Skills are things that you have learned to do. Many people have different skills they are not even aware of. It is important to identify your skills to be able to choose the job most suitable for you.

Think about what you are doing now and what you have achieved in the past. Consider activities such as voluntary work, work experience, academic achievement, projects, leisure pursuits and field work. Think of all the important activities that you have undertaken and reflect on the skills that you have developed while conducting these tasks.

Create Your Skills Profile

The following tool lists the most common skills employers look for when hiring an employee. Select the 5 most suitable skills from the following table, rank these skills and provide evidence of a time when you used each skill successfully. Try answering the following questions when providing evidence of your skills:

• What was the situation that demanded that particular skill?
• What outcome were you trying to achieve by using that skill?
• What specific action did you take?
• What was the outcome?

Once you have created your personal Skills Profile, you can easily use it, when applying for jobs, to provide evidence for CVs, application forms, cover letters and interviews that you meet the requirements of the employer.