Consider the audience
Use action words to describe your competencies, such as “I designed,” “I created,” or “I implemented.” This will help you come across as proactive and results oriented. While it’s important to provide specific examples, it’s also important to be concise and focused. Avoid rambling or going off-topic when describing your competencies.
Tailor your message to the audience and the situation. Consider the context and the interests of the person you are speaking to and adjust your message accordingly. Practice describing your competencies in a clear and concise manner. This will help you feel more comfortable and confident when communicating your skills and abilities.
While it’s important to showcase your strengths, it’s also important to be humble. Avoid bragging or exaggerating your abilities, as this can come across as arrogant. Seeking feedback from others to get a sense of how you are communicating your competencies. This can help you identify areas where you may need to improve or clarify your message.
Job Descriptions & Competencies
Look at the job description or requirements to identify specific skills and competencies that the employer is looking for. Use this as a guide to tailor your message and highlight the skills that are most relevant to the position. Even if you don’t have direct experience in a certain area, you may have transferable skills that can be applied to the position. For example, if the job requires strong communication skills, you may be able to highlight your experience working on group projects or presenting information to a team.
By following these steps, you can effectively communicate your competencies and demonstrate your skills and abilities to others. It’s important to be clear, concise, and specific when describing your strengths, and to tailor your message to the audience and situation.
Strengths and Opportunities
When identifying your strengths and competencies, it’s important to focus on the skills and abilities that are most relevant to the position or opportunity you are pursuing. For example, if you are applying for a job in marketing, you may want to highlight your skills in market research, data analysis, and communication.
According to Harvard Business Review, here are the 10 most common job interview questions and how to answer them.
Using specific examples and stories can be a powerful way to illustrate your competencies. Be sure to provide enough detail so that the listener can visualize the situation and understand the impact you had. For example, when describing your problem-solving skills, you could describe a specific challenge you faced, the steps you took to address the issue, and the positive outcome that resulted from your efforts.
Using action words and active voice can help you come across as proactive and results oriented. For example, instead of saying “I was responsible for managing a team,” you could say “I led a team of five employees to achieve a 20% increase in sales over the course of six months.”
Connecting with your listener
Tailoring your message to the audience and situation can also help you connect with the listener and demonstrate your understanding of their needs and interests. For example, if you are speaking with a potential employer, you may want to highlight the skills and experience that are most relevant to the job description.
Finally, seeking feedback from others can be a useful way to improve your communication skills and ensure that your message is clear and effective. Consider practicing with a friend or mentor or recording yourself and reviewing the footage to identify areas for improvement.
Overall, when describing your competencies, it’s important to be confident, clear, and specific. By highlighting your strengths and providing concrete examples of your abilities, you can demonstrate your value to potential employers, colleagues, or collaborators.
