Overview

The next step in the career search process is to identify your skills. Skills include the specific talents and personal qualities that we bring to the world of work. We develop skills simply by going through life, by interacting with others. Our personal preferences often affect our skills. We are generally motivated to repeatedly use skills that are part of enjoyable activities.

Skills are the currency used by job seekers. In the job market you receive pay in exchange for skills.The SkillScan Exercise will help you to quickly and easily identify and categorize your 12 most preferred skills which will be helpful in exploring career options. Also, the exercise will give a broader vocabulary to use in describing your strengths when you prepare your resume and when you are interviewed for jobs.



Steps to completing Skillscan (refer to your handout packet for the Skillscan Exercise)

  • Read through the skills and rate each skill using the system: L=Love to Use, LA=Like to use a lot, LS=Like to use sometimes, D=Don't have this skill, N=Not interested in using the skill. Think of each skill and how you enjoy using it. Do not limit your thinking about the skill to work only, but to all areas of your life.
  • Count the number of L's and LA's in each of the 7 groups. Count 1 point for each L and 1 point for each LA. You will have a number for each of the 7 groups. (Example: Group 1- 2pts, Group 2-0pts, Group 3-5pts)
  • Look over your ratings and see which groups have the highest scores. This will help you in the next step.
  • Refer to the blue handout labeled Skillscan Groups. Now you will see the 6 groups labeled with names: Group 1 is Relationship, Group 2 is Communication, Group 3 is Leadership/Management, Group 4 is Analytical, Group 5 is Creative, Group 6 is Physical.
  • Review the 6 groups and read the individual skills listed in each group.
  • Determine which three skill groups you are interested in using in a future career. These groups may be the ones with the highest number of L and LA's, or they may not be.
  • Next, determine which four skills from each of the three groups you would most enjoy using. See example below.


My Personal Example - Three skill groups and four individual skills from each group.

  • Creative: Visualize, Use Intuition, Brainstorm, Improvise.
  • Communication: Promote, Influence, Motivate, Facilitiate
  • Leadership/Management: Organize, Implement, Plan, Follow Through


Writing Assignment #2

Please send me an email, responding to the following items:

  • Refer to the Skillscan Exercise,and list your three preferred skill groups and four individual skills from each group.
  • Write a paragraph or two describing how you use your preferred skills by providing examples from your personal and/or work life.
  • Refer to the example below.
  • Do you have any questions or concerns about the Skillscan Exercise? Please include your questions or comments with this assignment.
  • Email the assignment to mmiller@palomar.edu

Please note that you will be asked to refer to your answers to the writing assignments during Part C.
Please make a copy of your writing assignments for your records.


My Example:

My three skill groups and individual skills from each group are as follows:

  • Creative: Visualize, Use Intuition, Brainstorm, Improvise.
  • Communication: Promote, Influence, Motivate, Facilitiate.
  • Leadership: Organize, Implement, Plan, Follow Through.

I use communication skills everyday in my work as a counselor and teacher...I enjoy expressing ideas and helping people challenge themselves to reach their goals. As a teacher, I love to influence people...persuade them to see it my way and perhaps motivate them to change. I like to facilitate communication with groups and getting people to share their thoughts and ideas.

As the Director of the Career Center, I enjoy planning and organizing how to improve services and resources and staffing. I like to think of new ways to do things and follow through with completing a project. For example, designing and teaching this course online required alot of organizing, brainstorming and implementing to make it happen. In my multimedia work, I enjoy visualizing creative ways to illustrate ideas and concepts that are interesting and instructive...I like to "design"...weather it's a class, a CD, my garden or my life...Design is a skill I most enjoy using.

In my personal life I enjoy using physical skills and have many outdoor interests. However, I am not particularly interested in using physical skills in my work life.