Competence, Competencies and Career Guidance

Abstract

This article examines origin and evolution of the term competency (pl. competencies) and its implications for career guidance. The term competency was created in 1973 by the American psychologist and consultant David McClelland to indicate the human factors by which competence depends. Initially competencies were related to effective performance and task and organisation specific. Nowadays in education, vocational training and career guidance the term competency indicates each personal characteristic generally utilizable in the workplace, in school or in ordinary life, regardless of the nature of the work or level of performance achievable through its use.