| Does this sound like you, "I need help deciding what | | | | Supervising/Directing: Chairing, leading, inspiring, giving |
| career to choose." Well clarity comes from knowing | | | | instructions |
| what you have got in terms of skills and experience | | | | Appraising: Individual performance, written work, |
| combined with what you like and what is available in | | | | behaviour, needs, recruitment, promotion, project |
| your job market. Here is a bit of free career planning | | | | team |
| advice. It is great reviewing career descriptions to | | | | Motivating: Recognising, praising behaviour/results |
| see what looks attractive but in my experience it is | | | | Disciplining: Verbal warnings, physical restraint |
| much more powerful reviewing a career description | | | | Handling Disputes: Listening, resolving, defending, |
| from the strong foundation of self knowledge. Know | | | | reducing tension, showing empathy |
| what you have done and what you are good at. | | | | Skills with Information |
| We all have talents and skills, which we use in our | | | | Assessing: Critical examination/evaluation, testing, |
| daily lives. By talent we mean a natural gift or ability. | | | | comparing |
| Skills are those capabilities you have learned. | | | | Analysing/Diagnosing: Written/numerical information, |
| What do you say when you are asked these | | | | use of logic, formal analysis systems, model |
| questions -o Tell me, what are your strengths?o | | | | development |
| What are your most significant work achievements?o | | | | Thinking Creatively: Brainstorming, designing, |
| What can you do for us? | | | | composing, seeing new solutions, new ideas |
| The answer that is wanted is an outline of your | | | | Deciding: Own initiative, group decisions, fast |
| career skills - skills which are relevant to the career or | | | | decisions, thoroughly evaluated decisions, judgments |
| job you may be applying for. | | | | Reviewing/Evaluating: Systems, services, methods, |
| Knowing your own career skills set helps you carry | | | | efficiency, feasibility, organisation, department |
| out effective career research and really provides a | | | | performance |
| firm foundation for your development of your career | | | | Integrating/Coding/Estimating: Computer |
| search including your Resume and its good advice for | | | | programmes, flow charts, diagrams, summarising, |
| preparing for a job interview. | | | | editing, estimate cost/time/risk |
| We have a simple and easy way to help you answer | | | | Calculating: Arithmetic, algebra, trigonometry, |
| these questions. But it will take you some time. Think | | | | geometry, calculus, simple/complex mathematics |
| about this - you have a wide range of skills, you can't | | | | Interpreting: Meaning, language, doctrine, artistic |
| write them down or summarise them in a couple of | | | | Learning/Researching: New systems/methods, |
| minutes. We will look at your skills by dividing these | | | | rehearsing, keeping abreast |
| into 3 areas: | | | | Planning: Short term, long term, priorities, strategies, |
| 1. Functional/Transferable Skills | | | | revisions, specifications, planning techniques |
| 2. Self Management Skills | | | | Implementing/Co-ordinating: Setting up, arranging, |
| 3. Special knowledge or work content skills. | | | | allocating, initiating, schedules |
| In this first article of three let's look at functional and | | | | Controlling/Directing: User of resources, rules, |
| transferable skills. | | | | procedures, authorising, holding to budget, policy |
| Functional/Transferable Skills. This list of skills can be | | | | making, expediting |
| useful for you if you review the list and highlight the | | | | Collecting Information: Asking questions, searching |
| skills you have. We will use this to start to develop a | | | | literature, observing, measuring, listening to reports |
| long skills list. This will be really helpful for you in | | | | instructions, looking out, and searching |
| preparing your resume/CV and getting ready for | | | | Checking: Standards, details, specifications, accuracy, |
| career search and interview. | | | | and comprehensiveness |
| Go through this list of skills and start to create your | | | | Writing/Administrating: Proposals, audience material, |
| own long list of your skills. | | | | correspondence, memos, records, reviews, routine |
| Functional/Transferable Skills. | | | | administration |
| Can be divided into skills with people, skills with | | | | Skills with Things |
| information and skills with things. | | | | Data Administration: Copying, storing, retrieval |
| Skills with People | | | | Office Equipment/Software: Word processing, |
| Developing relationships: Rapport, networks of | | | | spreadsheets, databases, mainframe systems, fax, |
| contacts, getting on well with others | | | | copier, telephone systems |
| Representing/Selling/PR: Contacting, bartering, | | | | Tools/Machinery: Vehicles, stationary machinery, |
| servicing, dealing with inquiries, selling ideas, products | | | | operating, repairing |
| or services | | | | Animals Feeding, exercising, training, caring for |
| Assisting/Caring: Looking after needs of young, sick, | | | | Sports Team, individual, competitive, aerobic |
| elderly, disabled, those with physical/emotional | | | | Arts Visual, music, dance, literary |
| problems | | | | Got your long list of skills together? don't worry you |
| Serving: Acknowledging others, evaluating/meeting | | | | can refine it later. |
| needs, reinforcing buying | | | | Well done you have made a great start next step |
| Informing/Discussing/Interviewing: Answering, | | | | would be to prioritise your skills and create your top |
| explaining, constructive criticism, reporting information, | | | | 10 list. |
| interviewing | | | | You can now use these to compare your skills with |
| Influencing/Advising: Negotiating, arguing a case, | | | | what is covered on job advertisements and Career |
| defending, setting out arguments, professional advice, | | | | descriptions. |
| policy | | | | Use these skills on your resume and covering letter. |
| Presenting/Instructing: Lectures, coaching, training, | | | | Be fully prepared to talk about them during your |
| facilitating, formal events | | | | interviews. |
| Counseling: Social, physical, emotional, job | | | | Good luck in your job hunting. |
| Co-operating/Liaison: Joint projects, teamwork | | | | |