How To Get A Job FAST! No.2
How To Get A Job FAST!
Identifying Your Skills
What are you good at?
Have you ever thought about it? In a truly critical, analytical way? Have you actually sat down and listed your skills and capabilities?
This may seem basic, but it's not. Even if you've attempted to start a list, it is very likely you didn't go far enough or deep enough and thus missed a few outlets for your skills that might very well unlock the key to your career future.
The following exercise can help you truly identify the skills you currently use (or may not use) and this will set the stage to see if they're transferable to another industry.
There are three major categories of skill identification. You deal with people, things and information everyday. In each category, this requires a skill or combination of several skills. You might not even realize the extent of your ability in an area. You probably know what you're not good at or what you don't like doing, but pinpointing exact skills is not necessarily easy.
People. Let's divide your skills at dealing with people into working with individuals and working with groups.
Individuals: In working with individuals singly, are you good at:
? communicating in direct conversation or on the phone?
_ communicating well by the written word?
_ helping, serving or receiving and carrying out instructions?
_ referring people, or helping put two people together?
_ advising, monitoring, coaching or counseling?
_ teaching, instructing, training or tutoring?
_ persuading, motivating or selling?
_ assessing, evaluating or interpreting others?
_ diagnosing, healing or treating?
Groups: In working with organizations, companies or associations, are you good at:
? making presentations?
_ communicating by written word like a newsletter?
_ public speaking?
_ leading or moderating a group discussion?
_ preparing seminars or other educational events?
_ training large groups?
_ consulting or giving advice?
_ leading or taking the lead?
_ coaching others in recreation or exercise?
_ performing, acting, singing, amusing or inspiring?
_ motivating, persuading or selling?
_ negotiating a settlement of some kind?
_ following through, getting things finished, producing?
_ managing or running a business?
_ supervising?
_ initiating or beginning a concept, idea or business?
Think carefully about each of these items. Answer fairly and honestly. There's no reason to try and fool anyone. This is not a personality test! You're simply attempting to frame your likes and dislikes about dealing with individuals, singly or in groups.
Compile your list of definite yes and no answers and write them down. Keep them handy for future reference.
Things. There are, essentially, six major categories of working with various things. These things are identified as objects (tools, instruments), equipment and machinery or vehicles, materials like cloth, wood and clay, your body, buildings or homes and raising or growing things.
Objects. Do you have specific skills in dealing with food, tools, instruments or the like in:
? handling?
_ washing?
_ preparing?
_ maintaining?
_ producing?
_ creating?
_ repairing?
_ cleaning?
_ knowledge?
_ cooking?
_ preserving?
Equipment. Are you good at working with some type of machinery or vehicle in:
? driving?
_ controlling?
_ assembling?
_ repairing?
_ cleaning?
_ disassembling?
_ maintaining?
_ operating?
Materials. What is your skill level with items such as clay, jewelry, metal, wood, stone and cloth as far as:
? cutting?
_ painting?
_ crafting?
_ restoring?
_ weaving?
_ sewing?
_ carving?
_ molding?
_ shaping?
_ refinishing?
_ sculpting?
Your Body. Are you good at using:
? your hands?
_ motor coordination?
_ physical coordination?
_ your fingers?
_ your eyes?
_ your eyes and hands in coordination?
_ your strength?
_ your stamina?
Buildings. Do you have a particular affinity and capability for:
? constructing?
_ remodeling?
_ decorating?
_ designing?
Raising or Growing. Are you able to successfully:
? train animals?
_ treat animals?
_ garden?
_ landscape?
_ raise plants or animals or other vegetable or mineral?
