Competency Companion
NICS & UK Success Profiles

Pass the interview.
Not by luck — by evidence.

The only AI coach built for Civil Service frameworks. Score your STAR examples against the exact behavioural indicators for your grade — before the interview.

Framework aligned
Scored against exact NICS and Success Profiles indicators — not generic STAR tips.
Smart Refiner
AI restructures your notes into compliant STAR format — for written applications or verbal interviews.
Gap tracking
See which behaviours need work with your personal Interview Readiness score over time.
No account needed
Results in seconds
Try for free

Competency Companion is a preparation tool for Civil Service applicants. We help you structure your evidence for behaviours like Seeing the Big Picture, Making Effective Decisions, and Delivering at Pace.

NICS Guide • Success Profiles • Blog & Tips • Terms • Privacy

© 2025 Competency Companion. All rights reserved.

Welcome to Competency Companion

Level Up Your Real Experience with AI-Powered STAR Coaching

Loading access status...

Single Example Analysis

Enter your STAR example for framework-aligned scoring.

Honesty Pledge

I confirm this example is based on my real, personal experiences. I understand this tool is a preparation aid and that submitting misleading or false information to an employer may result in my job application being rejected.

Competency Name

Detailed Assessment for Grade Level on Framework

PRIMARY ANALYSIS (Best Match)

5/5

Coaching Advice

Indicator Breakdown (How you scored)

Portfolio Analysis Report

Best-match examples from your portfolio for each competency.

Strategic Insights & Gap Analysis

Review your maximum readiness across all NICS competencies.

Coaching Wizard

Your AI Partner

Assessment History

Review your saved STAR examples and scores.

Activate Premium

Unlock Gap Analysis & Smart Refiner

How to Get Started

1
Purchase an Access Key

Visit our Gumroad Store to purchase a 12-month unlimited access key for £4.99. You'll receive your key instantly via email.

2
Enter Your Key Below

Once you have your key, paste it into the box below and click Activate. All Premium features will unlock immediately.

Need help? Contact us

Premium Unlocked!

You now have unlimited access to all premium features.

Smart Refiner AI-powered STAR restructuring
Strategic Gap Analysis Visualize your readiness
Evidence Library Full history with scores
Access expires
Lifetime
Help & Support

Quick Start Guide

1️⃣
Set Target
Choose your grade & framework
2️⃣
Add Examples
Write your STAR examples
3️⃣
Refine with AI
Polish with Smart Refiner

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get the best score?

Use the exact language from your target framework. Our scoring engine looks for specific behavioral indicators.

Tips:

  • Review the framework guide for your grade level
  • Use action verbs that match the competency
  • Be specific about YOUR role (not the team's)
  • The Action section should be 60-70% of your example

Example: Instead of "We improved the process," use "I led stakeholder engagement to redesign the approval workflow, reducing processing time by 40%"

What's the difference between frameworks?

NICS (Northern Ireland Civil Service): Uses 9 core competencies across 6 levels (Level 1-6)

Success Profiles (UK Civil Service): Uses behaviors, strengths, abilities, and experience

Choose the framework that matches your application. The indicators and language are different!

Why did my score change?

Scores are calculated against your selected grade level. Each grade has different indicators.

If you change your target grade in settings, your scores will recalculate because the requirements are different.

Example: Level 3 (AO) focuses on following processes. Level 5 (SEO) focuses on strategic leadership. The same example will score differently at each level.

Can I reuse examples across competencies?

Yes! Strong real-world examples often demonstrate multiple competencies.

Strategy:

  • Write your best stories once
  • Let the tool find alternative matches
  • Tweak language to strengthen specific competencies

The Alternative Matches feature (Premium) shows you which other competencies your example could work for.

How does Smart Refiner work?

Smart Refiner restructures your notes into compliant STAR format. It does NOT invent facts.

What it does:

  • Reorganises your content into clear S-T-A-R sections
  • Adds framework-aligned language
  • Suggests stronger action verbs
  • Maintains YOUR authentic experience

What it doesn't do:

  • Fabricate stories
  • Add false details
  • Change the core facts
What does "Interview Ready %" mean?

This shows your overall coverage across ALL competencies in your target framework.

Calculation: Average of your best scores for each competency

  • 0-25%: Getting Started (just beginning)
  • 26-50%: Building Portfolio (progress made)
  • 51-75%: Nearly Ready (most competencies covered)
  • 76-100%: Interview Ready (strong coverage)

Goal: Aim for 70%+ across all competencies

How do I prepare for verbal interviews?

Use Smart Refiner's Verbal Interview Mode:

  1. Write bullet points or rough notes
  2. Select "Verbal Interview" format
  3. Set word limit (e.g., 250 words for 2-minute answer)
  4. Get a polished script you can practice

Tip: Practice reading it aloud several times until it sounds natural!

Why use this vs ChatGPT?

Framework Alignment - ChatGPT gives generic interview advice. Competency Companion is built specifically for Civil Service frameworks.

Key Differences:

  • ✅ Scores against actual Level 1-6 indicators
  • ✅ Uses framework-specific language
  • ✅ Designed for NICS/Success Profiles
  • ✅ Tracks your coverage across competencies

Best Practice: Use both! Draft in ChatGPT, refine here for framework compliance.

Additional Resources

Thank You!

Your feedback has been submitted successfully. We'll review it and get back to you if needed.