WorkReady Competencies™
SydneyTalent has defined twelve competencies that describe effective and desirable workplace behaviour. These competencies are derived from the University of Sydney's Generic Graduate Attributes and the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) Employability Skills frameworks.
Easy to understand, observe, and measure, these competencies form the foundation of our WorkReady™ programs and provide students with a clear guide for evaluating their performance in the workplace.
These competencies underpin our WorkReady Essentials™ training workshops, as well as our WorkPlace Performance Development™ process, and they closely align with employability skills and behaviours commonly valued and required by graduate employers –
- Interpersonal communication
- Teamwork
- Relationship management
- Critical thinking & problem solving
- Initiative & responsibility
- Creativity & innovation
- Flexibility & resilience
- Planning & organisation
- Results orientation
- Continuous learning
- Application of technology
- Business acumen
SydneyTalent WorkReady Competencies™ − High level definitions
Interpersonal communication
Expresses thoughts, ideas, and information effectively, using either verbal or written formats; communicates in a clear and appropriate manner, using logical structure, accurate grammar, and language tailored to the reader/audience; uses active listening to understand the audience's background, needs, expectations, and reactions.
Team work
Works effectively with others within a team through collaboration, active listening, support, understanding, and respect, to develop cohesive relationships and achieve mutual goals
Relationship management
Establishes, builds, and maintains rapport and fruitful working relationships inside and outside immediate teams; networks effectively with others; relates well to people of all backgrounds and at all levels
Critical thinking & problem solving
Identifies and gathers information; probes for clarity; thinks systematically; evaluates and integrates key issues and problems to generate rational and appropriate conclusions and solutions
Initiative & responsibility
Takes personal responsibility for own work and actions; initiates timely decisions and commits to definite courses of action independently; effectively expresses own ideas and vision, and acts of own accord in a confident, proactive, and self-motivated manner to generate activity or change
Creativity & innovation
Introduces original and/or imaginative ideas and solutions to work-related issues; identifies fresh approaches and shows a willingness to see things from a variety of perspectives; uses new ideas to initiate improvements and/or changes in the workplace
Flexibility & resilience
Effectively copes with and adapts to changing tasks, responsibilities, priorities, pressures, and/or different audiences; deals well with ambiguity at work; is accepting of new ideas; handles criticism well; adjusts interpersonal style as appropriate; maintains optimism and emotional control
Planning & organisation
Identifies priorities and sets objectives; assists in planning and/or monitoring of tasks, projects, activities, people and/or resources; establishes contingencies; manages time effectively
Results orientation
Sets high quality and quantity standards; works through each aspect of a task or project to achieve goals and completion; works diligently; accepts and tackles demanding goals and obstacles
Continuous learning
Actively seeks ideas, information, and different perspectives; rapidly learns, understands, and assimilates new information; learns from both successes and mistakes; is responsive to feedback from others; continuously enhances own knowledge and skills through professional development; effectively manages information
Application of technology
Applies discipline specific and/or technical capability at work; shares knowledge with others; uses technology to achieve work objectives
Business acumen
Demonstrates business sense; shows an understanding of − the commercial context and processes of the company; products and services; internal or external stakeholders and clients; markets and the external competitor landscape; builds awareness of the company’s strategy, targets, risks, and opportunities