What you will learn- How to identify your skills
- Why knowing your skills will be one of your greatest strengths
The importance of knowing your skillsWhether you’ve recently been made redundant or you just feel like you need a change, the ability to recognise and talk about your skills will make it easier to work out what you want to do
next. It can also help you identify any areas for development. Identifying the skills you have is crucial for building your CV and completing application forms. This will help convince employers you’re the right person for the job. Your skills could have come from previous
roles, voluntary work, training or your personal life. Knowing your skills can be one of your greatest strengths. But it can be difficult to know where to begin. Our skills checklist can helpBefore you start to apply for jobs, you need to think about the skills you already have that will help you get the job you want. But where do you start? Sometimes you just
need a few prompts to get you thinking. How to use the skills checklist: - Skills are broken down into areas like teamwork, IT, planning and communication.
- You give yourself a score for each item
- Add them up and reflect on your strong points as well as areas for improvement.
Completing the checklist will help you appreciate the skills you have so you can really sell yourself in that job interview or university or college application. It’s a positive
first step and will help make sure you don’t take your skills for granted. Use the checklist on page 17 of our Positive Steps guide. Why skills are important to employers Employers are interested in knowing which skills you can bring to their organisation. They don’t just want someone who can perform an individual task – they want to know about
your skills and abilities.
Many of the skills you have can be used across a number of different job areas and in new work settings. Here are a few examples of the most in demand skills:
Planning and organisingYou’re good at deciding which tasks are a priority. Your plans make sure work gets done, and you're good at avoiding distractions. Teamwork /interpersonalYou’re great at co-operating with others. You understand how you can contribute to your
team, and support other people. CommunicationYou explain your ideas and opinions clearly. You’re good at listening, presenting or being able to persuade others. Problem-solving/reasoningYou can assess a situation and understand what’s causing issues, then develop a solution. What are transferable skills? Transferable skills are those skills that can transfer from one job to another. Many of the
skills you use in one career can be successfully transferred to a very different type of job and that’s why they are so important. Try our Skills Discovery to help you think about the ways your existing skills might fit into a new role. DESCRIPTIONThe following resources contain activities and information that can help you match your skills and interests with a career. PROCEDURE- Visit the following websites:
- The Career Interest Checklist - http://www.in.gov/learnmoreindiana/2455.htm
Use a quick and easy
checklist to find occupations to explore. - Career Interest Survey - http://www.edonline.com/collegecompass/carhlp2.htm
Complete a form to determine your personality characteristics and career interests. - Career Search: Interest and Abilities - http://wtb.wa.gov/CareerGuide.asp
Complete an exercise to compare your
interests and skills with job characteristics. - Interest Quiz - http://www.schoolfinder.com/careers/3step1.asp
Simply answer "yes" or "no" to each question to discover where your interests lie and which careers are right for you. - MAPP Motivational Appraisal of Personal Potential - http://www.assessment.com/
This analysis
helps identify your ideal job by identifying your motivations and preferences. You must submit your name and e-mail address in order to obtain the results. - Monster Career Quiz - http://content.monster.com/
Discover your perfect career. Read descriptions of four "dimensions" of your personality; then choose the characteristic in each pair that describes you best (for example, Extravert OR Introvert). - O*Net
Career Activities - http://online.onetcenter.org/
Search for specific occupations, occupations that use your skills, and/or occupations related to one you have selected. A "Snapshot" will show you the key features of a selected occupation, including characteristics of the worker and requirements of the work. - Queendom's Career Tests -
https://www.queendom.com/tests/testscontrol.htm?s=71&t=7
Complete a variety of short tests relating to the work world. Tests include coping skills, time management, leadership, personality, burnout, assertiveness, procrastination, and more.
- Explore the sites. Use the bookmark capabilities of your browser to save the site locations for future use.
This lesson is
part of the series "DO-IT Lessons" developed by the University of Washington. Creation of the series of lessons is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under grant numbers 9255803 and 9550003. The lessons are now maintained through funds from the State of Washington. The University of Washington holds the copyright to the series of lessons, however ownership of the Internet resources referenced in the lessons may be found at the resource site. Any opinions, findings, and
conclusions or recommendations expressed at these sites are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation, the University of Washington or the State of Washington.
Why do you need to identify your skills?
The importance of knowing your skills
Identifying the skills you have is crucial for building your CV and completing application forms. This will help convince employers you're the right person for the job. Your skills could have come from previous roles, voluntary work, training or your personal life.
How do I identify my skills on a resume?
On your resume, list only skills that are relevant to the job, scan the job listing for must-have skills and list those (if you have them), pair each skill with a responding proficiency level, back up your skills with other resume sections, mention transferable and universal skills.
What are those professional skills?
Professional Skills. Communication skills.. Teamwork skills.. Time management.. Problem-solving skills.. Creativity.. Work Ethic. How to improve work ethic skills. You can exhibit noticeable work ethic skills, by being professional and dedicating yourself to the job. ... . Interpersonal skills.. Leadership skills.. | 
