Identify Your Capabilities That Create Value for Employers

Identify Your Capabilities that Create Value for Employers

The best kind of job to have is one that allows you to do work that you enjoy doing and that you are good at. By helping you identify traits and skills, this worksheet can help you recognize employment opportunities that match your strengths and interests.

It will also help you identify the results you’ve achieved, which will be important when you talk to employers about the ways you can make them and their businesses more successful.

Strengths come in three broad categories: traits, universal or transferable skills, and occupational or technical skills.

Traits (often call soft skills) are rooted in our personalities and include such characteristics as optimism, reliability, responsibility, curiosity, and so on. Although some of us naturally lean towards or away from a particular trait, we can strengthen traits that contribute to our success, and either dampen or compensate for traits that interfere with success.

Universal or transferable skills, as their name implies, are general purpose abilities that are valued by almost all employers. These include an ability to detect and solve problems, communicate effectively, collaborate with co-workers, and resolve customer complaints.

Occupational or technical skills allows us to perform tasks related to a specific job or profession. Some examples: driving a bulldozer, overhauling an engine, writing a software program, or generating a profit and loss statement as an accountant.

Different employers will place different levels of emphasis on these three types of strengths when hiring.

If the tasks related to a particular position are relatively easy to learn, or involve very unique skills that the employer realizes will require specialized in-house training, the employer may be primarily interested in a job seeker’s traits and universal skills.

Other employers are looking for people who already have acquired specific occupational skills.

A key element of a successful job search is identifying your signature traits, universal skills and occupational skills, and then finding employment opportunities that match your strengths.

1 Traits

Step 1: Review the list of personal traits in Column A and select those you’ve acquired. We’ve only listed some of the traits you might possess; scan the list below the table for more ideas, and add any to Column A that you feel describes you.

Step 2: In Column B, describe any ways you’ve demonstrated the traits, or results you have achieved by applying the trait. These details will boost the impact of your resume, application forms, or answers to job interview questions

Traits Examples of actions you’ve taken that demonstrate the trait, or results you’ve achieved by applying the trait

Reliable, arrive at work on time, read to work

Dependable, complete tasks on time and accurately

Responsible, comply with organization’s rules, policies and procedures

Flexible and adaptable. quick to adopt new approaches and/or change plans, goals, actions or priorities to deal with changing situations

Coachable, willing to accept feedback and learn from mistakes

Cooperative, able to work as part of a team, including a team with diverse members

Self-reliant, able to work alone without continuous supervision

Resourceful, able to think of new, creative and different ways to do things when there are no obvious solutions available.

2 Take initiative in seeking out new responsibilities and work challenges

Optimistic, able to maintain a positive attitude despite difficulties

Courteous & respectful with customers and co-workers

Honesty and integrity, deal with people (including coworkers and customers), problems and situations honestly; demonstrate respect for company’s time and property

Cool-headed, able to work calmly in stressful, confusing, chaotic, noisy environments.

Good at setting and meeting deadlines

3 Additional Traits accurate versatile ambitious analytical articulate artistic broad-minded caring committed competitive conscientious considerate consistent constructive creative curious decisive detail-oriented determined diligent diplomatic disciplined discreet dynamic easy-going efficient empathetic energetic enterprising enthusiastic entrepreneurial even tempered fair-minded far-sighted flexible focused forward-thinker friendly goal-oriented good-natured hard-working helpful honest imaginative industrious innovative inspiring intuitive inventive leads others logical loyal methodical meticulous motivated objective observant observant open-minded organized original outgoing painstaking patient perceptive persistent personable persuasive persuasive positive practical productive prompt prudent purposeful quick realistic respectful results-oriented self-disciplined self-motivated self-starter sensitive smart sociable supportive systematic tactful tenacious thorough thoughtful tolerant achievement- oriented

The key to converting these traits from fluff into concrete and compelling capabilities you can offer an employer: Weave a story about one or more times your demonstrated this trait, using the SAR (Situation-Action-Result) or SOARS (Situation-Obstacle-Action-Results-Skills) format.

4 Universal or transferable skills

Step 1: Review the list of universal or transferable skills in Column A and select those you’ve acquired. If you possess additional skills not listed here, add them in the rows at the bottom of the table.

Step 2: In Column B, describe any results you can think of that you achieved by applying the skill. These results will come in handy when you are creating your resume, filling out application forms, or interviewing for jobs.

Step 3: In Column C (Interest Rating), give yourself a score based on how motivated you are to use this skill in future jobs. For example, if you used the skill or applied the trait and you enjoyed performing the task and you achieved results you are proud of, give yourself a 3. If you didn’t enjoy using the skill, give yourself a 1.

3 = Very Interested, 2 = Moderately interested, 1 = Not very interested

Step 4: In Column D (Competence Rating), give yourself a score on how well you have mastered the skill and can apply it.

3 = Very competent, 2 = Moderately competent, 1 = Not very competent

A B C D

Universal or transferable skills I’ve Results I have achieved Interes Competency acquired applying the skill t Rating Rating

Train less experienced co-workers on They became fully 3 3 safe use of production line equipment proficient within 2 days, quality standards are consistently met; perfect safety record achieved for 8 months.

Address and resolve customer problems Improved customer 1 2 quickly satisfaction and loyalty; identified over 20 opportunities to improve our service to prevent future complaints

Use computers to search online job Reduced time required to 3 2 postings and apply for jobs identify and apply for relevant jobs by 80%

C: Interest Rating: 3 = Very motivated, 2 = Moderately motivated, 1 = Not very motivated

5 D: Competency Rating: 3 = Very competent, 2 = Moderately competent, 1 = Somewhat competent

A B C D

Universal or transferable skills I’ve Results I have achieved Interest Competency acquired applying the skill Rating Rating

Quickly absorb and retain new information and achieve proficiency with new equipment

Work safely with potentially dangerous equipment and/or under hazardous conditions by a) learning and following safety practices and procedures and b) recognizing unsafe situations and reporting the condition and/or taking immediate action to eliminate the risk or danger

Care for tools or materials / perform preventive maintenance on equipment

Present ideas effectively in group presentations or briefings

Ask questions to uncover customer needs and determine which version of a product or service will best match their needs, preferences, and budget

Persuade, influence, or sell others on ideas, products or services

Write memos, reports, manuals, case studies, instructions, and other written materials

Plan, organize, prioritize, and carry out assigned tasks efficiently

6 Coach or train less experienced team members

Delegate tasks and responsibilities, and monitor performance

Support and motivate subordinates

Keep accurate and complete records

Utilize creative approaches to problem-solving, and identifying root causes and steps needed to prevent problem from occurring again in the future

Seek, accept, and act on feedback from others

Continuously look for ways to improve individual and group processes and make the appropriate recommendations to my supervisor

Communicate well with diverse groups

Gather information from a number of sources

Collaborate with people from diverse backgrounds to achieve common goals

Deal effectively with complaints made by customers

Track progress of projects and troubleshoot as needed

Establish rapport with diverse groups of people

Research and/or analyze information or data

7 Evaluate, assess, inspect, or measure performance of people or equipment

Resolve or mediate interpersonal conflicts

Develop and implement budgets

Improve customer satisfaction or loyalty

Estimate or forecast costs or requirements

Develop goals, work plans and schedules

Utilize computers or other technology to perform tasks

8 Occupational or Technical skills

In this worksheet, you’ll list the skills you acquired through experience, training or education that enable you to perform specific job-related tasks. Some examples:

 Operating or maintaining specific types of machinery, equipment, or vehicles

 Welding, wiring a building, or using construction-related power tools skills

 Utilizing particular software programs

 Performing bookkeeping or accounting functions

A B C D

Occupational or Technical Results I have achieved Interest Competency skills I’ve acquired applying the skill Rating Rating

Operated and maintained a Enabled print shop to deliver 2 1 variety of sign making orders on time with a level of equipment, including several quality that increase customer different types of printing satisfaction and repeat business. machines, and CNC (Computer Numerical Controlled) engraving equipment.