Tierra Burks

February 23, 2016

Chapter 5 Outline: Evaluating Your
Skills
Student Learning Outcomes
Discuss the importance of skills in
your career search by defining and
identifying your skills.
Recognize the power of
transferable skills.
Relate your skills and personality
traits to different occupations.
Defining Skills

 Skills include the specific

attributes, talents, and personal
qualities that you bring to a job as
well as the tasks you learn on the
job. You also develop your skills
simply through the process of
living, by interacting with others
and going through your daily
routines. Your personal
performances often affect your
skills and abilities. You tend to be
motivated to repeatedly use skills
that part of enjoyable activities. All
of these can be considered
transferable.
Functional Skills are those that
may or may not be associated with
a specific job, such as maintaining

schedules, collecting data, and

diagnosing and responding to
problems. They are called
functional skills because they are
used to accomplish general tasks
or functions of a job.
Work-content skills are specific
and specialized to one job (e.g.,
bookkeeping is done by
bookkeepers, assigning grades
are done by teachers, interpreting
an electrocardi0ogram is done by
specific medical practitioners)
Adaptive or self-management
skills are personal attributes; they
might also be described as
personality traits or soft skills. The
ability to learn quickly, to pay close

attention to detail, and to be task

oriented, self-directed, congenial,
and cooperative are some
examples of adaptive skills.
Identifying Your Skills
If you were asked now to list your
skills, what would your skills look
like? It might be a short list, not
because you dont have skills but
simply because you have never
been asked to identify them and
are not accustomed to thinking
and talking about them. Reflecting
on your skills may also be difficult
because most of us have been
taught to be modest and not to

brag. We often feel that something

we do well doesnt take any
special skills; that is, we discount
our own special talents.
Identifying Transferable Skills
Transferable Skills are those that
you carry from one job to another
and can use in many occupations
and life situations. Perhaps you
are considered about a lack of
paid job experience, or you may
have a chosen a liberal arts major
(such as English or History) and
are concerned you will not be
trained for a job when you
graduate.

Success Strategies: The Scans

Report
Identifying the Basic Skills
Required by Employers
The U.S Department of labor
issued the SCAN report. Its goal
was aa sum up the consequences
and skills that forms the basis of
solid job preference. The results
are based on the extensive
questioning of employers and
educators. The report has stood
the test of time.
Workplace Know-How
The know-how identified by the
SCANS report is made up of
three-part foundation of skills and

personal qualities along with five

competencies; both the foundation
and the competencies are needed
for solid job performance, For the
foundation skills, first they
described and then you are given
some ideas on applying them to
your current level of proficiency.
The Foundation
Basic Skills: Reading, writing,
arithmetic and mathematics,
speaking and listening. These are
the minimum skills needed by
todays workers. If you are unsure
about your skills in these basic
areas, now is the time to take
steps to achieve a basic level of
proficiency. Or improve them,

dont shy away from basic testing

and coursework or assume that,
as an adult, you naturally have
these abilities. Begin thinking in
terms of doing all of these basics
well.
Thinking Skills
Thinking creatively, making
decisions, and solving problems,
seeing things in the minds eyes,
knowing how to learn, and
reasoning. Thinking skills allow
you to identify your strengths and
weaknesses and take steps to
remedy to the lather. They allow
you to acquire new skills, think
creatively, and identify problems
and solutions. If you are unsure of

your abilities in these areas, talk to

your career counselor or instructor
about testing and coursework that
can help.
Personal Qualities
Individual responsibility, selfesteem, sociability, selfmanagement, and integrity.
Included are the personality
characteristics described in
chapter 2 and the adaptive skills
and described in this chapter.
The Competencies
Effective workers can productively
use:
Resources. Allocating time,
money, materials, space, and
personnel.

Interpersonal Skills
Working on teams, teaching
others, serving customers, and
leading, negotiating, and working
well with people from culturally
diverse backgrounds.
Information
Acquiring and evaluating data,
organizing and maintaining files,
interpreting and communicating,
and using computers to process
information.
Systems
Understanding social,
organizational, and technological
systems; monitoring and
correcting performance; and
designing or improving systems.

Technology
Selecting equipment and tools,
applying technology to specific
tasks, and maintaining and
troubleshooting technologies.
Exhibit 5.1: Tasks from Diverse
Occupations Representative of
Level of Performance in SCANS
Know-How Skills required for
Entry into Jobs with a Career
Ladder
SCANS Foundation skills: Position
and tasks
Dental Hygienist: Reads
professional manuals to
understand issues related to new
techniques and equipment.

 Optician: Measures a customers

facial features to calculate bifocal
segment height.
Sales Representative, Hotel
Services: Assess client account to
determine adherence to
companys standards.
Law Enforcement Officer:
Prepares written reports of
incidents and crimes.
Contractor: Prepares a letter to a
subcontractor delineating
responsibilities for completion of a
contract.
Tips from the Pros: People Skills
From a manager at an
international retail corporation:

One camp of developmental

mentors told me to work on my
opportunities (weaknesses) and
become excellent at my job. The
other camp said that I should soar
with my strengths and excel in a
way that would differentiate me
from my peers. I would give that
latter advice to anyone who asks. I
feel that this direction is become
increasingly necessary for anyone
who wants to go beyond simple
success and find happiness. As I
found, it is very likely, and in my
case certain, that the things that
you are good at also happen to be
some of the things that you enjoy.
The key is finding this and then

framing it in such a way that is

valuable to someone who is willing
to pay for it.
I am extremely adapt at solving
problems, working through
puzzles, and communicating
complex information in a way that
makes sense to a wide audience. I
wanted to be a teacher and these
intrinsic tendencies allowed me to
excel in certain areas of business.
Culturally, being a teacher was
not looked at as collaborative with
my company. So I wedged this
desire into niche, specifically
operational analytics.
Key Advice: Figure out what you
are good at and what gives you

energy, learn to communicate it in

a way that is valuable to an
organization, and partner with
mentors who can help you turn
your vision into a job description.
Wha2t do you think?
1. Why is it important to have
communication skills if you plan
to be a manager or operations
analyze?
Its important to have
communication skills because
everyones personality is different,
so you need to be able to
communicate with people who are
all ages.

2. From this description, what do

you think an operation analyst
does?
I think an operation analyst helps
people with technical issues that
they have with their devices.
3. What is your conclusion about
the importance of people skills to
any career you choose?
If you want a job where you have
to interactive with others, it is
important to have the social skills.
Most jobs today require social
skills. People need to be able to
talk to others.

Transferable Skills Developed as a

Result of Completing a College
Degree
It is common to see a college
degree required as part of the
qualifications for many jobs. The
college degree is an indicator for
the employer of that the applicant
has mastered certain higher-level
transferable skills.
Communication Skills. Listening
effectively, writing essays and
reports, convincing individuals and
groups of importance of your
ideas, negotiating disputes and
differences, selling yourself and
your product idea.

Problem-solving or critical thinking

skills. Analytical thinking, thinking
abstractly, connecting ideas or
concepts in new or fresh ways,
determining broader issue,
identifying several solutions to the
same problem, hypothesizing
implications and future scenarios,
creating new ways to handle an
issue, persuading others to act in
the best interests of the group,
synthesizing ideas.
Human relations skills. Listening,
communicating understanding
verbally and nonverbally,
compromising, speaking with
collogues, advising people,
helping people solve problems,

communicating ideas effectively,

cooperating with others to solve
problems and to complete
projects, working well with diverse
groups of people, appreciating
differences, teaching or coaching
others.
Organizational Skills. Assembling
needs, planning and arranging
presentations or social events,
instating and designing programs,
coordinating events, delegating
responsibility, evaluating
programs, managing the
implementation of projects, time
management.
Research Skills. Searching
computerized databases and

published reference materials,

identify themes, analyzing data,
classifying data and/or handling
detail work, investigating
problems, recording data, writing
reports and term papers.
You now know that you transfer
many skills from life experience
and school and from one job to
another.
Tips from the Pros
Skills sets for the healthcare
industry: Although each career in
the field of health care has its
own unique requirements, you
can be sure that there are
common healthcare career skills

required of everyone in this

rapidly expanding field. Most
positions require excellent
interpersonal and communication
skills, some level of technical or
quantitate thinking capacity and
a strong work ethic. Additionally
most positions entail a great deal
of responsibility and maturity.
Healthcare workers must be
willing to learn and to continue to
learn, because constant updating
and recertification are the room
in the ever-changing field with
the development of new
technology, advanced
procedures, experimental

treatments, and even new

diseases.
Your Most Valuable Assets: Youre
Personality Traits
Were talked about transferable
that were learned or acquired at
school, work, or home, or through
internship, leisure, and volunteer
activities. Many of your skills may
have come naturally, without
training or education. We call
these skills natural abilities. They
are also part of your multiple
intelligences and emotional
intelligence.
Exhibit 5.2 O*NET Online

Investigate alleged or suspected

criminal violations of federal, state,
or local laws to determine if
evidence is sufficient to
recommend prosecution.
Sample of related job titles,
special agent, criminal
investigator, investigator, FBI
special agent (Federal Bureau of
Investigation Special Agent)
Tasks
Obtain and verify evidence by
interviewing and observing
suspects and witnesses, or by
analyzing records.

 Record evidence and documents,

using equipment such as cameras
and photocopy machines.
Examine records in order to locate
links in chains of evidence or
information.
Prepare reports that detail
investigation findings.
Collaborate with other offices and
agencies in order to exchange
information and coordinate
activities.
Determine scope, timing, and
direction of investigations.
Testify before grand juries
concerning criminal activity
investigations.

 Analyze evidence in laboratories

or in the field.
Investigate organized crime, public
corruption, financial crime,
copyright infringement, civil rights
violations, bank robbery, extortion,
kidnapping and other violations of
federal or state statutes.
Identify state issues and evidence
needed, based on analysis or
changes, complaints or allegations
of law violations.
Skills include writing, judgement,
and decision making, complex
problem solving, coordination,
instructing, social perceptiveness,
speaking, active listening, service
orientation, and persuasion.

Success Strategies: Describing

Skills
Remember that skills are the
currency of the job market. The
more you have and the better you
are at describing them, the greater
your opportunities will be.
Review the list of transferable
skills of a college graduate.
As you read each skill under each
category, think of a specific time
when you developed or
demonstrated that skills in school,
during your leisure activities, or
during a past or present job.
Create a skills folder on your
computer as part of your course

portfolio to remind yourself about

your self-motivated skills and
where you have used your skills.
Review the skills folder the next
time you are writing a resume or
interviewing for a job so you can
convincingly describe the skills
you possess and how you
demonstrated these skills.
Your ability to communicate this
critical information to employers
will set you apart from the crowd in
the interview process and help you
to rise to the top of any employers
list of candidates for hire.
Tips from the Pros

 In an interview, clearly describing

your skills and how you have
demonstrated them is your
competitive advantage.
The Portfolio Employee (page 89)
Your skills are your most valuable
asset in the job market because
they are transferable.
Do you think a teacher would have
the skills necessary to find
employment in the business
world? If you know or have read
about anyone working in sales,
marketing, or management, you
may notice that similar skills are
involved in all these jobs.


Teaching. Training, coordinating,
communicating, arbitrating,
coaching, group facilitate,
accessing the internet, using
computers.
Making Lesson Plans. Designing
curricula, incorporating learning
strategies, problem solving,
creating visual aid.
Assigning Grades. Evaluating,
examining, assessing
performance, interpreting test
results, determining potential of
individuals, monitoring programs.
Writing proposals. Assessing
needs, identifying projects, setting

priorities, designing evaluation

models, identifying relevant
information, making hypotheses
about unknown phenomena,
designing a process, estimating
costs of a project, researching
funding sources.
Advising the Yearbook Staff.
Planning, promoting, fundraising,
group facilitating, handle detail
work, meeting deadlines,
assembling items of information
into a coherent whole, classifying
information, coordinating, creating,
dealing with pressure, delegating
tasks, displaying ideas in an
artistic form, editing, making
layouts.

 Supervising Interns. Training,

evaluating, mentoring, monitoring
programs, diagnosing problem
areas, inspiring, counselling,
guiding.
Interpreting Diagnostic Tests.
Screening, placing, identifying
needs, diagnosing.
Interacting with students, parents,
and administration. Confronting,
resolving conflicts, establishing
rapport, conveying warmth and
caring, drawing people out,
offering support, motivating,
negotiating, persuading, handling
complaints, mediating, organizing,
questioning, troubleshooting.

 Chairing a Committee or
Department. Arranging meetings,
having a responsibility for
attending meetings.
The following exercises will assist
you in assessing and identifying
your skills
SCANS Competencies: Positions
and Tasks
Thinking Skills
Expeditor/Purchasing Agent:
Decides what supplier to use
during a bid evaluation based on
supplier Information.

 Office Supervisor: Set priorities for

processing orders to resolve a
conflict in scheduling.
Salesperson/Outside Sales:
Collects money from delinquent
customers and uses judgment on
extending credit.
Contractor: Analyzes and corrects
the problem when timber pile
break before reaching specified
bearing loads.
Travel Agent: Compensates a
customer who is dissatisfied with a
travel experience.
Personal Qualities
Optician: Responds to customer
requests, demonstrates

understanding of customer needs,

and exhibits friendliness and
politeness to customers.
Quality Control Inspector:
Performs independent research to
assess compliance.
Computer Operator: Assumes
responsibility for the arrangement
and completion of jobs run by
several departments.
Telemarketing Representative:
Displays a set of concern and
interest in customers business
and company.
Sales Representatives, Hotel
Services: Asserts self and network
with people of conventions.

Resources
Chef: Performs a cost analysis on
menu items in order to turn a
profit.
Quality Control Inspector:
Establishes a system for
inspecting items within a given
area and time frame while allowing
for contingencies.
Travel Agent: Sets priorities for
work tasks on a daily basis so that
travel arrangements are
completed in a timely manner.
Interpersonal Skills
Accounting/Financial Analyst:
Teaches a coworker the procedure
for sending bimonthly statements.

 Customer Service
Representatives: Assists
customers in selecting
merchandise or resolving
complaints.
Outside Equipment Technician:
Coordinates with a peer technician
to install a point-to-point data
circuit in two different cities.
Information
Childcare Aide: Compiles accurate
written records including all facets
of childs play for the office and
parents.
Travel Agents: Uses online
software to retrieve information
relating to customer requests,

plans itineraries, and books airline

tickets.
Cosmetologist: Keeps abreast of
new and emerging styles and
techniques through magazines
and attendance at fashion shows.
Systems
Accounting/Financial Analyst
Performs analyses comparing
current expenditures with
projected needs and revenues.
Medical Assistant: Understands
the systems of the organization
and the organizations ultimate
goal (i.e., excellent patient care).
Plastic Molding Machine Operator:
Monitors gauges and dials to

ensure that the machine operates

at the proper rate.
Technology
Accounting/Financial Analyst:
Prepares the monthly debt
schedule, including reviews of
financial statements.
Expeditor/Purchasing Agent:
Accesses the computer to retrieve
required forms used to request
bids and to place purchase orders.
Travel Agent: Uses online search
engines to retrieve information
relating to the customers request,
plans the itinerary, and books the
airline ticket.

Completing a Team Research

Report
It is necessary for me to learn new
software and Web-based tools to
communicate to my team and to
format my findings a spreadsheet.
As the team leader, I had to find a
time when all members could
meet in person to share findings
and formulate the final report
before the due date. The skills
used in this team research project
include the following:
1. Learn quickly
2. Display flexibility
3. Meet challenges
4. Direct self and others
5. Follow through
6. Face new situations

7. Proof and edit

8. Translate concepts
9. Use technology
10. Organize
11. Get the job done
12. Display patience
13. Attend to detail
14. Overcome obstacles
15. Communicate clearly
16. Work under stress
17. Display persistence
18. Ask questions
19. Exercise leadership skills
20. Manage time effectively
Another shorter method to
identify skills is to simply write a
story about one task completed
and then list the skills used. Dick

Bolles popularized this approach

in his Quick Job Hunting Map
(2006), a booklet that lists
hundreds of skills. Following is
an example of one students
project and the skills involved.
The students classmates
listened to her story and helped
her identify 20 listed.
Success Strategies: Using
SCANS Skills
Sample skills used to complete
assignments is a career-planning
class.
SCANS Foundations
Basic Skills

 Reading
Writing
Arithmetic
Listening
Speaking
Thinking Skills
Creative thinking
Decision making
Seeing things in the minds eye
Knowing how to learn
Reasoning
Personal Qualities
Responsibility
Self-esteem
Sociability
Self-management

 Integrity/honesty
SCANS Competencies
Resources
Time
Money
Material and facilities
Human resources
Interpersonal
Participates as member of team
Teaches others new skills
Serves clients/customers
Exercises leadership
Negotiates
Works with diversity

Information
Acquires and evaluates
information
Organizes and maintains
information
Interprets and communicates
information
Uses computers to process
information
Systems
Understands systems
Monitors and connects
performance
Improves and designs systems
Technology
Selects technology

 Applies technology to task

Maintains and troubleshoots
equipment