Cultural Competency
Cultural Competency is the ability to effectively work with and serve people from different cultural backgrounds. It involves understanding, respecting, and responding to various cultural beliefs, behaviors, and needs. For organizations, this means delivering services in a way that's sensitive to diverse communities' unique needs. Similar terms include cultural sensitivity, cultural awareness, or diversity and inclusion skills. This skill is particularly important in healthcare, education, social services, and community organizations where staff regularly interact with people from various backgrounds.
Examples in Resumes
Developed and implemented Cultural Competency training programs for staff of 50+ employees
Led Cultural Competency initiatives resulting in 40% increase in community engagement
Created Cultural Competency assessment tools to evaluate organization's service delivery
Applied Cultural Awareness principles to improve outreach to diverse communities
Demonstrated Cultural Sensitivity in managing multicultural youth programs
Typical job title: "Cultural Competency Specialists"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Cultural Competency Specialists
Professional Organizations
Online Resources
Learning Resources
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you develop and implement a cultural competency training program for an organization?
Expected Answer: A strong answer should include creating needs assessments, developing tailored content, measuring outcomes, and ensuring sustainable implementation. Should mention experience with different training methods and evaluation techniques.
Q: Describe a time when you had to manage a cultural conflict in the workplace.
Expected Answer: Look for examples of leadership in resolving cultural misunderstandings, implementing systemic changes, and creating lasting solutions that improved workplace culture.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you ensure services are culturally appropriate for diverse communities?
Expected Answer: Should discuss methods for community engagement, gathering feedback, adapting programs based on cultural needs, and maintaining consistent communication with different community groups.
Q: What strategies have you used to build relationships with diverse community groups?
Expected Answer: Look for examples of successful outreach programs, partnership building, and understanding of different communication styles across cultures.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What does cultural competency mean to you?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate basic understanding of cultural awareness, respect for differences, and importance of adapting communication and behavior for different cultural contexts.
Q: How do you stay informed about different cultural practices and beliefs?
Expected Answer: Should mention continued learning through resources, training, community involvement, and personal interest in learning about different cultures.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of cultural differences
- Experience working with diverse populations
- Knowledge of cultural sensitivity principles
- Basic communication skills across cultures
Mid (2-5 years)
- Program development and implementation
- Community outreach experience
- Training delivery
- Cultural assessment capabilities
Senior (5+ years)
- Strategic program development
- Leadership in cultural initiatives
- Policy development and implementation
- Organizational change management
Red Flags to Watch For
- Limited experience working with diverse populations
- Inability to provide examples of cultural adaptation
- Lack of continuing education in diversity topics
- Poor understanding of different communication styles
- No experience in community engagement
Related Terms
Need more hiring wisdom? Check these out...
Culture Add vs Culture Fit in Hiring: Why It May Be Time to Rethink Your Approach
Cracking the Code: How to Source Talent in APAC and EMEA with Cultural Sensitivity
Beyond Resumes: How Competency-Based Hiring Transforms Talent Acquisition
