Didn''t get a job I wanted - requested feedback

[Rhea]

Which I''m fine with, honestly. Since that interview I have switched jobs and really like my current job.

I wrote to the lady at the job I didn''t get for feedback and I have a couple of questions. I feel like a lot of interview questions are BS so I''m having some trouble understanding the feedback in a real way (and I''m a smart person!).

"I am writing to offer you some feedback following your interview. As you will be aware our assessment process is based on our competency framework. At the interview there were a few areas in which you did not provide enough evidence to support the required level of competence."

What the heck is a competency framework? The letter goes on to list a couple of things, such as problem solving and decision making. The problem in these areas was that I used the word "we" too much and therefore didn''t demonstrate MY ability. I worked in a team and was applying to work in another team. My team of three did everything together. So in describing my current job I used "we". I don''t think I''ve yet perfected the balance between talking myself up in an interview and showing that I work well in a team and don''t take all the credit! I also didn''t describe working with diversity well enough apparently (kinda bitter about that, the way the question was worded was crap and I asked her to repeat it a couple of times). Oh well.

But really, what is a competency framework?

 

[scarleta]

"But really, what is a competency framework? "

Addy : I wish you lots of good luck in your new job.

As for your question: its just a polite way to say something ( It means nothing really.)
Its like saying:" how do you do"
It is considered polite thing to say which requires no response.
That is how I would interpret it..

 

[Deelight]

The only way I understand a competency framework is in an educational framework (used to assess in schools) so I don''t know if this will apply to what your asking

But essentially it is a key set of skills that you either demonstrate that you can do or you can''t there is no in between.

I hope that helps answer

 

[Gypsy]

Sounds like jargon to me. A fancy way of saying : we were looking for certain things, and we didn''t feel you had them. That those things are? Who knows?

 

[miraclesrule]

Date: 5/2/2008 7:08:36 PM
Author: Gypsy
Sounds like jargon to me. A fancy way of saying : we were looking for certain things, and we didn''t feel you had them. That those things are? Who knows?

I agree with Gypsy. It sounds like jargon. When they get that vague and ambiguous with technical jargon, it''s just a foo-foo sounding snow job. Probably intended to intimidate. I bet the person who sent you the response couldn''t even define what it meant.

I agree that most interviews are BS anyway. I''m often dumbstruck at the questions people ask and honestly, sometimes I just want to laugh out loud.

 

[strmrdr]

competency framework == a set of skills needed to fit the job requirements as seen by HR which has nothing too do with the requirements to actually do the job.
In other words you didn''t get a check-mark on an item on a checklist.

Its one of the latest up and coming Buzzwords.
I have heard it used a few times now at clients.
Someone one someplace is pushing it at seminars.

 

[iheartscience]

Sorry you didn''t get that job, but since you''re happy now, it seems like everything worked out. I agree with storm and others-it sounds like pure jargon to me.

As far as interviews go, I used to interview tons and tons (literally hundreds!) of people in a previous job, and as an interviewer, I basically looked for someone who was confident, intelligent and well spoken. Honestly, job experience probably wasn''t at the top of the list when it really came down to it. I''m sure I interviewed people who seemed technically better qualified than others, but if they didn''t come across confidently, it just didn''t matter as much. So if you are comfortable talking about yourself and your accomplishments, it makes you seem confident and competent, in my opinion.

I personally interview pretty well, and I think the key is that I basically talk myself up the entire time. My twin sister had a couple of job interviews last week, and she''s pretty shy and nervous at interviews, so I just drill into her over and over again that she needs to sell herself, brag about herself, and come across as confident and composed.

I know it''s hard to brag about yourself (well it''s not that hard for me in an interview, but most people can''t do it!) but that''s just what you have to do. Also, you can Google common interview questions and practice your answers, too.

Sorry-I know you didn''t ask for advice but I just went over all this with my twin sister last week (she got the job!), so I''m in an interview mode!

 

[VRBeauty]

In the situation you described, where your work was done as part of a team, you need to be able add information to distinguish your role from that of the rest of the team. Maybe you had the you have the stronger organizational, analytical, or communication skills... you can be honest about the teamwork while still letting the interviewer know more about what you would bring to her organization. (When I interview someone who talks about "we's" accomplishments, I usually ask a follow-up question about their specific contributions. However some interviews are very structured and don't allow for that, and there's always the possibility that I've already decided they're not a good fit for other reasons.)

 

[Rhea]

Thanks guys!

Interviews here are so different to what I''m used to in the US. It seems like in the jobs I''ve applied for people like to use more, um, interesting questions and buzzwords of the moment. And they always tell you what time your interview will be rather than working with you to pick a time. I think I got off to a bad start with this company when they wanted me to come in two totally separate afternoons at particular, unflexible times and I had trouble clearing it with my current boss without flat out saying I was interviewing for a job.