Key Focus Areas for the Competency-Based Application Form

First and foremost, to secure a Competency-based Interview, you need to have

completed and submitted a good Competency-based Application Form that

impresses ‘Interview Screeners’ and then the actual ‘Interview Board’. The

Application Form, when completed to the best it can be, makes for an easier

Interview gives you confidence before and during the interview and gives the

Interview Board confidence in you during the Interview.

Competency-based Application Forms are complex documents with various rules

and guidelines that need to be obeyed and followed by the applicant.

Some rules and guidelines include:

• Following the allowed word count
• Following character count (with spaces)
• Following character count (without spaces)
• Sticking to the space allowed
• Following the hiring organisation’s preferred structure;

o STARLIS

o STAR

o ABC

• Meeting the criteria of the Competency title
• Meeting the criteria of the Competency explanation
• Writing current examples
• Writing examples that are work-based, not personal- / hobby-based
• Writing examples that are relevant to the job being applied for

So, as you sit down to write examples to competencies in Competency-based

Application Forms, focus on the following:

1. Study the Job Description
2. Study the Competency Title Criteria
3. Choose examples that are as recent as possible
4. Check for grammar and spelling
5. Follow their guidelines to a ‘T’

Study the Job Description

The Job Description is the bible when it comes to completing Application Forms. One

would be amazed, how many candidates / applicants fail to look at it, and if they do,

they do not tailor their application around it. It is all about the organization and the

job you are applying for and every part of the Application Form needs to reflect this,

not just your examples.

Study the Competency Title Criteria

Every Job Description (or sometimes called ‘The Candidate Information Booklet’ in

the public sector) contains detailed information and explanations on what each

competency means and what needs to be demonstrated i.e., on-the-job experience,

skills and talents. Address, bring in, each key criteria statement(s) / words in your

examples.

Choose examples that are as recent as possible

Try to use examples to write about that occurred in the past one to three to five

years, if possible i.e., the most recent. They must meet the criteria of the

competency title and criteria. If there is an example(s) that best meet the

competency, however, they go back 10 years or so, then you could / should consider

using them.

Check for grammar and spelling

We are always told not to trust spell and grammar checks in Microsoft; however, they

have improved immensely now and do not miss much. It would be recommended

that you print your examples on paper and read and check them before submitting.

Follow their guidelines to a ‘T’

Most public sector organisations provide guidelines on how to develop, write and

complete examples of the competencies (as outlined above). You need to respect

and follow these. If you don’t, you could be disqualified before you get to the interview

stage, a stage that is first on the journey to secure a new job, a promotion or a career

change.

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