Leverage Your Transferable Skills Career Development Center Presenter

Leverage Your Transferable Skills Career Development Center Presenter: Cam Helkowski, chelkow@luc. edu November 2011

Take inventory of what YOU offer Major skills and abilities Social, technical or field-specific skills Important personal attributes (hard-working, trustworthy, results-oriented, decisive) Ask: Where have I successfully used these abilities, skills and attributes?

Why Look at Transferable Skills? Leverage skills for new opportunities Target skills will offer the greatest personal reward Identify areas of strength and interest Identify areas for growth and development Identify areas of burnout or dissatisfaction Data for self-marketing/ personal branding

3 Types of Skills Technical/ Work-specific skills are specific to a job and are not easily applied in other environments or situations. These skills tend to be technical and/or specialized. Functional/transferable skills can be applied in most environments and situations. They incorporate various combinations of data, people, and thing skills. Examples of functional skills include communication, planning, organizing, managing, analyzing, and problem-solving. Self-management/adaptive skills (sometimes referred to as personality traits) are related to how we conduct ourselves and are rooted in temperament. Examples of these skills include taking the initiative, resourcefulness, being good-natured, and reliability.

Assess Your Marketability What Can You Provide that No One Else Can? Transferable skills (i. e. communication, analyzing, organizing, problem-solving, planning, presentation) Experience by organizational function Accomplishments

Assess Your Marketability: What Can You Provide that No One Else Can? What do you know? What have you done? Personality and character (adaptive skills) How can you help? What value do you bring? Education and related training Volunteer experience

Assess Your Marketability: Transferable Skills that Employers Seek Collaboration and Entrepreneurial attitude Teamwork Skills and creativity Diplomacy/Influence Understanding of multiple perspectives Adaptability and Flexibility Problem-solving and Project Management analysis tied to the “big Interpersonal Skills picture” Communication Skills Strategic planning

Transferable Skills Categories Communication Research and Planning Leadership and Management Human Relations and Interpersonal

Communication Skills Speaking effectively in public Writing clearly and concisely Expressing ideas in an open forum Facilitating group discussion Providing appropriate feedback Persuading or advocating Reporting technical information to a non-technical audience Interviewing for information Editing documents

Research and Planning Skills Generating ideas Identifying problems Developing alternative solutions Identifying resources Gathering information Goal Setting and Evaluation Conducting Needs Analysis Developing evaluation and feedback strategies

Leadership and Management Skills Recruiting and hiring staff Providing direction, coaching and feedback Handling details or coordinating tasks Managing groups Delegating responsibility Teaching or Instruction Counseling for performance improvement Promoting change Managing conflict

Human Relations and Interpersonal Skills Developing rapport Listening actively Providing support for others Motivating Sharing credit Counseling Cooperating Representing others Perceiving feelings, situations Asserting

In what ways have you applied your transferable skills?

Communicate Your Value: Accomplishments Achieved Adapted Authored Built Completed Controlled Convinced Created Developed Directed Established Evaluated Implemented Improved Initiated Maintained Managed Operated Produced Reduced

Accomplishment Statements Questions to get started: • What outcomes have you been recognized for? • Did you improve processes, procedures? How? • Did you negotiate for savings or to generate revenue? • Did you increase brand (think mission) awareness? How? • Did you come up with an idea that improved the organization in a tangible way? • How do you know you did a good job?

Examples of Accomplishment Statements Managed five program budgets totaling $$. Improved collections procedure to capture $$$ in unrealized revenue. Consistently exceeded sales goals by 20%. Completed projects on time and under budget. Managed projects across three research centers. Trained and supervised (department) staff. Identified and characterized (interesting research finding. ) Wrote and was awarded foundation grant for work on… Invited presenter at 2011 XXX conference.

Next Steps Complete a comprehensive skills analysis Research career areas to find a possible fit Online Print People Network to learn as much about the industry as you can & to build key connections Create a job search plan Update your resume and practice interviewing

Determining Qualifications for Specific Jobs Print Resources Online Job listing sites Information Interviews Trade Professional Associations Conferences, Industry Events, Meetings

Resources Skillscan- www. skillscan. net Occupational Outlook Handbook- www. bls. gov/oco O*Net- www. online. onetcenter. org