Regional Trainings on Conducting Competency-Based Interviews Successfully Completed

Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SCTM) has successfully completed a cycle of regional accredited training courses on “Conducting Competency-Based Interviews”, aimed at strengthening the capacities of local self-government units to conduct recruitment procedures and assess candidates’ behavioural competencies.

The training sessions were held during April, May and June 2026 in Čačak, Novi Sad, Kragujevac, Niš and Belgrade. With the organization of an additional training session in Kragujevac, the cycle was completed with the participation of 83 representatives of local self-governments.

The regional accredited training courses were implemented within the Programme “EU for Human Resources Management in Local Self-Government – Phase 3”, financed by the European Union and implemented by SCTM in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government. The training activities were also carried out in partnership with the Programme “Partnership for Good Local Governance”, which SCTM implements with the support of the Government of Switzerland.

Through interactive work, practical exercises, interview simulations and the analysis of concrete situations from practice, participants enhanced the knowledge and skills required to conduct competency-based interviews as one of the key methods for assessing candidates in recruitment procedures. Particular attention was devoted to identifying and evaluating behavioural competencies, applying the STAR technique, conducting structured interviews and objectively assessing candidates’ responses.

In accordance with the Law on Employees in Autonomous Provinces and Local Self-Government Units and the regulations governing recruitment procedures, the assessment of candidates’ behavioural competencies has become mandatory, making this topic particularly relevant and important. In this context, training employees to conduct competency-based interviews represents an important step towards the further professionalization of local administration and the improvement of recruitment processes in local self-government units.

Through the implementation of this training cycle, SCTM continues to support towns and municipalities in strengthening human resources management systems and applying modern standards in local self-government administration.