these skills through his school life, extra curricula activities and work experience. Connecting with the panellists as to how your competencies complement the organization is a sure way of getting more than your foot in the door.

Tips for the Interview

• Arrive at the venue 10 minutes before the interview. Too early, and you look desperate. Late, and you look incompetent with poor time management skills. 10 minutes allows for the panellists to disengage themselves form previous engagements and to browse through your CV and generally prepare to meet you.

• Carry a copy of your CV to refer to during the interview. Also, carry a notebook and pen to take down questions to ask the panellists as the meeting progresses and also to note their observations.

• If you are in an artistic line of work, carry your portfolio in a clear cover binder to present to the panellists. Humans are visual creatures and any such presentation would put them in the right frame of mind. If you aren’t in the artistic field, you could carry appraisals from previous employers.

• Do your research on what the company does, who their competitors are and what exactly the job entails. All this info can be found by going to the company’s website, calling the PR and HR departments to get more information.  The Annual Report is a minefield of information.

• Do not quote your research spewing facts and statistics will not impress the panellists. Instead integrate the information with that on your CV. Create connections between the company’s objectives and what you can do for them.

• During the interview, ask questions. And not on the remuneration and benefits of the job. Ask questions with regard to the businesses future and how it’s dealing with the competition. These types of questions show an avid interest in the business and an understanding of its operations.