Lesson 17 — Activity 3: Interests, Skills, and Abilities
Lesson 17 — Activity 3:
Interests, Skills, and Abilities
What do you like to do? Think about experiences you have enjoyed — school, social, sports, hobbies, and work activities.
Interests are all those activities, events, pastimes, and ideas that attract you. An interest captures your attention and makes you want to spend time exploring it.
Interests are an important part of a career choice, and are related to values and often to skills and abilities. Most people who enjoy their work have some personal interest in what they are doing.
Courtesy of Getty
Courtesy of Getty
Your
Skills
and
Abilities
Being aware of your skills and abilities is key to succeeding in today's job market. Your skills, abilities, and accomplishments need to be highlighted if you are to market yourself effectively when you are looking for work.
Skills can be defined as the ability to do something well. Identifying your skills is an important part of making a realistic career decision. Very often, we are not aware of the skills we have because they are so much a part of us. Sometimes, we can
also underestimate our skills.
For example, some people think that because they have never had a paying job, they do not have any skills that an employer would look for. You need to look at all of your past experiences — volunteer work, leisure activities, community involvement — when identifying your skills.
Job-related skills: Job-related skills are usually developed through specific education and training programs and experience.
Job-related skills:
- are required for a particular job
- usually require some training or experience
It is important for you to identify which specific job-related skills you already have and which ones you need to learn.
Your career may change several times during your lifetime. If you are entering the job market, you may need to take an entry-level job. However, you can progress towards your long-term career goal by upgrading your skills through experience, education, and training. The skills, positive work habits, and attitudes developed in entry-level jobs, volunteer work, and hobbies help you gain the skills you need to take you one step closer to your career goals. Examples of job-related skills include clerical skills, interior design, hairstyling, and welding.
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Transferable skills: Transferable skills are learned and developed through our life experiences through schooling, volunteer work, paid employment, and leisure activities. These skills can be used and "transferred" to a variety of situations, such as work, family, or social settings.
Transferable skills:
- can be used in a variety of jobs
- are often called "universal" skills
- can transfer from one job to another
- may include skill areas such as communication, leadership, management, etc.
Self-check!
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