Step 1: Identifying Your Skills

It's important to identify your skills before you begin your job search. Just think of skills as activities that you do well. A lot of people have trouble identifying their skills, but remember - it's okay to toot your own horn. In fact, it's required of you. You've got to sell your abilities to an employer. That's how people get jobs.

Don't act arrogant or exaggerate, but don't sell yourself short either. If an employer asks, "What are your strengths?" or "What would make you stand out from the other applicants?" you need to know how to answer. Before you even get to the interview stage, however, the skills listed in your résumé must grab the employer's attention.

Let's start by looking at the different kinds of skills. They can be split into two categories - hard and soft.

Hard skills are tangible - activities that you do. For example:

1. Knowledge regarding the use of particular computer software
2. Ability to operate a variety of machinery
3. Keyboarding skills, ability to type at a certain speed (e.g. 45 w.p.m.)
4. Knowledge of and skills with specific tools
5. Credentials and/or experience in a specific occupation (e.g. woodworking )

Soft skills are the abstract, personal qualities that you posses:

1. Ability to work well independently
2. A good team player
3. Enthusiastic
4. Decisive
5. Well organized

Steps to Identifying Your Skills:

1. Make a list of all the jobs that you have held and the responsibilities associated with each job. There will surely be many skills associated with your list. Do not minimize even the smallest activity. What seems simple and straight forward to you may be of value to an employer.
2. Make a list of volunteer activities while following the instructions above.
3. Make a list of hobbies. There can be a wealth of skills that are developed through hobbies. Being an accomplished chess player might indicate that you pay great attention to detail and excellent critical thinking skills.
4. Think of all those other things that you do and take for granted. Is organization of material important to you? Are you a good problem solver?

For more help identifying your skills, check out sample personality qualities and action verbs.

Now that you have a list of things that you do well, you may use it to help you decide upon a career objective. Select the skills from your list that are most relevant to the employment that you are seeking. Don't worry about cutting out some of the less relevant skills from your list.

It is important to tie in the skills that you have listed to your job objective (employment goal). Select from your skills the ones that an employer is most likely to value, while ensuring that you are able to back up your list with examples. Be realistic about the level of skill that you have achieved. For instance, if you state that you are well-organized, then you need to be able to talk about a situation in which you have demonstrated this quality. For example, you might prepare yourself to discuss how you have effectively used your time by making lists and prioritizing activities to be completed.

Knowing your skills will be important to every part of the job search process.