CAREER PLANNING - Skills Assessment |
Skills are the "tools" you use to accomplish your duties. Even if you perform only a few different duties in your job - you are likely using many skills in performing that duty. The average person has between 500 and 800 skills! Those skills may in turn be transferable to a wide variety of other duties. Skills give an employer a broader view of what you can do - beyond simply the description of what you have done in past jobs. Identifying your many skills can help you better understand your value in the workplace and highlight those skills that are the most attractive to potential employers. Job Skills Job skills are those skills specific to a job or occupation. Drillers and blasters, for example, might be skilled in load explosives, drilling blast holes to specific depths and conducting field tests to determine type and quantity of explosives required. Job skills need to be stated in specific terms. Self-Management Skills These are skills you use day to day to get along with others. They are the skills that reflect your personality and make you unique. Sincerity, reliability, tactfulness, patience, flexibility, timeliness, or tolerance are all examples of self-management skills. Employers look for these skills to determine how a candidate will fit into the organization. Identifying Your Skills Writing out the duties or functions of an activity and the skills used in performing those duties can be a useful way to begin identifying your numerous skills. Self-assessment quizzes and exercises can also help you recognize your skills. Matching Skills To help identify how your skills match those needed for a particular job or occupation, again begin with the duties listed for the position and imagine the skills that would be needed to perform those duties. How do your skills compare to these? Be aware of how current skills may be transferable to other occupational areas. Remember, you do not have to match all of the skills to pursue that position. The best candidates for a job rarely match all of an employer's requirements. Related Links Essential Skills Occupational Profiles - An overview of the skills you need to carry out a wide variety of tasks. Employability Skills Self-Test - Rate yourself against the skills employers say are needed in today's workplace. |