Your Skills

To maximize your power and value in the workplace, it is vital that you:

  1. Know what skills are
  2. Know the different types of skills
  3. Make your list of skills
  4. Identify your Dependable Strengths
  5. Identify the skills employers want
  6. Effectively communicate your skills to employers

A list of your skills might include (you can elaborate on these or exclude them specific to your situation)

  • Designing
  • Creating/Visualizing
  • Repairs/troubleshooting
  • Multitasking
  • Prioritizing
  • Organization
  • Technical skills (using specific equipment )
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Initiative and problem-solving abilities
  • Dependability
  • Team work skills
  • Making effective presentations
  • Action planning. Techniques to reach your goals
  • Decision making
  • Problem-solving
  • Time management
  • Commercial awareness
  • Spoken communication
  • Technology skills (software use or programming)
  • Creativity
  • Teaching
  • Sales ability
  • Empathy (caretaker, nurse, etc.)
  • Patience
  • Building things
  • Leadership
  • Team player
  • Public speaking
  • Equipment use skills
  • Think about what you have done. Which skills (this is not an all inclusive list) have you used to get that job done? For example, a teacher uses teaching skills of course, but she may also use public speaking, leadership, creativity, time management, problem solving and other skills to do her daily job. Every job uses a multitude of skills, no matter how mundane. A factory worker uses decision making, problem solving, building things, and team work skills for example.

    What skills to you use daily?

    Make a list of things you do in your job. Then categorize them into personal/people skills, mechanical/technical skills, etc. This is how you organize your resume and figure out what to write about. Make sure as you write your paragraphs you include these active words to describe each thing you've done. These words are powerful, and you'll want to use them every chance you get to describe your work duties.

    Communication Words

    1. Advocated
    2. Authored
    3. Clarified
    4. Composed
    5. Consulted
    6. Conveyed
    7. Convinced
    8. Corresponded
    9. Defined
    10. Explained
    11. Fielded
    12. Illustrated
    13. Influenced
    14. Informed
    15. Mediated
    16. Moderated
    17. Negotiated
    18. Promoted
    19. Persuaded
    20. Publicized

    Leadership words

    1. Authorized
    2. Chaired
    3. Cultivated
    4. Delegated
    5. Directed
    6. Enabled
    7. Executed
    8. Facilitated
    9. Fostered
    10. Guided
    11. Headed
    12. Hosted
    13. Inspired
    14. Mentored
    15. Mobilized
    16. Operated
    17. Orchestrated
    18. Oversaw
    19. Spear­headed
    20. Trained

    Creativity & Problem Solving

    1. Analyzed
    2. Built
    3. Calculated
    4. Crafted
    5. Designed
    6. Devised
    7. Drafted
    8. Enhanced
    9. Fashioned
    10. Forecast
    11. Formulated
    12. Initiated
    13. Invented
    14. Maintained
    15. Operated
    16. Overhauled
    17. Personalized
    18. Piloted
    19. Pioneered
    20. Showcased

    Teamwork

    1. Acknowledged
    2. Assimilated
    3. Blended
    4. Coalesced
    5. Collaborated
    6. Contributed
    7. Diversified
    8. Embraced
    9. Encouraged
    10. Energized
    11. Gathered
    12. Harmonized
    13. Ignited
    14. Joined
    15. Melded
    16. Merged
    17. Participated
    18. Partnered
    19. United
    20. Volunteered

    If you decide to improve your skills, there are many available courses to take in almost every field - or taking some courses can help you change fields if you so desire. Your growth should NEVER be static - you can always learn something to either enhance the job you are already doing, to improve and expand, or to change your focus altogether.  Never ever believe learning is 'done'.