An applicants guide to
This document aims to provide you with some helpful tips to use the College Competency Framework.
This document will show you how to find the competencies for the role you are applying for.
You will also be shown how to use the competency framework in your application form.
The full Competency Framework document can be found in the vacancies section on our website, or by using the following link:
http://www.hopwood.ac.uk/UserFiles/Documents/Competency%20Framework%20amended%20March%202011.pdf
Overview
The competency framework is applied to all roles within the College outlining behaviours required for the role. There are seven core
areas covered, which are:
 Collaboration & Team working
 Continuous Improvement
 Customer Focus
 Communication
 Problem Solving
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Planning & Organising
Commercial Awareness
There are an additional three areas which are only applicable to roles which require management behaviours, these are:
 Managing & Developing
 Leading & Motivating
 Leading Change
Role Description & Person Profile
When you apply for a role at the College there will be a role description & person profile. The role description outlines the duties of
the role and the person specification outlines what the qualifications, skills, knowledge and competency behaviours the person
carrying out the role is required to have.
When applying for a role with the College the person profile will indicate which of the competencies are required and which level of
behaviours you will need to demonstrate, as shown below.
Competency
Collaboration and Team work
Continuous Improvement
Customer Focus
Communication
Problem Solving
Planning and Organising
Commercial Awareness
Managing and Developing
Leading and Motivating
Leading Change
Level (only one is required)
Either 1,2,3 or 4
Either 1,2,3 or 4
Either 1,2,3 or 4
Either 1,2,3 or 4
Either 1,2,3 or 4
Either 1,2,3 or 4
Either 1,2,3 or 4
Either 2,3,4
Either 2,3,4
Either 2,3,4
How to use the competency framework in the your application
Within the supporting statement, you should show how you meet the competencies providing examples. Taking the level from the
person profile look at the corresponding level in the competency framework, so for example:
If the level for Collaboration &
Team working was set at level 1
you would use this box:
These bullet points are
behavioural indicators.
In your application you should:
provide an example of
collaboration and team working
where you demonstrated all the
bullet points.
The negative indicators are
undesirable behaviours.
Repeat this for each of the competencies, ensuring you use the level from the person profile.
Tips
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Check the competency levels on the person profile:
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Provide real examples of how you demonstrate the behavioural indicators, such as: “an example when I have shown
excellent customer service was…” “a major problem I had to solve was… which required me to…”
The competencies are also used for selection during interviews.
Examples can be used for more than one competency, successful applications clearly show each competency and how the
examples meet them.
If you require any further assistance please contact the HR Department here at the College.
The competency framework can be found at http://www.hopwood.ac.uk/UserFiles/Documents/Competency%20Framework%20amended%20March%202011.pdf
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