Background research: be prepared!
Self-assessment: auditing your skills
Demonstrating your skills
Self-assessment is something we all do regularly,
Part of your skills audit should involve collecting
often without even noticing that we are doing
‘material evidence’ which demonstrates your
t!
it. We ask ourselves why we didn’t do well in an
skills. You want to be able to show a potential
o
r i
exam, why we are good at crosswords, why we
employer that you have skill ‘X’ by giving an
GO f
feel great after a game of tennis. When it comes
example of skill ‘X’ in action.
to job hunting, self-assessment is a critically
important preparatory step. Without it you
A regular excercise
may not recognise all the job-related skills and
Self-assessment is not a one-off exercise: you
qualities you possess.
should undertake it regularly, as your skills and
experiences will grow and evolve as you do.
Self-assessment is about having an introspective
You need to keep your skills audit current. Self
look at your skills, goals, knowledge, attributes
assessment can be a difficult process: it takes
and motivations. It may seem like navel-gazing,
time and can be unsettling because it may point
but it is a healthy and worthwhile activity that
to skills we are yet to acquire. But it is worth it!
will help you land a job and pursue the right
career.
If you still have at least a couple of years of study
ahead, don’t delay the process: it is never too
early to start the process of self-assessment.
how to self-assess
Not only will auditing your skill set ensure you
1. Break your life into its various
are well-prepared when the time comes to
components: work, secondary school
search for a graduate position, it will improve
study, university study, and personal life
your chances of securing vacation work,
(extra-curricular activities).
work experience and other undergraduate 2. Look at each area and consider what it
employment opportunities.
involves and what you gained from the
experience. Aspects to consider include:
When you self assess, you:
responsibility, time management,
• Review your education, experiences and communication and team work. It is
aptitudes to identify career-relevant skills
important not to discredit relevant skills
• Identify situations, achievements or outcomes you have gained because of modesty or
which demonstrate these skills uncertainty.
• Examine how your skills can be best marketed
3. Think about how these skills could be
to employers.
applied to the industry and positions
Even if you already have a good idea of your
you are interested in.
skills, it is worth taking the time to do a focused
self-assessment or ‘skills audit’. The benefits of a
4. Write a list of your skills and experiences
in one column and in a second column
skills audit include:
write down how they can be applied in
• Drawing your attention to sellable skills for
a workplace. Become familiar with this
which you may not have given yourself credit
list so that you are well-versed in the
• Improving applications and interview skills
worth and applicability of your skills
• Increasing confidence and self awareness. when applying for jobs and attending
interviews.
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