How can you identify your own skills?
- think about what you do in your current job.
- reflect on your past education and work experiences.
- think about the skills you've gained in daily life.
- talk to people who know you well outside of work, for a different perspective.
Write a short summary of those skills and accomplishments. It should say how your qualifications fit the job you're applying for, but not in great detail. Give solid examples of how you've used your skills and experience to succeed in other situations.
- I focus too much on the details. ...
- I have a hard time letting go of a project. ...
- I have trouble saying “no” ...
- I get impatient when projects run beyond the deadline. ...
- I could use more experience in… ...
- I sometimes lack confidence. ...
- I can have trouble asking for help.
The importance of knowing your skills
Identifying the skills you have is crucial for building your CV and completing application forms. This will help convince employers you're the right person for the job. Your skills could have come from previous roles, voluntary work, training or your personal life.
Soft skills are character traits, personal attributes, and other non-technical abilities that help you work and communicate with other people. Some soft skills you might have to study and learn, and others might come to you naturally. Listening, communication and delegation are all examples of soft skills.
They can be soft skills, such as problem-solving abilities, effective communication, or time management, or hard skills, like speed typing, using Powerpoint or Excel. Feel free to include any universal skills even if they're not specifically required or mentioned in the job description.
- Positive attitude. Being calm and cheerful when things go wrong.
- Communication. You can listen and say information clearly when you speak or write.
- Teamwork. ...
- Self-management. ...
- Willingness to learn. ...
- Thinking skills (problem solving and decision making) ...
- Resilience.
- Know your strengths. ...
- Plan stories that illustrate your soft skills. ...
- Demonstrate communication skills in the moment. ...
- Demonstrate your people skills by how you treat the interviewers and their colleagues. ...
- Listen well. ...
- Offer social proof. ...
- Keep it positive.
“I'm not very familiar with that concept, but… “
Move on quickly by redirecting to an adjacent or related topic you're more familiar with, and let your interviewer know you're still able to bring some attractive competencies and skills to the table.
- 1 COMMUNICATION SKILLS (LISTENING, SPEAKING AND WRITING) ...
- 2 ANALYTICAL AND RESEARCH SKILLS. ...
- 3 FLEXIBILITY/ADAPTABILITY. ...
- 4 INTERPERSONAL ABILITIES. ...
- 5 ABILITY TO MAKE DECISIONS AND SOLVE PROBLEMS. ...
- 6 ABILITY TO PLAN, ORGANISE AND PRIORITISE WORK. ...
- 7 ABILITY TO WEAR MULTIPLE HATS. ...
- 8 LEADERSHIP/MANAGEMENT SKILLS.
How do you answer your personal areas of improvement?
- Choose one specific area that you're actively working on improving.
- If you're going to mention being weak in a certain area, make sure that you do not say anything that's vital or crucial to the job you're interviewing for.
- Listen to feedback.
- Consider your passions.
- Pay attention to when you are most productive.
- Ask others directly.
- Take a personality test.
- Seek out new experiences.
- Set your career goals. When planning to expand your skills, start by thinking about your career goals. ...
- Get a mentor. ...
- Read books. ...
- Join a training course. ...
- Set aside time to work on each skill. ...
- Practise regularly. ...
- Participate in job shadowing. ...
- Join a professional association.
- Critical thinking and problem solving.
- Teamwork and collaboration.
- Professionalism and strong work ethic.
- Oral and written communications skills.
- Leadership.
- 1) Emotional Intelligence. Emotional intelligence is often referred to as the ability to recognize and manage your emotions and the emotions of others. ...
- 2) Team Player Attitude. ...
- 3) Growth Mindset. ...
- 4) Openness to Feedback. ...
- 5) Adaptability. ...
- 6) Active Listening. ...
- 7) Work Ethic.
Skills might be considered as an ability or expertise that can be learned through practice, while qualities might be viewed as something more inherent, a characteristic trait, but which can be nurtured and perhaps developed.
Skills can be classified into three main types: Transferable/Functional, Personal Traits/Attitudes, and Knowledge-based.
- Communication.
- Teamwork.
- Problem solving.
- Initiative and enterprise.
- Planning and organising.
- Self-management.
- Learning.
- Technology.
- Communication. Communication includes listening, writing and speaking. ...
- Problem solving. Challenges will arise in every job you have. ...
- Teamwork. ...
- Initiative. ...
- Analytical, quantitative. ...
- Professionalism, work ethic. ...
- Leadership. ...
- Detail oriented.
Explain How Your Skills Qualify You For the Job
You can answer this question in two parts. First, explain what the attribute is and how you have demonstrated it in the past (or how you currently demonstrate it in your workplace). Then, explain why that skill makes you uniquely qualified to work for the company.
How do you showcase a skill?
- Show Off Logos.
- Create a Narrative With Photos.
- Show Your Skills With Icons.
- Share Information With Charts or Infographics.
- Try Smart Typography.
- Take Your Time. First things first: Acknowledge that the question was asked and that you're thinking about it. ...
- Think Aloud. ...
- Redirect. ...
- Have a Fail-Safe.
- Take your time. ...
- Think aloud. ...
- Admit you're unsure. ...
- Use flexible thinking. ...
- Repeat the question. ...
- Ask follow-up questions. ...
- Offer to come back to the question later. ...
- Acknowledge the question's value.
Keep your answer concise
Example: “I would do well in this job because I enjoy working with people and want to help them understand their insurance better. I've always been a strong communicator, and I excel in resolving problems and teaching others.”
- Assess Subsets of Your Strengths. ...
- Find People to Cover for Your Weaknesses. ...
- Get Additional Training. ...
- Identify Strength-Enhancing Opportunities. ...
- Deliberately Practice. ...
- Communicate and Blog. ...
- Learn From Others. ...
- Be Open to Change.
- 1) Time Management. ...
- 2) Organization. ...
- 3) Interpersonal Communication. ...
- 4) Customer Service. ...
- 5) Cooperation. ...
- 6) Conflict Resolution. ...
- 7) Listening. ...
- 8) Written Communication.
- Enthusiasm.
- Trustworthiness.
- Creativity.
- Discipline.
- Patience.
- Respectfulness.
- Determination.
- Dedication.
- Communication. Effective communication is essential in any role. ...
- Organisation and planning. ...
- Motivation and enthusiasm. ...
- Initiative. ...
- Teamwork. ...
- Leadership skills. ...
- Problem solving. ...
- Flexibility.
- Confidence.
- Punctuality.
- Organizational Abilities.
- Scheduling of Work.
- Superior Communication Skills.
- Self-confidence and Self-esteem.
- Neatness.
- Personal Hygiene.