6.1 My skills: how good am I at them?
The activity that follows will help you to audit your skills. Remember to keep a record of it in your notebook.
Part 1
The first step in your skills audit is to complete a questionnaire that groups skills into categories, such as ‘communication’ or ‘administrative’. It does this because these are of particular importance to employers.
As you complete the questionnaire, consider how well you can carry out each skill described. It can sometimes be helpful to consider yourself in comparison with other people, or to ask people who know you well to comment, so that you get a sense of how strongly you hold these skills.
The important thing is not to devalue yourself through lack of confidence or modesty. If you do, you might prematurely close down some of the work options you are interested in, by persuading yourself that you do not have the skills for it. You would almost certainly undersell yourself to employers or work colleagues.
Download [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] a copy of the questionnaire now from your Resource pack and complete it. Save the completed file in a safe place on your computer or print it out and keep it with your notebook.
Part 2
Now look at the skills from the questionnaire in which you scored most highly and those you most enjoy. Make a list of both in your notebook.
Look back through the detailed skills descriptions for each of the categories in the questionnaire. Think of particular skills you would like to develop within those descriptions that you’re not yet competent in, but would like to develop. List those as well.
Copy Table 5 into your notebook or download it from your Resource pack and complete it.
| Skill area (e.g. Communication) | Particular skill I would like to develop (e.g. Engaging an audience, giving a presentation) |
|---|---|
And finally, which are the skills that you’d most like to use in the future? Write them down in your notebook.
Comment
Your notes may show strengths in particular skill areas, such as financial activities. It may show some skill areas that you have not yet developed to any great degree. What matters is the match between your aspirations and your skills.
By thinking about which skill areas you want to use in the future rather than simply those you can use well now, you start to see what strengths you need to build on, and which areas you might need to develop further if you are to achieve your aspirations.
The next section gives you time to think about what you have discovered about yourself in the first two weeks of the course.