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Identifying your skills and getting that job
When applying for a job, it is ideal that you identify your
strengths and weaknesses and get prepared to address them. By
knowing your advantage, the chances of getting the job that you
want will surely get easier. But you should not get too
confident since this is one of the common mistakes that plague
job applicants. Appearing too confident or as somewhat of a know
it all person will only get you labeled by your interviewer as
unfit for the job.
Identifying your skills
First thing's first. You should identify your skills. This is
your ticket to get that job and you should be able to articulate
your abilities and expertise as best as you can. Many people
have a hard time telling their skills and abilities as this may
seem to be bragging. But you should not be shy or afraid to
discuss your skills. In fact, it is important that you convey to
your potential employer what your talents are. You should be
able to sell your abilities to your employer. That is how you
will get the job that you want. It is important that you don't
appear arrogant or condescending but you should also avoid
selling yourself short. If the interviewer asks you about your
strengths or what separates you from the other applicants, you
should be able to readily give a good answer. But before you
even go to the interview part, your resume should highlight your
skills and talents for your prospective employer to see.
Type of skills
There are two main types of skills, hard skills and soft skills.
Hard skills are tangible in the sense that these |
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are things that
you do like: knowing how to operate different kinds of
machinery, knowledge of a specialized computer program, ability
to type fast, skills on using many types of tools, credentials
regarding special crafts, etc. Soft skills are skills that are
rather abstract in nature like personal qualities. This may
include the folowing: being a good team player, having the
ability to work on your own, being enthusiastic or organized and
decisive.
The steps to follow
Making a list of your previous jobs and experience acquired
First thing to do is to make a list of all the companies that
you had worked for and the things that you learned from these
jobs. There will be a lot of things to list and you should be
careful enough not to forget even the smallest things or
activities that you were part of or organized. It is also a good
idea to list the volunteer activities that you participated in.
Include a list of your hobbies
Although it might sound trivial at first, it is also very
helpful to list all your hobbies. There are a lot of abilities
that your prospective employer may get from your hobby list.
This will also give an idea of your personality. For example, if
you were part of the school's debating team, then your employer
may deduce that you have good analytical skills. If you were a
champion chess player, then your employer will have the
impression that you are good at making critical decisions. Think
of your daily routine and the things that you do and often take
for granted. Are you an organized person who always keeps your
things in proper order?
Are you an extrovert that can easily
make friends in a matter of minutes? These may seem ordinary to
normal things to you, but your future boss might think
otherwise.
Deciding what career you want
After listing all your skills and all the things that you do
well, you may now decide what field or career you want to take a
crack at. Select the skills contained from your list and partner
it with the employment you are seeking. Always take time to
consider if your skills are relevant to the job that you are
aspiring for. Don't be bothered if you have to cut out some of
the skills from your list. It is also important to include in
the list your skills that the prospective employer will probably
value.
Stand by what you write
You should be realistic about your skills and the level of
expertise that you have with it. For example, if you indicate
that you are a very organized person, then you should be able to
show this to the interviewer by being able to organize your
thoughts and effectively use the time that was given for your
interview.
It is important to know your skills every time you are job
hunting. Always put your best foot forward and good luck!
About the author:
Jay is the web owner of http://www.jobs-in.com Online Jobs, a website that
provides information and resources on searching for jobs
nationwide. You can visit his website at: http://www.jobs-in.net
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