Skill assessment can be tricky. You have just graduated from college, but you have no idea what you are truly good at. You look at yourself in the mirror and you find it unable to understand what you see. If you are not sure what you want or can, how do you plan to stand out in the crowd? There are dozens of candidates out there – maybe even hundreds. All in all, here are a few great ideas to push yourself up.
Go deeper into the job description
Come up with a list based on the job description. Scroll down and look at all the requirements. You will find it easier to identify skills, such as being able to speak a foreign language or perhaps computer literacy. You have been through all these throughout college, so you know exactly what you are doing.
But then, dozens of other candidates will do the same thing. When writing such skills down, go deeper and provide specifics. For instance, you do not want to tell a manager that you are great with Excel. Instead, mention things like pivot tables, the capability to build macros or write mathematical formulas.
Keep an eye on your performance review
This rule is more helpful for those who have already had a job before – previous managers must have written some performance reviews, defining pluses and minuses. If this is your first job after college, you can get a similar performance review from a professor – the more you have, the better.
Keep in mind that this performance review is not necessarily about your strengths. Your weaknesses are just as important. You will need to talk about the steps you have taken in order to improve in such areas. This is what managers want to see – it is not all about pluses, but also about minuses and overcoming them.
Take some online tests
Some employers these days have their own tests – they want to see how you think. They are often referred to as personality or behavior tests. They will move on further based on how much you score on these tests. Websites like the Assessment Center HQ provide access to many resources that will help you assess your skills.
Some of the most popular personality tests out there include Myers- Briggs and DISC. They are basically some self-assessment tests that will reveal a few details about your values, motivations, traits, personality, emotions, intelligence and interests. Results will also help you decide on the right job for you.
Consider your soft skills
Soft skills are often overlooked. These are the types of skills you will not learn in school. They cannot be measured either – communication, leadership skills, analytical thinking and so on. Believe it or not, many employers care more about these skills – some of them innate – than the hard ones, which can be taught.
Think about your soft skills – maybe perform a few tests to identify them. When discussing your resume, bring them in and let the hiring manager understand how you have applied such skills in different circumstances. Whether it comes to being a team player, resolving conflicts or adapting to challenges, these skills can make the difference during the interview.
Find the right job postings
There are more apps and websites to find jobs. But as you start searching, focus on your industry at first. Try to go through job postings and look for the companies defining your industry – top corporations. It does not mean that you need to find a job there, but you have to figure out what skills tend to show up in those ads.
You will get a good indication of what skills should be in the resume. Plus, you have to customize your resume and cover letter to highlight these skills. No matter what job you apply to, use the keywords you see in the ad.
Conclusion
Bottom line, these skill assessment tips will help you figure out what you are good at and what kind of jobs to look for. Once you discover yourself from an objective point of view, you can also adjust your resume and cover letter to reflect your results and ensure you stand out in the crowd – keep in mind that you are competing against dozens or maybe even hundreds of other candidates.
