UCAS - Glossary of competencies

Glossary of competencies

A competency is defined as fundamental knowledge, ability, or expertise in a specific subject area or skill set. For each competency listed below, there are questions that you can ask yourself to help you to identify your skills. Visit the reflective questions page to view them.

Achievement orientation	Maintains and inspires a results-driven approach, focuses on results and critical performance indicators.

Adaptability / flexibility	Maintains effectiveness in a changing environment.

Analysis	Relates and compares data from different sources, identifying issues, securing relevant information and identifying relationships.

Attention to detail	Accomplishes tasks through a concern for all areas involved, no matter how small.

Commercial awareness	Understands the economics of the business. Understands the business benefits and commercial realities from both the organisation's and the customer's perspectives.

Creativity	Generates and/or recognises how best practice and imaginative ideas can be applied to different situations.

Decisiveness	Makes decisions and takes action.

Financial awareness	Understands basic financial terminology used in organisations and is able to construct and maintain simple financial records.

Image	Presents a strong, professional, positive image to others at all times. This image is consistent with all people (colleagues, management and peers, customers etc.).

Influencing	Influences others by expressing self effectively in a group and in one to one situations.

Initiative	Identifies opportunities and is pro-active in putting forward ideas and potential solutions.

Interpersonal sensitivity	Recognises and respects different perspectives and appreciates the benefits of being open to the ideas and views of others.

Judgement	Determines the most appropriate course of action and draws conclusions that are based on logical assumptions that reflect factual information.

Leadership	Takes responsibility for the directions and actions of a team.

Life long learning and development	Develops the skills and competencies of self, peers and colleagues through learning and development activities related to current and future roles.

Listening	Shows by a range of verbal and non-verbal signals that the information being received is understood.

Organisation understanding	Understands the organisation's work environment, internal politics, business objectives and strategy.

Organisational sensitivity	Is sensitive to the effect of his or her actions on other parts of the organisation and adopts a mature, direct and up front style in dealing with conflict.

Personal development	Maintains an up to date personal development plan and takes action to ensure personal development takes place.

Planning and organising	Establishes a course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a specific goal. Plans proper assignments of personnel and appropriate allocation of resources.

Process operation	Begins, controls and concludes a complete process or procedure.

Professional expertise	Keeps up to date with developments in own areas of professional specialisation. Applies a breadth and/or depth of professional knowledge.

Questioning	Uses an appropriate approach to questioning in order to gain information from which to draw conclusions and/or assist in the making of decisions.

Teamwork / working with others	Builds and develops appropriate relationships with academic staff, peers, colleagues, customers and suppliers at all levels within an organisation.

Technical application	Has experience of using modern technology.

Technical knowledge	Develops and maintains a knowledge of key trends in technology.

Tolerance for stress	Maintains performance under pressure and / or opposition.

Written communication	Expresses ideas effectively and conveys information appropriately and accurately.