What are technical competencies?

Recruitment teams aim to identify candidates with the right blend of skills to drive ongoing business success. Candidates who possess a combination of soft skills and technical skills are essential for most organisations, and IT roles or fields requiring acute technical knowledge are no exception. However,  there are numerous other positions requiring employees with strong technical competencies.

Technical competencies explained

A technical competency refers to a specific area of knowledge that is necessary for a particular industry or role. Different fields or industries require distinct technical skill sets. Employees who possess technical competencies bring together attributes like reliability, interpersonal skills and professionalism alongside technical expertise. These blends make them well-rounded individuals who can integrate their academic knowledge and technical skills with strong soft skills.

Related: Competency and how to assess it

Types of competencies

Competencies can be split into three categories, which are soft skills, technical competencies and leadership skills. All of these are assessed during the candidate’s screening and interviewing process. The level of competencies sought after is connected to the role itself.  

• Soft skills are highly sought for in many roles with communication skills being top of the list with 30% of UK job postings in the UK listing this skill. Soft skills are particularly important for customer facing jobs as they are the face of the business. They are also paramount for leadership positions.
• Technical competencies are linked to tech roles which are in high demand. They refer to the technical knowledge and how it is applied to particular situations. For example, they can be the ability to solve a problem, diagnose an issue or language skills and cybersecurity awareness.
• Leadership skills are essential for managerial positions. Assessing the leadership style of candidates and how effective they are is key to understanding if they will be the right fit for the organisation’s culture. Leadership skills can result in successful conflict management, boosted personal development and overall team morale.

Implementing competency assessments is a good way to find out whether candidates have the required soft and hard skills. Applicants with technical competencies can become top talents in the organisation. They can solve new industry challenges and help the business overcome hurdles by adding significant value to your teams.

Related: Competency-based interviews

Jobs that require technical competencies

Indeed Hiring Lab data suggests that employers look for a blend of human skills and basic technical competencies when recruiting new employees.

What we can learn from job posting in the UK

When looking at the most listed skills in UK job postings, communication, leadership and organisation skills are at the top of the list. Basic technical skills are also commonly featured in job postings, with IT proficiency, Microsoft Office, and especially Microsoft Excel ranking among the top ten most mentioned skills. Indeed data shows that over 1-in-10 skills mentioned in UK job postings is an elementary technical skill, and 8% of postings mention basic computer literacy.

Many roles require basic computer skills, with logistic support and accounting jobs most likely to list basic digital skills, with 34% of job postings in the UK listing these competencies.

Positions in childcare, cleaning, beauty & wellness, personal care or food services also have their specific technical competencies.

Technical competencies relating to the use of specific software are in high demand. This is the case of information design and accounting software competencies.

Examples of technical competencies

Here is a useful technical competencies list together with the definition for each. There are many more technical competencies to consider. The one you choose for your job posting will depend on what the role entails and any skill gap in your organisation.

Technical sales competencies

Being in sales requires a set of skills including:

• Knowledge of customer relationship management (CRM): CRM sytems are used to manage customers’ relationships and are essential tools for sales teams. Using a CRM software allows tracking sales, analysing pipelines and predicting business performance.
• Understanding of sales process automation: sales process automation through technologies highly streamlines the sales process and as such brings efficiency gains. Results can be increased productivity and accuracy together with customer satisfaction.
• Using presentation software to prepare a pitch: Presentation tools are essential for sales teams. Knowing how to use these to create a compelling pitch ensures the message comes across effectively to prospects.

Digital marketing technical competencies

There are plenty of marketing-specific skills out there. Here are some examples of those technical competencies.

• Conducting marketing analysis: tracking, analysing, and interpreting the data is an essential marketing competency that allows to update marketing strategies.
• Successfully using content management system: CMS are essential tools in the field of marketing. Knowing how to organise, store and extract digital content boosts the distribution of content and improves collaboration.
• Managing social media platforms: Social media platforms are used to increase brand awareness and to drive business growth by engaging target audiences.

There are many more technical competencies in digital marketing for example SEO optimisation strategies or the use of customer relationship management (CRM) tools.

Design competencies

Design or graphic design roles require a wealth of technical competencies due to the use of architectural or graphic design software.

• Working with design tools: possessing the ability to use design software and tools to create content is essential for roles in design.
• Using prototyping and wireframing tools: this type of software allows designers to create prototypes for effective communication, they are deeply related to the user experience.

Technical human resources competencies

Human resources departments should embrace technical competencies. Leveraging HR tools can significantly streamline operations and boost efficiency.

• Implementing learning management systems: using LMS boosts employees’ development through a digital platform.
• Utilising human resources information systems: using this HR technology to manage employee data increases accuracy and significantly reduces workload for HR teams.

Engineering technical competencies

Not surprisingly, engineering is a sector that requires acute technical competencies with for example:

• Understanding and use of computer programming language: having the ability to write code in various programming languages is essential in these types of roles.
• Managing database: designing, maintaining and optimising databases allow for the best use of data.

Technical competencies in engineering also include cloud computing, web development and many more.

IT technical competencies

IT technical competencies are highly sought for in many roles with 10% of job postings in the UK listing this skill.

• Knowledge of hardware: this competence refers to the capability to comprehend hardware components for system troubleshooting and maintenance.
• Being able to operate systems: this skill means effectively designing and implementing computer operating systems for the organisation.

Other IT technical competencies are managing and overseeing databases or implementing network systems.

Related: For all the hype around AI, many employers are simply looking for people with basic computer skills

Emergent technical competencies

Latest trends in tech are the source of new in-demand competencies. Most of these emerging competencies relate to artificial intelligence.

• Using applied AI: this is the use of artificial intelligence to solve business challenges and create innovative solutions that accelerate growth.
• Understanding about blockchain management: refers to understanding and using blockchain database and ledger.
• Knowledge of cybersecurity: this knowledge is used to mitigate information security risks, ensure data privacy and reduce cyber threats.

There are many more technical competencies out there. The competencies required for a role will depend on the industry, the position and the level of expertise required for the role. 

Technical competencies recruiting tips

Hiring for technical competencies may present challenges for recruiters. To improve efficiency here are some valuable tips that will help your HR teams overcome technical competencies recruitment barriers.

Define your company’s technological goals

Clarify your company’s goals to ensure you’re recruiting for the right positions. You can do so by holding meetings with management to understand the desired skills and expectations. This helps you craft a precise job description.

Simplify the recruitment process

Keep the hiring pipeline streamlined. Make sure the communication is quick and that interviews are scheduled promptly. Clearly define technical roles before posting them and keep candidates informed throughout the process to keep them engaged and prevent them from seeking other opportunities.

Related:  How Indeed can support a digital recruitment process

Use skill-based assessment

Skill-based assessments help evaluate if candidates possess the necessary skills, including technical abilities, cognitive traits and cultural fit. Make sure the test is relevant to the role, using real work samples and scenarios. Keep it concise and objective.

Related: Using Indeed screener questions to asses applicant qualifications

Eliminate geographical limitations

Offering remote work opportunities removes geographic barriers, expanding your talent pool and attracting qualified candidates from various regions. Consider time zones and language differences when implementing remote solutions. Explore international tech recruiting for outsourcing or hiring as well.

Related: Tips for creating virtual teams when remote working

Implement an employee referral programme

By implementing an employee referral programme, you encourage current staff to recommend qualified candidates and tap into their networks. Offering rewards for successful referrals can motivate employees to participate.

Create a thorough job description to advertise the role

To ensure candidates who apply have the desired technical competencies, clearly define the skills for the position. Make the difference between competencies and the job’s responsibilities. Including company details, work environment and relevant technologies in the job description also helps ensure that only highly qualified candidates apply. Recruiters can match the job description with the technical competencies of the candidate.

Related: The argument for using a skills-based job description

Be transparent about your company’s tech stack in the job ad

In the job description, make sure you share the tools and technologies used by the business. A tech stack refers to the combination of technologies a company uses. Applicants driven by tech like to know what software a job requires to work with.

Offer development opportunities to candidates

Offering growth opportunities and prospects for promotions helps retain top tech talent by allowing them to expand their skills. Providing these opportunities makes your business more attractive and gives you a competitive edge.

Related: Learning and development: needs assessment

Use the expertise of a technical recruiter

The role of technical recruiters is to create precise and industry-specific job descriptions. They are also able to effectively screen candidates due to their understanding of the tech and industry jargon. Effective technical recruiters have a wide network in their fields. They can be hired as part of your HR teams or can be external consultants for your business.

Recruiting for technical competencies requires a good eye for the right candidates. By leveraging technical competencies, organisations can expand their expertise, gain efficiency and boost productivity. Identifying tech talents is an added value for your business. It can be achieved through tailored recruitment processes and skilled technical recruiters who will find talents and drive business success.