Skills Identification Assignment Handout

1

Skills Identification Assignment

A skill is the ability to demonstrate your talents, expertise, areas of knowledge, and strengths that you have to offer. It is essential to have a clear understanding of your strongest skill set to effectively market yourself among employers. It also provides an opportunity to improve and develop new skills to enhance your career and professional development. The purpose of this assignment is to help you articulate your skills so that you can further implement these skills in your resume, cover letter, and upcoming interviews, and to boost your confidence in clearly communicating what you have to offer as a prospective candidate.

For this assignment, you’ll have an opportunity to identify 10 skills that you have and note these skills on the left column of the Skills Identification Worksheet. The noted skills can be from past or current experiences that you have gained from volunteer experiences, community service, work experience, internships, academic courses, etc. In addition, to identifying the skills you’ll include a specific example describing when you have used each of the skills listed on the righthand column of the worksheet.

Please reference Table 1.1 below for additional examples in completing this assignment. Also reference the Skills Table 1.2 to view a list of skills to help you brainstorm as you complete the section “Skills I Have” on the left column.

Table 1.1 : Skills I Have Leadership Skills

Working as part of an effective and collaborative team

Communication/Public Speaking Skills

Example (i.e. internships, work, academic and/or volunteer experience, etc.,) As the Academic Chair of the Transfer Club, I facilitated 10 study sessions. In these sessions, I collaborated with academic departments to provide academic resources.

Worked on a group presentation with 4 classmates and took the initiative to create a word document. This helped the group to create an outline for the project, where we documented the group discussion.

Presented projects in various academic courses, which included facilitating group activities to create an engaging and interactive presentation.

2

Skills Identification Assignment

Skills List Table 1.2:

Verbal Communication • Speak well in public appearances • Confront and express opinions without offending • Interview people to obtain information • Handle complaints in person and over phone • Present ideas effectively • Persuade/influence others to a point of view • Sell ideas, products or services • Debate ideas with others • Participate in group discussions and teams Nonverbal Communication • Listen carefully and attentively • Convey a positive self image • Use body language to make others comfortable • Develop rapport easily with groups of people • Establish culture to support learning • Express feelings through body language • Promote concepts through a variety of media • Believe in self worth • Respond to non-verbal cues • Model behavior or concepts for others Written Communication • Write technical language, reports, manuals • Write poetry, fiction plays

Analyze • Study data or behavior for meaning and solutions • Analyze quantitative, physical and/or scientific data • Write analysis of study and research • Compare and evaluate information • Systematize information and results • Investigate clues • Formulate insightful and relevant questions • Use technology for statistical analysis Research • Identify appropriate information sources • Search written, oral and technological information • Interview primary sources • Hypothesize and test for results • Compile numerical and statistical data • Classify and sort information into categories • Gather information from a number of sources • Patiently search for hard-to-find information Plan and Organize • Identify and organize tasks or information • Coordinate people, activities and details • Develop a plan and set objectives

3

Skills Identification Assignment

Continued…

• Write grant proposals • Prepare and write logically written reports Write copy for sales and advertising • Edit and proofread written material • Prepare revisions of written material • Utilize all forms of technology for writing • Write case studies and treatment plans • Demonstrate expertise in grammar and style Train/Consult • Teach, advise, coach, empower • Conduct needs assessments • Use a variety of media for presentation • Develop educational curriculum and materials •Arrange correct sequence of information and actions • Create guidelines for implementing an action • Create efficient systems • Follow through, insure completion of a task • Facilitate a group • Explain difficult ideas, complex topics • Assess learning styles and respond accordingly • Consult and recommend solutions • Write well organized and documented reports Counsel and Serve • Counsel, advise, consult, guide others

• Set up and keep time schedules • Anticipate problems and respond with solutions • Develop realistic goals and action to attain them •Take risks, make hard decisions, be decisive Management • Manage personnel, projects and time • Foster a sense of ownership in employees • Delegate responsibility and review performance • Increase efficiency to achieve goals • Develop and facilitate work teams • Provide training for development of staff • Adjust plans/procedures for the unexpected • Facilitate conflict management • Communicate well with diverse groups • Utilize technology to facilitate management Administrative • Communicate well with key people in organization • Identify and purchase necessary resource materials • Utilize computer software and equipment

4

Skills Identification Assignment

Continued…

• Care for and serve people • Demonstrate empathy, sensitivity, and patience • Help people make their own decisions • Help others improve health and welfare • Listen empathically and with objectivity • Coach, guide, encourage individuals to achieve goals • Mediate peace between conflicting parties • Facilitate self-awareness in others Interpersonal Relations • Convey a sense of humor • Anticipate people's needs and reactions • Express feelings appropriately • Process human interactions, understand others • Encourage, empower, advocate for people • Create positive, hospitable environment • Adjust plans for the unexpected • Facilitate conflict management • Communicate well with diverse groups • Listen carefully to communication Financial • Calculate, perform mathematical computations • Work with precision with numerical data • Keep accurate and complete financial records • Perform accounting functions and procedures • Compile data and apply statistical analysis

• Organize, improve, adapt office systems • Track progress of projects and troubleshoot • Achieve goals within budget and time schedule • Assign tasks and sets standards for support staff • Hire and supervise temporary personnel as needed • Demonstrate flexibility during crisis • Oversee communication, email, and telephone Leadership • Envision the future and lead change • Establish policy • Set goals and determine courses of action • Motivate/inspire others to achieve common goals • Create solutions to complex problems • Communicate well with all levels of the organization • Develop and mentor talent • Negotiate terms and conditions

Create and Innovate • Visualize concepts and results • Intuit strategies and solutions • Execute color, shape, and form • Brainstorm and make use of group synergy • Communicate with metaphors

5

Skills Identification Assignment

Continued…

• Create computer generated charts for presentation • Use computer software for records and analysis •Forecast, estimate expenses and income • Appraise and analyze costs • Create and justify organization's budget

• Invent products through experimentation • Express ideas through art form • Remember faces, accurate spatial memory • Create images through, sketches, sculpture, etc.

• Utilize computer software for artistic creations

6

Skills Identification Assignment

Skills Identification Worksheet Assignment Skills I Have

Example (i.e. internships, work, academic and/or volunteer experience, etc.,)

7

Skills Identification Assignment

Skills I Have

Example (i.e. internships, work, academic and/or volunteer experience, etc.,)

8

Skills Identification Rubric (10 pts)

CRITERIA Providing an Example Showcasing/Connecting Transferable Skills with Experience

SCORE: 7 6 5 Grammar, Spelling, and Punctuation

SCORE: 3

2

1

EXCELLENT -Student responses were answered in depth -Responses were supported in depth with relevant details and /or by providing a written thorough understanding communicating their transferable skill in the example -Student makes insightful and critical reflective connections between their transferable skills in connecting it with previous/current experiences

AVERAGE -Student responses were partially answered and/or lacked being descriptive and detailed in their examples -Responses were supported with partial details and/or to some degree utilized provided a written partial understanding communicating their transferable skill in the example -Student makes partial connections between their transferable skill in connecting it with previous/current experiences

UNACCEPTABLE -Student responses were vaguely answered and/or omitted a detailed description in their example -Responses were not supported with sufficient details and/or did not demonstrate a clear written understanding communicating their transferable skill in the example -Student makes no and/or vague connections between their transferable skill in connecting it with previous/current experiences

-Error-free spelling -Error-free Punctuation -Grammar is appropriate - Uses a professional tone in their examples

-Contains minor errors (grammar, punctuation, and/or spelling) -Use a professional tone to some degree in their example but may be inconsistent throughout

- Multiple spelling, grammar and/or punctuation errors -Does not use a professional tone in their example