worksheet

C H A P T E R 1
Skill Assessment
YOUR ASSETS = YOUR SKILLS
Your value to an employer is directly proportional to the skills you have to offer. In the eyes of the
employer, you are your skills.
Everyone has a unique combination of skills. And, in a nutshell, that is exactly what you are advertising
in your resume. That’s why it’s important to take inventory of your skills and have a clear idea
of what you have to offer before you begin your resume.
Skills are not only technical, or acquired through formal education. Inborn personality traits, or selfmanagement
skills, are also meaningful to an employer. Yet most people tend to overlook these
marketable traits when they prepare their resume.
Skills can also be acquired through experience—and not only employment experience. Many times
volunteer duties can be a source of numerous skills that should also be added to your inventory.
TRANSFERABLE SKILLS
In recent years, a lot of attention has been given to “transferable skills.” A transferable skill is simply
a general skill used in one job situation that can be transferred to another job task without additional
training.
For example, teachers utilize the skill of public speaking when addressing a class. This same public
speaking skill can easily be transferred outside a classroom setting and be utilized in another situation.
Teachers could transfer their classroom skills to a business setting and apply for a job to train
employees or conduct seminars.
If someone is proficient in a skill he or she enjoys, yet wants a change of jobs, then focusing on
“transferable skills” is the answer. Finding a job that fits your particular combination of skills would
offer an excellent alternative.
DECIDING ON A CAREER GOAL
The first question you must ask yourself is: What job do I want? Without a specific goal or job
objective it is impossible to write an effective resume or conduct an effective job search.
What sort of job should you be looking for? It is important to choose a realistic job objective—a
job you are qualified to do at this present time. In other words, you should be seeking a job that
matches the skills you presently have. You have three choices in choosing a realistic objective, as
follows.
The Same Job You Just Left
Most unemployed persons prefer to seek the same job they held previously. They are familiar with
the work and already have the skills and experience to handle the tasks at hand.
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