Competency based question - managing resources question help please?

SeekingJobsDesperately

I am applying for a civil service administrator role and I need to answer competency questions. I have had an interview with DWP where I had to verbally answer competency based questions and was successful, however, I am still awaiting to hear about a start date which I have been waiting for, for 3 months. Hence, why I am applying for other jobs.

I have worked as an administrator for 6 months which was temporary and before that I was working part time in retail whilst at Uni.

Basically now, one of the questions on the application is managing resources, giving an example of sparing the use and using the correct procedures. Perhaps, it's quite straight forward for some of you and I am over thinking it but I am unable to give an example.

I am not sure whether this is question is asking me how I have used equipment etc and saved the company money, time etc or whether it is asking me how I have managed or lead my colleagues through a day and saved the company time/money.

Any ideas please?

Thank u in advance.

smileypigface

Have they provided you with a copy of their competence framework or is it available on their website?

I work in the Civil Service (MOD) and conduct competency based interviews as part of my job, using the MOD competency frameworks.

The framework sets out, what the effective indicators are for each competence at each grade level - so basically what the individual is expected to demonstrate to prove their competence in accordance with their grade.

If the department you are applying for publishes their framework it might give you some clues as to the areas of experience you could talk about to demonstrate the competence.

Don't know if you've come across the idea of, when you've decided what example you are going to use, of structuring your answer using the STAR technique.

Briefly explain the general Situation (ie, I was working in a technical library with responsibility for over 250 technical documents); what Task were you required to do (ie, on the introduction of a new computer system I was tasked with ensuring all of my documents were properly indexed on the system); what Actions did you take to achieve the output (ie, I consulted the sponsors of each document, ensured they were the most up to date versions, prioritised and organised my workload to meet the deadline etc etc); what was the Result (I met the deadline, reduced the document holding by 5% due to out of date documents still being in the system and set up a review system to be used in future - I received a bonus for my outstanding performance on this task).

Hope that helps and I wasn't teaching my grandmother to suck eggs

Good luck with the interview x

Tiddlywinks

A lot of organisations now have a "framework" to support the competency based recruitment process which includes measures and behavioural examples to give you a flavour of what is required. Perhaps you could contact the employer and ask for additional information.

Generically, the "Resource Management" competency is about how you have effectively, efficiently and appropriately used organisational assets - be they equipment / time / people. As this post is for an Administrator then they will probably expect your examples to be system / physical assets based rather than allocation of people.

SeekingJobsDesperately

I have looked for the framework on the website and have not found one which I did think was unusual as when I did the DWP interview, they gave the points they were looking for on their website.

I have downloaded the guidance notes and job description, none which talk about the competencies on there.

Thanks to your answers I now have an answer for the competency managing resources.

So thank you x