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1.7 Identify Your Job-related Skills

Access the Job-related Skills Chart

Job-related skills are those that you need for a particular job. An office worker needs computer and keyboarding skills, a mechanic has to understand repairs and how to use tools, and a cashier must be able to make change and use a cash register.

You can build these skills in a number of ways, through:

• courses or training you've taken;
• other jobs and volunteer work;
• hobbies, family activities, and social experiences.

Using the chart below, write down the job you're interested in and then list some of the job-related skills that could apply.

You can repeat the exercise for every job you want to apply for. (Hint: Look back at some of the exercises you've just completed. You will find that you already have a good list of your skills and abilities.)

Job-related Skill Chart

Job I'm interested in: _________________________________

Job-related skills I have gained from my school courses or other training:

• _____________________________________
• _____________________________________
• _____________________________________

• _____________________________________
• _____________________________________
• _____________________________________

• _____________________________________
• _____________________________________
• _____________________________________

• _____________________________________
• _____________________________________
• _____________________________________

• _____________________________________
• _____________________________________
• _____________________________________

The first step in your journey to that new job is complete.

If you've done all the exercises, you should now be able to see just who you are, what you have done, and what you are capable of. And better yet, you have a clearer idea on where you may want to go. You've also gained something too. You have a list of your skills, abilities and experience - all the things you've learned from all sorts of places - and that list is something you can build a résumé with.

The next step in your job search is to find out what employers are looking for and what skills, knowledge and abilities you'll need to get the job you want. Once you have these elements, you can learn how to put them together into a résumé that will work for you.