Identify Your Job-Related Skills

Many jobs require skills that are specific to that occupation. An airline pilot obviously needs to know how to fly an airplane; thankfully, having good adaptive and transferable skills would not be enough to be considered for that job.

Job-related skills may have been gained in a variety of ways including education, training, work, hobbies, or other life experiences. As you complete the various worksheets that follow, keep in mind that you are looking for skills and accomplishments. Pay special attention to those experiences and accomplishments that you really enjoyed; these experiences often demonstrate skills that you should try to use in your next job. When possible, quantify your activities or their results with numbers. Employers can relate more easily to percentages, raw numbers, and ratios than to quality terms such as more, many, greater, less, fewer, and so on. For example, saying "presented to groups as large as 200 people" has more impact than "did many presentations."

We spend many years in school and learn more lessons there than you might at first realize. For example, in our early years of schooling we acquire basic skills that are important in most jobs: getting along with others, reading instructions, and accepting supervision. Later, courses become more specialized and relevant to potential careers.

This worksheet helps you review all your education and training experiences, even those that may have occurred years ago. Some courses may seem more important to certain careers than others. But keep in mind that even the courses that don't seem to support a particular career choice can be an important source of skills.

Although few employers will ask you about these years, jot down any highlights of things you felt particularly good about; doing so may help you identify important interests and directions to consider for the future. For example, note the following:

• Subjects you did well in that might relate to the job you want
• Extracurricular activities/hobbies/leisure activities
• Accomplishments/things you did well (in or out of school)

These experiences will be more important for a recent graduate and less so for those with college, work, or other life experiences. But, whatever your situation, what you did during these years can give you important clues to use in your career planning and job search.

Name of school(s)/years attended:

______________________________________________________

Subjects you did well in or that might relate to the job you want:

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

Extracurricular activities/hobbies/leisure activitie

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

Accomplishments/things you did well (in or out of school):

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

If you attended or graduated from a two- or four-year college or took college classes, what you learned and did during this time will often be of interest to an employer. If you are a new graduate, these experiences can be particularly important because you have less work experience to present. Emphasize here those things that directly support your ability to do the job. For example, working your way through school shows that you are hardworking. If you took courses that specifically support your job, you can include details on these as well.

Name of school(s)/years attended:

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

Major:

______________________________________________________

Courses related to job objective:

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

Extracurricular activities/hobbies/leisure activities:

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

Accomplishments/things you did well (in or out of school):

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

Specific things you learned or can do that relate to the job you want:

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

Additional Training and Education

There are many formal and informal ways to learn, and some of the most important things are often learned outside of the classroom. Use this worksheet to list any additional training or education that might relate to the job you want. Include military training, on-thejob training, workshops, or any other formal or informal training you have had. You can also include any substantial learning you obtained through a hobby, family activities, online research, or similar informal source.

Names of courses or programs/dates taken/any certificates or credentials earned:

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

Specific things you learned or can do that relate to the job you want:

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

Use this worksheet to list each major job you have held and the information related to each. Begin with your most recent job, followed by previous ones.

Include military experience and unpaid volunteer work here, too. Both are work and are particularly important if you do not have much paid civilian work experience. Create additional sheets to cover all of your significant jobs or unpaid experiences as needed. If you have been promoted, consider handling the new position as a separate job from the original position.

Whenever possible, provide numbers to support what you did: number of people served over one or more years; number of transactions processed; percentage of sales increase; total inventory value you were responsible for; payroll of the staff you supervised; total budget you were responsible for; and other specific data. As much as possible, mention results using numbers, as well.

Name of organization: ____________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________
Job title(s): ____________________________________________
Employed from: __________________ to: __________________

Computers, software, or other machinery or equipment you used:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Data, information, or reports you created or used:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

People-oriented duties or responsibilities to coworkers, customers, others:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Services you provided or products you produced:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Reasons for promotions or salary increases, if any:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Details on anything you did to help the organization, such as increase productivity, improve procedures or processes, simplify or reorganize job duties, decrease costs, increase profits, improve working conditions, reduce turnover, or other improvements. Quantify results when possible; use statements such as, "Increased order processing by 50 percent, with no increase in staff costs."
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Specific things you learned or can do that relate to the job you want:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

What would your supervisor say about you?
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Supervisor's name: ______________________________________
Phone number:______________ E-mail address: ______________

Name of organization: ____________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________
Job title(s): ____________________________________________
Employed from: __________________ to: __________________

Computers, software, or other machinery or equipment you used:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Data, information, or reports you created or used:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

People-oriented duties or responsibilities to coworkers, customers, others:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Services you provided or products you produced:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Reasons for promotions or salary increases, if any:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Details on anything you did to help the organization, such as increase productivity, improve procedures or processes, simplify or reorganize job duties, decrease costs, increase profits, improve working conditions, reduce turnover, or other improvements. Quantify results when possible.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Specific things you learned or can do that relate to the job you want:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

What would your supervisor say about you?
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Supervisor's name: ______________________________________
Phone number: ______________ E-mail address: ______________

Name of organization: ____________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________
Job title(s): ____________________________________________
Employed from: __________________ to: __________________

Computers, software, or other machinery or equipment you used:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Data, information, or reports you created or used:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

People-oriented duties or responsibilities to coworkers, customers, others:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Services you provided or products you produced:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Reasons for promotions or salary increases, if any:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Details on anything you did to help the organization, such as increase productivity, improve procedures or processes, simplify or reorganize job duties, decrease costs, increase profits, improve working conditions, reduce turnover, or other improvements. Quantify results when possible.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Specific things you learned or can do that relate to the job you want:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

What would your supervisor say about you?
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Supervisor's name: ______________________________________
Phone number: ______________ E-mail address: ______________

Name of organization: ____________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________
Job title(s): ____________________________________________
Employed from: __________________ to: __________________

Computers, software, or other machinery or equipment you used:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Data, information, or reports you created or used:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

People-oriented duties or responsibilities to coworkers, customers, others:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Services you provided or products you produced:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Reasons for promotions or salary increases, if any:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Details on anything you did to help the organization, such as increase productivity, improve procedures or processes, simplify or reorganize job duties, decrease costs, increase profits, improve working conditions, reduce turnover, or other improvements. Quantify results when possible.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Specific things you learned or can do that relate to the job you want:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

What would your supervisor say about you?
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Supervisor's name: ______________________________________
Phone number: ______________ E-mail address: ______________

Many people overlook informal life experiences as being important sources of learning or accomplishment. This worksheet is here to encourage you to think about any hobbies or interests you have had: family responsibilities, recreational activities, travel, or any other experiences in your life where you feel some sense of accomplishment. Write any experiences that seem particularly meaningful to you below, and name the key skills you think were involved.

Situation 1:
Describe situation and skills used:

______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Specific things you learned or can do that relate to the job you want:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Situation 2:
Describe situation and skills used:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Specific things you learned or can do that relate to the job you want:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Situation 3:
Describe situation and skills used:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Specific things you learned or can do that relate to the job you want:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

• Knowing your skills is essential for answering most interview questions. Once you develop your "skills language," you can use it to help identify jobs that match these skills, write better resumes, and find a job that more closely matches what you are good at and enjoy doing.


• Adaptive skills such as having good work habits and working well with others are important to employers.


• Transferable skills, which include writing, managing people, and analyzing data, are useful in many different careers. Be sure to emphasize your relevant transferable skills in interviews.


• Job-related skills are those skills you have learned through education, training, and job experience. When you discuss these skills in an interview, provide as many numbers, examples, and results as you can.