How to Write a Competency Statement for a Resume
A number of companies have begun requesting competency statements as part of resumes or as part of the job application process. According to HRDictionary, a competency statement is a listing of the important skills or training an employee needs to do a job. Competency statements can be very simple or quite complex, depending on the job; at a certain level of detail they also serve as a pre-screening mechanism for hiring managers, as you really have to to know a good bit about doing a job to write a thorough competency statement.
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Instructions
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Create an outline for your competency statement. Select a set of two to five core competencies, each with at least two sub-competencies. A competency statement for a high-level professional job could conceivably have more than five core competencies, and sub-competencies can even reach double-digits in some cases.
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Write a concise descriptive paragraph for each core competency. Do not just create an outline or listing of the core competencies and sub-competencies, but instead describe examples of the skills, knowledge or other qualities you brought to bear to get a specific project done, and how you have the potential to apply them in a new job in the future.
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Pay attention to the word limit for the competency statement, if there is one. If the length of the competency statement is not specified, it is reasonable to take up to a half a page or so in describing each core competency.
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Ensure that all of the competencies you claim are accurate and backed up by education or work experience in your resume. Most hiring managers routinely cross-reference skills and education as part of the candidate selection process, and even if your exaggerated competency statement does get you in the door, it is likely to lead to some awkward questions in your interview.
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Tips & Warnings
Use strong, positive language and avoid using qualifiers. Expressions like "superior communication skills" or "the campaign was extremely successful as sales more than doubled" are perfectly fine.
Follow the instructions for preparing and formatting the competency statement. If no specific instructions are given, the general expectation is that a competency statement is prepared as a separate document to be submitted along with a resume.
