Skills
Your career skills are constantly changing and will develop and evolve throughout college and life. Your skills and abilities determine what you are good at now, what you may do well in the future or what skills you want or need in a career.
This activity is taken and modified from Northwestern University Career Services. You should go through this list of different skills and highlight:
Which skills do you already have?
Which skills have you begun to develop?
Which skills do you want to develop?
Which skills do you want to use on a daily basis?
Information Management Skills
Sorting data or objects
Compiling information
Analyzing data
Synthesizing facts and concepts
Understanding procedures
Evaluating information based on standards
Design and Planning Skills
Setting realistic goals and expectations
Predicting future trends and patterns
Following through on tasks and projects
Managing time effectively
Assessing needs
Maintaining and sticking to a schedule
Research and Investigation Skills
Utilizing a variety of sources for information
Identifying problems and needs
Designing experiments
Formulate problems or research questions
Discover new ways to analyze information
Communication Skills (oral and written)
Listening and deciphering oral information or instructions
Utilizing various methods of written communication
Speaking to people and groups of various sizes and backgrounds
Expressing one's needs, wants, ideas, opinions, and preferences in a logical manner
Describing information or objects or events accurately
Organize and present information clearly and in logical order
Debating issues without being abrasive to others
Utilizing good customer service and telephone skills
Responding appropriately to negative feedback
Management and Administration Skills
Analyzing tasks
Utilizing people and resources to accomplish a task
Identifying resources to solve a problem
Delegating responsibility to complete a task
Motivating and leading others
Organizing people and information
Human Relations and Interpersonal Skills
Keeping a group focused and on-task
Maintaining cooperation and group cohesion
Delegating responsibility effectively
Expressing thoughts and opinions appropriately
Understanding others feelings
Demonstrating effective social behavior in various contexts and settings
Teaching a skill or task to others
Making commitments to others and following through
Critical Thinking Skills
Identifying and solving problems
Utilizing innovative solutions to complex problems
Adapting one's concepts and norms to changing environment
Identifying and using set principles to solve problems
Analyze events and ideas from several perspectives
Making quick decisions using logic and reason
Valuing Skills
Understanding the effects of decision-making on general human welfare
Making decisions to maximize individual and common good
Appreciating the contributions of art, literature, science, and technology
Identifying one's own values and how they fit into career and life choices
Now consider how these skills may match careers you are considering how how you should acquire certain skills. It is also helpful in writing resumes and interviewing to be able to discuss how you have these different skills and in what ways you have utilized them in the past and can utilize them in the future. For more information about matching skills to a career, come to the Career Center Resource Room in Page 106 or schedule an appointment with a career counselor by calling 660-1050.
Go back to What to do after graduation.