Skills vs Competencies: Learn the Real Difference
It is more important than ever to understand the differentiation between skills and competencies in today's work market. Understanding differences between skills and competencies can assist job seekers in making better decisions.
Although skills and competences are not the same thing, most people treat them as the same thing. Here we will discuss skills and competencies, their types, differences, etc. So, it will be helpful for all job seekers.
What are Skills?
Skills are the abilities that are used to accomplish specific tasks or activities. They can be interpersonal, practical, or technical. Skills are gained through experience and learning. Skills are easily measurable, too.
There are many different skills. These include speaking another language, designing a website, and using a spreadsheet.
People get them through experiences, on-the-job training, or in-class environments. Generally, people list their skills in their CVs or resumes. People used to list their valuable skills, like problem-solving skills, strategic planning, or computer programming.
What are Competencies?
Competencies differ from skills. It is a collection of skills, habits, and knowledge that are needed for a particular job. It is not all about skills. It's about how often and how well someone does them. It also includes the behaviour they use to succeed.
Like, an individual may have the skill to communicate effectively, but a leadership competency includes decision-making abilities, motivation, and communication skills. Due to this, the competences are more extensive and detailed than skills.
Types of Skills
There are many different types of skills, and all of them play a different role in different jobs. Some of them are as follows:
Hard Skills
Hard skills are those skills that a person can do. They are specific skills. Many people list their skills in their CVs or resumes when they are applying for jobs.
These skills are also called technical skills and are tested by many interviewers during the hiring process. They include typing speed, coding, data entry, and some specific software skills.
Soft Skills
Soft skills are habits that show how someone interacts with others and which behaviours they will use. They are interpersonal skills. These include communication, empathy, adaptability, etc.
The person who has these skills will perfectly perform a leadership role in any group work or as a management leader, etc. These skills are not measurable.
Technical skills
Technical skills are a form of complex skills. The specialisations in some hard skills are known as technical skills. These skills include expertise in programming, using software tools, etc.
Many recruiting agencies consider those candidates who have these technical skills. People who have these types of skills will boost their careers in the IT or AI fields easily.
Transferable skills
Transferable skills are those skills that are used in many different companies. These skills include organisation, management, critical thinking, etc.
These are used in many different jobs, like finance, healthcare, etc. These are very flexible skills and are easily adaptable.
These are some basic types of skills that are needed for different jobs.
Types of Competencies
There are many different types of competencies, and all of them play a different role in different jobs. Some of them are as follows:
Core Competencies
The essential qualities of a person that are needed for doing a job are known as core competencies. These qualities may include integrity, communication skills, etc.
These are those qualities that are needed to build the values of the organisations. Like, if the team works in a company is its core competency. This is because it gives value to the organisations.
Technical Competencies
Technical competencies are those competencies that are specifically related to the hard skills. These competencies are needed in many jobs. Many organisations highlight these competencies in their job descriptions.
It includes the maintenance of specific software tools and data, and analysis etc. These competencies are mostly used in IT fields, accounting, and in health care centers, etc.
Behavioural Competencies
Behavioural competencies are shown by a candidate's behaviour. These include the behaviour of a candidate in some pressurised situation, their calmness, etc.
Most of the time, these competencies are checked by the interviewer through competency-based questions. These competencies are a must for career success in any field.
Leadership Competencies
These competencies are the most important ones for those who have a leading role or are in management. These include coaching, the solving of conflicts, and strategic planning etc.
A person with these competencies can build an inspiring team and also manage the values of the organisation. These competencies are a combination of some skills and behaviours.
These are some basic types of competencies that are widely used.
Difference between Skills vs Competencies
There are some significant differences between skills and competencies, and these are:
Specific
Skills are the specific abilities that can be learned and applied in various places. These include speaking multiple languages, developing Android applications, etc. On the other hand, competency is the collection of different skills and the ability to perform them in a specific role.
They are broader than the skills. Like having the ability to run a business is a skill, but knowing all the terms and values of business and then running it with confidence is a competency.
Measureable
Skills are measurable, but competencies are not because skills are measurable by checking their performance. Like, the recruiter will check whether you know how to use the specific software or not.
On the other hand, competencies are not measured instead, they are seen in the candidate's behaviour after some time. Like how the candidate deals with a serious situation or how they behave with other members, etc.
Many of the companies use the competency framework to check the candidates on how they deal with situations in real life. Many of the HR managers or recruiting teams will use this to check the skills gaps and the work for their improvement.
Performance
Skills are those that are used to perform some tasks, like making posters, dealing with software tools, etc. The other competency is how well you perform the specific task. This will include how you deal with others making decisions, etc.
Competency is the quality of your work, not just completing it. Competency involves the candidate's interpersonal skills, their calmness, etc.
Taught
Skills are taught in the school classes, in different training, etc, like using software tools, etc. On the other hand, Competencies are not taught in the training or schools. They come from the combination of learning and experience.
You will learn how to use the tool and manage the project in training and schools. But you will be competent in this by doing it and dealing with real-life experiences.
These are some of the main differences between Skills and Competencies.
Final words
In today's job market, there is a need to understand the difference between skills and competencies. This would be beneficial for all the job seekers and employers to understand this difference. Skills are the specific abilities to do a particular task.
On the other hand, competencies are broader; they include the behaviours, knowledge, and experience for doing a specific task. If a person develops the right combination of skills and competencies, then it will be helpful for them in supporting long-term career progression. This will also remove the skills gaps. Giving focus on both of these terms will give a tool for growth and success.
FAQs
Do job roles require a mix of skills and competencies?
Yes, many of the job roles require both skills and competencies.
Is ‘problem-solving’ a skill or competency?
Yes, problem-solving is a skill, but when it is used in many of the decision-making processes, then after a time, it will also turn into a competency.
Can focusing on competencies improve career growth?
Of course, it will help to improve career growth. If you are focused on your work as not just completing it, but instead giving your best, then it will lead you to career growth too.
Why do recruiters care about competencies?
Recruiters care about competencies because they show how the candidate deals with situations in real life.
What is a competency framework?
A competency framework is a system that many organisations use. They use this system to assess and develop competencies that are needed for specific jobs.
