Skills, talents, and abilities…everyone has them, but who can actually name their best qualities? Furthermore, how many people are in positions where they consistently use the skills they enjoy?
Individuals with years of work experience may have developed a résumé of skills and abilities that they take for granted and which have not been evaluated since their last job search.
In assessing what you bring to the job market, think about those tasks you do well and for which you have received some type of recognition. But, don't stop there. Go a step further and hone in on those skills that give you satisfaction and pleasure.
This may be a new concept for some people who view skills assessment simply as a way to determine what they do well, regardless of whether or not they enjoy using the skill set. This is short sighted in a marketplace where boredom and lack of job satisfaction extend to more than 45% of the population. Knowing what you enjoy doing well and having work that calls on those skills are key to being productive and satisfied.
Here are a few steps to help you recognize the value you bring to your work and the skills that might keep you motivated and feeling good about your job:
1. Create a timeline of your work history from your very first job. Identify positions you've held and the key tasks you performed. Beside each entry, list a skill, talent, or ability that you exhibited. (If you have difficulty naming your skills, go to: the riley guide.
2. Put a check next to each skill that you enjoyed using.
3. Review the timeline and note patterns of skills as well as those that you have checked. Create a separate list that includes only the checked skills.
4. Consider your current job. In any given week, how often do you use the skills you most enjoy? Does your response fit with how satisfied you feel about your job?
5. If there is a major discrepancy between the skills you use in your job and the ones you truly enjoy, it could be an indicator that it's time to move on to another position.
6. If you decide to change jobs or you are already in the job market, be sure to look beyond your ability to do the key job tasks and take into account whether or not you'll be happy doing them.
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