Skills and Competencies

Last Updated 05/23/2025
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Learn & Work Ecosystem Library. (2023). Skills and Competencies. Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://learnworkecosystemlibrary.com/glossary/skills-and-competencies/
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"Skills and Competencies." Learn & Work Ecosystem Library. 13-09-2026. https://learnworkecosystemlibrary.com/glossary/skills-and-competencies/.

Skills define specific learned activities, and they range widely in terms of complexity. Knowing which skills a person possesses helps to determine whether their training and experience has prepared them for a specific type of workplace activity. Competencies identify the observable behaviors that successful performers demonstrate on the job. Those behaviors are the result of various abilities, skills, knowledge, motivations, and traits an employee may possess. Competencies take “skills” and incorporate them into on-the-job behaviors. Those behaviors demonstrate the ability to perform the job requirements competently.

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