Competency Match
Competency Match Tool
Practical tools to support more consistent, skills-focused hiring and candidate assessment. Many employers face challenges identifying candidates who are the right fit for a role, even when applicants meet formal education or experience requirements.
Developed by Medicine Hat Economic Development, the Competency Match Employer Playbook provides practical tools to support a more structured and consistent approach to hiring. It helps employers define roles clearly, assess candidates using common criteria, and make more informed hiring decisions.
You can follow the full hiring journey or select an individual tool based on your immediate needs. Explore the content below for practical tools to support more consistent, skills-focused hiring and candidate assessment.
Competencies can include how someone communicates, approaches problem solving, organizes their thoughts and responsibilities, adapts to challenging circumstances, and works independently or with others. Unlike a credential or number of years of experience, a competency focuses on how someone approaches and performs their work.
Follow the Hiring Journey
Our comprehensive hiring templates and interactive tools provide the tools and resources needed for an accurate and structured candidate assessment and hiring process. Click below to find the tool you need for your stage of the hiring process.
Define the Role
Identify the competencies required for the role and use them to create a clear, skills-focused job description. These tools will help you determine the right competencies and build a job description before hiring.
Review Applications
Evaluate applications against the same role requirements and identify where more information may be needed. These tools provide guidance and structure while reviewing applicant resumes and applications.
Set Expectations
Help candidates understand the process, what they will be asked to demonstrate and how they can prepare. These tools will help candidates understand the role and prepare for their applications/interview.
Assessments
Use structured interviews and job simulations to gather consistent, role-relevant evidence from candidates. Assessment tools include how to run a structured interview and a job simulation (in-person or virtual).
What is a competency? A competency describes how someone applies their skills, knowledge, and judgment at work.
Use the Playbook Your Way
Complete each stage in order to build a consistent hiring process from beginning to end, or begin with the tool that addresses your current hiring need.
Each tool includes practical guidance, examples and templates that can be adapted to different roles, industries and workplace settings.
Choose the Competencies
Identify the competencies that are most important for success in a particular role. Use this tool when you're 1) creating a new role, 2) reviewing or redefining an existing role, 3) updating a job description, and/or 4) preparing to review the submitted applications.
Build the Job Description
Create a clear job description based on the work that needs to be performed, and the competencies required for success. Use this tool when you're 1) creating a new job posting, 2) revising an existing job description, and/or 3) after selecting the priority competencies.
Screen the Applications
Compare applications using a structured scorecard based on the competencies required for the role. Use this tool when 1) selecting candidates for interviews, 2) comparing several candidates, and/or 3) determining what should be explored during the assessment.
Prepare the Candidates
A straightforward guide that explains the competency-based hiring process and helps candidates prepare. Use this tool when 1) you are preparing for an interview as a candidate or 2) when introducing a competency-based hiring process.
Run a Structured Interview
Conduct competency-based interviews using consistent questions and scoring criteria. Use this tool when 1) interviewing multiple shortlisted candidates and/or 2) determining what core competencies can be demonstrated in an interview.
Use a Job Simulation
Observe how candidates approach a short task or situation that reflects the work of the role. Use this tool when 1) additional evidence is needed after interviews and/or 2) important competencies are difficult to assess through questions alone.
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The City of Medicine Hat acknowledges that we live and work on treaty territory. The City pays respect to all Indigenous Peoples and honours their past, present and future. We recognize and respect their cultural heritages and relationships to the land. Medicine Hat is situated on Treaty 7 and neighbour to Treaty 4 territory, traditional lands of the Siksika (Blackfoot), Kainai (Blood), Piikani (Peigan), Stoney Nakoda, and Tsuut’ina (Sarcee) as well as the Cree, Sioux, and the Saulteaux bands of the Ojibwa peoples, and homelands of the Métis Nation District 2 Battle River Territory. Learn more.
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