Career Assessment: Skills Analysis 1 of 3

Career Assessment: Skills Analysis 1 of 3

We all have talents and skills, which we use in our daily lives.  By talent we mean a natural gift or ability.  Skills are those capabilities you have learned.

What do you say when you are asked these questions -

•    Tell me, what are your strengths?
•    What are your most significant work achievements?
•    What can you do for us?

The answer that is wanted is an outline of your career skills – skills which are relevant to the career or job you may be applying for.

Knowing your own career skills set helps you carry out effective career research and really provides a firm foundation for your development of your career search including your Resume and interview preparation.

We have a simple and easy way to help you answer these questions. But it will take you some time. Think about this – you have a wide range of skills, you can’t write them down or summarise them in a couple of minutes.  We will look at your skills by dividing these into 3 areas:

1.    Functional/Transferable Skills
2.    Self Management Skills
3.    Special knowledge or work content skills.

In this first article of three let’s look at functional and transferable skills.

Functional/Transferable Skills. This list of skills can be useful for you if you review the list and highlight the skills you have. We will use this to start to develop a long skills list. This will be really helpful for you in preparing your resume/CV and getting ready for career search and interview.

Functional/Transferable Skills.

Can be divided into skills with people, skills with information and skills with things.

Skills with People

Developing relationships:    Rapport, networks of contacts, getting on well with others

Representing/Selling/PR:    Contacting, bartering, servicing, dealing with enquiries, selling ideas, products or services

Assisting/Caring:    Looking after needs of young, sick, elderly, disabled, those with physical/emotional problems

Serving:    Acknowledging others, evaluating/meeting needs, reinforcing buying

Informing/Discussing/Interviewing:    Answering, explaining, constructive criticism, reporting information, interviewing

Influencing/Advising:    Negotiating, arguing a case, defending, setting out arguments, professional advice, policy

Presenting/Instructing:    Lectures, coaching, training, facilitating, formal events

Counseling:    Social, physical, emotional, job

Co-operating/Liaison:    Joint projects, teamwork

Supervising/Directing:    Chairing, leading, inspiring, giving instructions

Appraising:    Individual performance, written work, behaviour, needs, recruitment, promotion, project team

Motivating:    Recognising, praising behaviour/results

Disciplining:    Verbal warnings, physical restraint

Handling Disputes:    Listening, resolving, defending, reducing tension, showing empathy
 

Skills with Information

Assessing:    Critical examination/evaluation, testing, comparing

Analysing/Diagnosing:    Written/numerical information, use of logic, formal analysis systems, model development

Thinking Creatively:    Brainstorming, designing, composing, seeing new solutions, new ideas

Deciding:    Own initiative, group decisions, fast decisions, thoroughly evaluated decisions, judgements

Reviewing/Evaluating:    Systems, services, methods, efficiency, feasibility, organisation, department performance

Integrating/Coding/Estimating:    Computer programmes, flow charts, diagrams, summarising, editing, estimate cost/time/risk

Calculating:             Arithmetic, algebra, trigonometry, geometry, calculus, simple/complex mathematics

Interpreting:    Meaning, language, doctrine, artistic

Learning/Researching:    New systems/methods, rehearsing, keeping abreast

Planning:    Short term, long term, priorities, strategies, revisions, specifications, planning techniques

Implementing/Co-ordinating:    Setting up, arranging, allocating, initiating, schedules

Controlling/Directing:    User of resources, rules, procedures, authorising, holding to budget, policy making, expediting

Collecting Information:    Asking questions, searching literature, observing, measuring, listening to reports/instructions, looking out, and searching

Checking:    Standards, details, specifications, accuracy, and comprehensiveness

Writing/Administrating:    Proposals, audience material, correspondence, memos, records, reviews, routine administration
 
Skills with Things

Data Administration:    Copying, storing, retrieval

Office Equipment/Software:    Word processing, spreadsheets, databases, mainframe systems, fax, copier, telephone systems

Tools/Machinery:    Vehicles, stationary machinery, operating, repairing

Animals    Feeding, exercising, training, caring for

Sports    Team, individual, competitive, aerobic

Arts    Visual, music, dance, literary

Go through this list of skills and start to create your own long list of your skills.

Don’t worry you can refine it later.

If this approach isn’t for you why not try a  free on line career assessment  to get you started

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