Why?

An increasing number of companies and industries in Canada, including the natural gas industry, are using competencies as a basis for hiring, advancement, development, and other human resource decisions. Major industries and professional bodies use them to support certification, registration, and licensing. These practices provide greater assurance that the minimum standard of skills, knowledge, and abilities required to work successfully and safely in an occupation have been met.

 

Tasks and Competencies

A simple way to think about a job is as a series of tasks.

• Tasks describe what needs to be done.
• Competencies describe how the task or job is done.

Competencies are observable skills, knowledge, abilities, motivation, or traits defined in terms of the behaviours needed for successful job performance.

General Competencies

Companies that use competencies often have a list of general competencies which they designate as being a requirement for almost any job in the company. It helps employers hire people with common skills which in turn reduces the risk of hiring people who “don’t fit” in the organization, but also supports efficient performance management, training and development, advancement, and mobility (assignment to projects, lateral movements between jobs) once an individual has been hired.

Table 1 highlights the competencies that natural gas employers, in fact many employers, look for in their employees, and in particular when hiring new employees.

Benefit of Competencies

Competencies help:

• Employers communicate expectations about how a job should be performed
• Job seekers, employees, and contractors
  – understand what a job is, what the employer wants and how to do it to the standard the employer expects
  – communicate their skills, knowledge, and experience to employers in a way that they can understand.

For example, a job posting may list “good communication skills” as a requirement, without explaining what that means.

Written as a competency for a specific safety-related job, “good communication skills” might mean: “identifies and conveys job site hazards to others verbally and in writing”.

 

How do I Know What Competencies I Have?

Look at the general competencies shown Table 1. Each competency includes a name, a definition, and a description of what to look for in terms of behaviours that show proper use or application of the competency.

Generally, you have a competency if you can do all of the following:

• Demonstrate clear knowledge and understanding of the competency
• Demonstrate the ability to use the competency correctly
• Show evidence that you have applied the competency, consistently, with minimal or no guidance, in the full range of typical situations for the position over time.

 

Table 1: General Competencies Natural Gas Employers Look For

Competency	Adaptability
Definition	Works effectively alone and with co-workers from diverse cultures, in ambiguous or changing situations.
What to look for	Adapts to the situation. Changes own behaviour or approach to suit the situation. Flexibly applies rules or procedures, while remaining guided by the organization’s values. Adapts behaviour to perform effectively under changing or unclear conditions.

 

Competency	Attention to Detail
Definition	Works in a conscientious, consistent, and thorough manner.
What to look for	Demonstrates concern for thoroughness and accuracy. Identifies multiple sources/approaches of information to ensure that details are addressed. Reviews the work of others for accuracy and thoroughness. Follows up to ensure tasks are completed and commitments are met by others. Verifies that work has been done according to procedures and standards.

 

Competency	Concern for Safety
Definition	Maximizes safety at work.
What to look for	Creates a safe working environment for self and others. Identifies hazardous or potentially hazardous situations. Takes appropriate action to maintain a safe environment for self and others. Recommends improved safety procedures. Identifies types and applications of safety signs and/or warning and traffic lights. Posts or installs safety sign/lights, signs according to government regulations and company policies. Maintains awareness of locations of other workers and equipment at all times. Follows workplace safety policies and procedures. Adheres to BC Occupational and Health Regulations. Participates in workplace safety and health management activities.

 

Competency	Interactive Communication
Definition	Listens to others and communicates clearly.
What to look for	Foster two-way communication. Recalls others’ main points and takes them into account in own communication. Checks own understanding of others’ communication (e.g., paraphrases, asks questions). Elicits comments or feedback on what has been said. Maintains continuous, open, and consistent communication with others.

 

Competency	Problem Solving
Definition	Identifies problems and the solutions to them.
What to look for	Solves standard problems. Identifies standard problems based on a range of factors. Identifies alternate solutions, considering applicable precedents. Identifies optimal solutions based on weighing the advantages and disadvantages of alternative approaches. After implementation, evaluates the effectiveness and efficiency of solutions.

 

Competency	Quality Focus
Definition	Produces output that meets the quality standard set by the organization and take action to solve or notify variations to quality.
What to look for	Exceeds quality standards set by organization. Is fully aware of quality standards set by the organization. Follows the policies and procedures for quality set by the organization. Works at a level that consistently meets and often exceeds quality standards set by the organization.

 

Competency	Resilience
Definition	Remains energized and focused in the face of ambiguity, change, or strenuous demands.
What to look for	Adapts to ongoing or regular strenuous work demands. Remains effective and retains perspective in the face of difficult or demanding situations (pervasive ambiguity, frequent change, high workloads). Views disruptions as challenges rather than threats. Adjusts personal coping mechanisms to deal with disruptions.

 

Competency	Teamwork
Definition	Works collaboratively with others to achieve team goals and organizational goals.
What to look for	Proactively assists and involves others. Initiates collaboration with others. Assumes additional responsibilities to facilitate the achievement of team goals. Seeks input from other team members on matters that affect them.

 

Competency	Work Ethics and Values
Definition	Demonstrates and supports the organization’s ethics and values.
What to look for	Demonstrates the organization’s ethics and values. Supports diversity and treats others fairly and respectfully. Regularly arrives at work on time for shift assigned with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Notifies supervisor in advance, or as soon as possible, if unable to meet work schedule commitments. Makes decisions that reflect the organization’s ethics and values, even in the absence of popular support. Takes responsibility for own work, including ownership of problems and issues. Avoids conflicts of interest and reports concerns to supervisor.

 

Competency	Writing Skills
Definition	Communicates ideas and information in writing so that it is understood and has the desired impact.
What to look for	Conveys basic information Writes brief, factual material (e.g., notes; email; standard letters). Writes clearly, using correct grammar, spelling and punctuation. Avoids slang or social media abbreviations. Communicates respectfully and avoids derogatory language.

 

Learning Activity 3: Create a Job Competency Checklist for your Employment Plan

This learning activity will help you identify competencies you already have and select an example from your past where you have demonstrated it..

Instructions

1. Read through the general competencies on the preceding pages
2. Fill out Form 4 using the criteria in Form 4 to identify the general competencies that you have
3. For each competency, think of an example from your work experience, or some other part of your life experience, that shows how you have applied or used the competency properly
   • Write your example in the space provided as if you were explaining it to an employer
4. Working with a classmate, review each other’s Competency Checklists and provide constructive feedback
   • Listen carefully to how your classmate describes their example; is it understandable? If not, help them clarify it.
5. Place your completed Competency Checklist in a separate folder where you can store all of the pieces of your employment plan as you complete them.

Learning Activity 4: Create a Career or Job Summary for your employment plan

This activity will help you identify careers and jobs in the natural gas industry that are interesting to you, and then determine which ones you would like to pursue.

Instructions

1. Re-visit Website 1 and review the information there
2. Take the Choose Your Future in Oil & Gas Interactive Quiz
3. Select one of the careers or jobs you listed in the Form 5, My Career and Job Choices, and then complete Form 6, Career and Job Summary
4. Complete Form 5, My Career and Job Choices
5. Place both completed forms in your employment plan folder.

Learning Activity 5: Create a Career/Job Skills and Qualifications Checklist

This activity will help you determine how qualified you are for a specific career or job that you are interested in.

Instructions

1. Select one of the career/jobs you identified in learning activity 4, or re-visit website 1 and select a different one
2. Complete Form 7, Job Skills and Qualifications Checklist and place in your employment plan folder.