Career Development CenterPresenter: Cam Helkowski, chelkow@luc.edu

November 2011

Take inventory of what YOU offerMajor skills and abilities

Social, technical or field-specific skills

Important personal attributes (hard-working, trustworthy, results-oriented, decisive)

Ask: Where have I successfully used these abilities, skills and attributes?

Why Look at Transferable Skills?

Leverage skills for new opportunitiesTarget skills will offer the greatest personal

rewardIdentify areas of strength and interestIdentify areas for growth and developmentIdentify areas of burnout or dissatisfactionData for self-marketing/ personal branding

3 Types of SkillsTechnical/ Work-specific skills are specific to a job and are not

easily applied in other environments or situations. These skills tend to be technical and/or specialized.

Functional/transferable skills can be applied in most environments and situations. They incorporate various combinations of data, people, and thing skills. Examples of functional skills include communication, planning, organizing, managing, analyzing, and problem-solving.

Self-management/adaptive skills (sometimes referred to as personality traits) are related to how we conduct ourselves and are rooted in temperament. Examples of these skills include taking the initiative, resourcefulness, being good-natured, and reliability.

Assess Your MarketabilityWhat Can You Provide that No One Else

Can?

Transferable skills(i.e. communication, analyzing, organizing, problem-solving,

planning, presentation)

Experience by organizational function

Accomplishments

Assess Your Marketability:What Can You Provide that No One Else Can?

What do you know? What have you done?

Personality and character (adaptive skills)

How can you help? What value do you bring?

Education and related training

Volunteer experience

Assess Your Marketability: Transferable Skills that Employers SeekCollaboration and

Teamwork SkillsDiplomacy/InfluenceAdaptability and

FlexibilityProject ManagementInterpersonal SkillsCommunication Skills

Entrepreneurial attitude and creativity

Understanding of multiple perspectives

Problem-solving and analysis tied to the “big picture”

Strategic planning

Transferable Skills CategoriesCommunication

Research and Planning

Leadership and Management

Human Relations and Interpersonal

Communication SkillsSpeaking effectively in public Writing clearly and concisely Expressing ideas in an open forum Facilitating group discussion Providing appropriate feedback Persuading or advocatingReporting technical information to a non-

technical audienceInterviewing for informationEditing documents

Research and Planning SkillsGenerating ideas Identifying problems Developing alternative solutions Identifying resources Gathering information Goal Setting and Evaluation Conducting Needs AnalysisDeveloping evaluation and feedback strategies

Leadership and Management SkillsRecruiting and hiring staffProviding direction, coaching and feedbackHandling details or coordinating tasks Managing groups Delegating responsibility Teaching or Instruction Counseling for performance improvementPromoting change Managing conflict

Human Relations and Interpersonal SkillsDeveloping rapport Listening activelyProviding support for others Motivating Sharing credit Counseling Cooperating Representing others Perceiving feelings, situations Asserting

Communicate Your Value:Accomplishments

AchievedAdaptedAuthoredBuiltCompletedControlledConvincedCreatedDevelopedDirected

EstablishedEvaluatedImplementedImprovedInitiatedMaintainedManagedOperatedProducedReduced

Accomplishment StatementsQuestions to get started:

• What outcomes have you been recognized for?• Did you improve processes, procedures? How?• Did you negotiate for savings or to generate

revenue?• Did you increase brand (think mission)

awareness? How?• Did you come up with an idea that improved

the organization in a tangible way?• How do you know you did a good job?

Examples of Accomplishment StatementsManaged five program budgets totaling $$.Improved collections procedure to capture $$$ in

unrealized revenue.Consistently exceeded sales goals by 20%.Completed projects on time and under budget.Managed projects across three research centers. Trained and supervised (department) staff.Identified and characterized (interesting research

finding.)Wrote and was awarded foundation grant for work on…Invited presenter at 2011 XXX conference.

Next StepsComplete a comprehensive skills analysisResearch career areas to find a possible fit

OnlinePrintPeople

Network to learn as much about the industry as you can & to build key connections

Create a job search planUpdate your resume and practice interviewing

Determining Qualifications for Specific Jobs

Print ResourcesOnline ResourcesOnline Job listing sitesInformation InterviewsTrade Professional AssociationsConferences, Industry Events, Meetings

ResourcesSkillscan- www.skillscan.netOccupational Outlook Handbook- www.bls.gov/ocoO*Net- www.online.onetcenter.org