Identify your skills

There are two types of skills: specialised skills and transferable skills.

Specialised skills
Specialised skills are specific skills that you have developed due to studying particular subjects or working in particular areas

Examples:

• HTML programming.
• Identifying plant pathogens.
• Technical editorial skills.
• Financial reporting skills.
• Financial modelling.

Transferable skills
Transferable skills are the skills you have developed throughout your life from the wide range of experiences you have been involved in — study, work, extra-curricular activities, life experience, and travel. They can easily be transferred from one situation or type of work to another.

Examples:

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Well developed organisational ability.
• Problem-solving skills.
• Outstanding sales and customer service.
• Sound leadership and group facilitation skills.
• Very good numeracy and computer literacy.
• Ability to multitask effectively.

Think about examples of these skills
When you tell employers about your skills, back them up with real-life examples of how you developed them. You can list these in your CV and discuss them in an interview.

Job advertisements and job descriptions will also often specify the required knowledge (what you know) and the personal qualities and/or attributes (what type of person you are).

In a survey conducted by Victoria University of Wellington in 2006, employers identified the top 10 skills they wanted in employees:

1. Strong interpersonal skills
2. Strong verbal communication skills
3. Strong written communication skills
4. Flexible and adaptable "can do" attitude
5. Sound academic achievement
6. Self motivated / self-starter
7. Team player
8. Energy and enthusiasm
9. Problem solving skills
10. Analytical and conceptual skills

To find out more, see the Victoria University of Wellington website.

An Australian survey on a similar topic was conducted by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry on employability skills:

We can help you identify your skills in our workshop, "Skills for Employment." For the next workshop date, see Careers workshops.

You can also have a consultation with a Careers Consultant. See How University Careers Services can help you.

Or try the tools listed below.

Memory Net activity - what are your skills?
We often overlook or don't recognise what we've achieved or what skills we've gained through employment, education, volunteer work, leisure, travel, etc. A very useful exercise is to spend some time thinking about your past and identifying what you've accomplished, things you've done well and especially things that you've enjoyed.

Skills Card Sort
Another way of identifying skills is through a "motivated skills card sort" exercise with a Careers Consultant. Motivated skills are those you like using. If you find work that requires you to use your 'motivated' skills, it will increase your career satisfaction. Contact University Careers Services to book a time to do the exercise. Allow around 45 minutes.

Online skills assessment tools

• Online skills exercise hosted by Saint Anselm College. Visit the Saint Anselm College website
• The Career Key (TM) helps identify your personality and job skills. Visit the The Career Key website
• Careers New Zealand provides advice, tools and NZ career information to help you make decisions about your options. Visit the Careers New Zealand website.

Here are some examples of some key skills employers might seek. Which ones do you have? 

Help with expressing your skills in your CV is available on Applying for jobs and starting work.

Postgraduate students can also attend IT training workshops through CAD - The Centre for Academic Development.

This is a good way of developing your IT skills while at university.

The following titles can help you identify your skills:

• Hind, David, Moss, Stuart. (2005). Employability skills. Sunderland: Business Education Publishers Ltd.
• Woods, Ciara. (2002). Everything you need to know at work: a complete manual of workplace skills. London: Prentice Hall Business.
• Hawkins, Peter. (1998). The Express boosting your career prospects : a student guide. London: Trotman.
• Barker, Alan. (2007). Improve your communication skills. London: Kogan Page.
• Charney, Cy. (2006). The leader's toolkit: hundreds of tips and techniques for developing the skills you need. New York: AMACOM.
• Scott, Cynthia D & Jaffe, Dennis T. (1989). Managing personal change: self-management skills for work and life transitions. Los Altos, Calif.: Crisp Publications.
• Cameron, Sheila. (2005). The MBA handbook: skills for mastering management. (5th ed). Harlow: Prentice Hall.
• Dekker, Christine. (1994). The New Zealand guide to transferable skills. Auckland: Random House.
• Bolton, Robert. (1987). People skills: how to assert yourself, listen to others and resolve conflicts. Brookvale, NSW: Simon & Schuster Australia.
• Bird, Polly. (2000). Projecting your skills at work. Richmond: Trotman.
• Sansregret, Marthe, Adams, Dyane. (1997). Rate yourself: assess your skills, personality & abilities. London: Kogan Page.
• Cotrell, Stella. (2003). Skills for success: the personal development handbook. Basingstoke: Palgrave.