Introduction
The job market has been changing quickly over the last few decades. The rise and demand for technical skills has increased. This information age, with its flood of data, needs to be processed and organized. There are many jobs in these fields opening up. If you can acquire certifications or a degree in computer programming or data management, there are jobs available. There are also many service jobs and delivery jobs. Getting goods and services from point A to point B is vital to the economy. Consider leveraging the demand in these fields.
With all the technical skills in demand (hard skills), there is also a high call for strong communication skills and the ability to work well as a team (soft skills).
Employers are looking for people who can work well with others—
collaborating in groups, and who are open and willing to learning new skills and applications. Skilled craftsmen are also highly in demand. In many U.S. cities like Phoenix, AZ., and Denver, CO., just to name a few, there is a shortage of skilled craftsmen in the building and construction trades.
Engineering and other scientific fields are also flourishing along with the Healthcare Industry. The need for dedicated Educators has never been higher.
Knowing Your Skill Set
So, what makes you good at what you do? Have you been able to put your abilities to good use? Have you stepped back and analyzed what you are best at? What career areas might be best for you to pursue and develop? When looking at what your skills are there are two main areas, hard skills and soft skills. Let’s look at each of those in more detail.
Hard Skills
Hard skills are your technical skills. What tools do you know how to use, both computer oriented and craft oriented? What specific skills in Microsoft Office and other programs have you mastered? You want to make a list of these skills and be as specific as possible. Hard skills are often easy to identify because they will be directly related to education or on the job training you have had previously.
Soft Skills
Soft skills are centered around your people skills and how well you communicate with others. These are some questions to ask yourself regarding soft skills.
- Do you ask good questions?
- Are you able to resolve conflict with people when it arises?
- Are you supportive in a team role? In what ways?
- Are you open about your strengths and weaknesses?
Many employers are looking for individuals with strong soft skills to build their businesses. Using good etiquette is also important for developing soft skills. Here are some good etiquette reminders.
- Make good eye contact when talking with people.
- Use a firm handshake during introductions.
- Always be appreciative and say please and thank you. This is an excellent video on understanding soft skills
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Do you have a positive attitude?
Are you flexible in different work environments?
Can you work well with others?
Do you communicate clearly?
Do you listen well to others and make good eye contact?
Do you keep distractions like your cell phone off during meetings and conversations?
Sometimes the simple common-sense points make the biggest difference. They show trust. If people don’t trust you, they won’t want to work with you. These are also important when going on an interview. We will go into detail about interview preparation on day 4 of this module.
Career Assessment Tools
One excellent self-assessment tool is called the Myers-Briggs Personality Test or the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). This is an introspective questionnaire on how people perceive the world around them and make decisions. The questions are based on theories by Carl Jung, who believed people experiencing the world used the four primary functions of sensation, intuition, feeling, and thinking. One of these, he says, is usually dominant much of the time.
Curious on how your personality will come out on the Myers-Briggs? Here’s your chance to find out.
Suggested Action Step
Take the Myers-Briggs Personality Inventory. It’s really fun and gives excellent insight into your personality and perceptions. It can help steer you in the right direction in your career path development. Just click on the link and get started. This is a great site with tons of resources including best career choices for your specific strengths.
http://www.humanmetrics.com/personality
Upon completion of the personality assessment questionnaire, you will:
- Obtain your 4-letter type formula according to Carl Jung’s and Isabel Briggs Myers’ typology, along with the strengths of preferences and the description of your personality type, communication and learning style,
- Discover careers and occupations most suitable for your personality type, along with examples of educational institutions where you can get a relevant degree or training,
- See which famous personalities share your type.
Question for Reflection: What is your Myers-Briggs Personality type? What are some good career paths for your personality? Does this connect to what you are passionate about?
Helpful Links
https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/assessing-your-skills
https://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics/the-16-mbti-types.htm?bhcp=1