Learning to talk about your skills

1. Ability to work in a team structure

2. Ability to make decisions and solve problems

3. Ability to verbally communicate with persons inside and outside the organization

4. Ability to plan, organize, and prioritize work

5. Ability to obtain and process information

6. Ability to analyze quantitative data

7. Technical knowledge related to job

8. Proficiency with computer software programs

9. Ability to create and/or edit written reports

10. Ability to sell or influence others

Throughout the course of your life, you have gained competencies in many areas. In which of the following do you excel? This list will help you to realize your strong points that you can apply to (new) career decision-making as well as to transitioning to different fields. Check off the skills that you have then, go back and circle those skills you most enjoy using.

Knowing yourself is the key for a successful job interview.

Communication Skills

 Present information to large and small groups

 Handle complaints in person/over the phone

 Sell ideas, products, or services

 Listen carefully and attentively

 Develop rapport easily with diverse individuals and groups of people

 Read or speak another language

 Edit and proofread written material

 Write clearly and concisely

Counseling, Serving, and Interpersonal Relations Skills

 Counsel, advise, consult, guide others

 Demonstrate empathy, sensitivity, and patience

 Help people make their own decisions

 Help others improve health and welfare

 Listen empathically and with objectivity

 Create positive, hospitable environment

 Encourage, empower, advocate for people

Creative and Innovative Skills

 Visualize concepts and results

 Brainstorm and make use of group synergy

 Design materials, products, or services

 Express ideas through an form

 Use computer software for artistic creations

Financial Skills

 Develop/stay within a budget

 Eye for profit

 Recognize money making opportunities

 Manage money/make money grow

 Set financial priorities

 Develop cost cutting solutions

 Negotiate financial deals

 Understand economic principles

Leadership, Management, and Administrative Skills

 Envision the future and lead change

 Establish policy and/or procedures

 Set goals and determine courses of action

 Create innovative solutions to complex problems

 Develop and facilitate work teams

 Provide training for development of staff

 Demonstrative flexibility during crisis

 Evaluate performance

 Streamline processes

Mechanical and Technical Skills

 Invent

 Assemble/build/install

 Perform precision work

 Troubleshoot/diagnose problems

 Drafting/mechanical drawing

 Understand manuals/diagrams

 Learn new technology easily

 Program/Code

Numerical Skills

 Solid ability with basic arithmetic

 Multiply numbers in your head

 Figure out percentages

 Recognize patterns and relationships in numbers

 Gain valuable information from graphs, tables, and charts

Planning and Organizing Skills

 Identify and organize tasks or information

 Coordinate and organize people, activities, processes, systems, and programs

 Develop a plan and set objectives

 Set up and keep time schedules

 Anticipate problems and respond with solutions

 Plan and manage events

Problem-Solving Skills

 Anticipate/solve problems

 Bring order in a chaotic situation

 Determine root causes

 Select most effective solution

 Improvise under stress

 Help a group identify solutions

 Handle difficult people

 Stay calm in emergencies

After checking your skills, it's important to write them down and practice as much as possible. Learn by heart all your skills and connect a skill with a story you've lived in your previous jobs or in your life.

Good luck!

All the best,

Vera Lorenzo

Diretora Fala Idiomas

Bibliography: Columbia University