Application forms often ask you to list your key skills. Your CV (Curriculum Vitae) should list them too. What are they?

Here are some ideas and exercises to help you.

Step 1. Know your own skills

First

Write down the main events in your life. Note what you did, where and when. Refer to your CV, if you have one, for help.

·         school - subjects studied, clubs in and out of school, school work experience, part-time jobs

·         training on schemes such as Skillseekers or Training for Work

·         college – courses, clubs and activities in and out of college.

·         jobs – list each one

·         looking after family

·         holidays – trips and travel

·         leisure time hobbies.

Next

Look at each event on the list. Did you learn any lessons or gain any skills from it? For example:

A job in a shop? You can work with the public!
A milk or paper round? You can cope with getting up early in winter!

Look at the table below. Then do your own, using the outline.

This might be a table drawn up by Moira, whose CV is in the article: 'What is a CV (Curriculum Vitae)? (Experienced Job Seeker)'.

Skills are developed through more than one activity. Some skills are specific to a particular activity, but others are ‘transferable’ and are used in most activities.

These five ‘core skills’ often appear on CVs   

• communication
• numeracy
• information technology
• problem solving
• working with others.

Employers value these as well as other “transferable skills” such as

• using initiative
• organising yourself and others
• adaptability.

Now try completing your own table

Don’t fill in your form or write your CV yet! Go on to Step 2.  

Step 2. Identifying the skills the employer needs for the job

What skills does the employer think you need to do the job? The job advertisement should give you helpful hints. If not, the job profiles on PlanIT Plus will help you.

Different jobs need different skills.  For example, an employer will want different kinds of workers for these jobs.

Now fill in your own table

Choose an advert for a real job which you would like to do. Take the advert from a newspaper. In the table below, list the skills the employer is looking for.

Step 3. Matching Skills - now think about the post you are applying for.

What will the employer look for?

Imagine you are the employer. What skills would you expect the ideal applicant to have? List the skills the job needs. Then use this list to create a good impression.

Look at your own skills, which you noted earlier. Look for evidence to show the employer that you could be the ideal person for the job.

The two short tables below show how you can list the skills you need for a job and link them with evidence that you have those skills.

Jane is applying for the post of computer operator with a large company. The main part of her job will require her to work in a small team inputting data on the computer.

Jim is applying for the post of senior grocery assistant with a supermarket. A big part of the job is to work with 8 other staff in the grocery department and organise the work rotas.

Now you try

• What job are you applying for?
• What impression do you want to make?
• What skills do you need for that job?
• Can you show that you have those skills?

Think about the job you are applying for and complete the following table.

Try to identify 4 or 5 skills you need for the job, and work out how you can demonstrate that you have these skills.

This exercise will help you get into the habit of justifying statements you make.

Draw up a table where you compare the actual job requirements with your own skills.

The table below might have been drawn up by Karen, whose CV is in the article: 'Writing your first CV (First Job)', when applying for an administrative job.

This table might have been drawn up by Ian, whose CV is also in the article: 'Writing your fisrt CV (First Job)', when applying for the job of garden centre assistant.

Try completing your own table, for a job you would like 

These  ‘buzz’ words and phrases might be useful to you when you are writing a CV, filling in an Application Form or preparing a Letter of Application.

I developed problem solving skills through …
I developed leadership skills through …
I have experience of analysing and planning.
I have a good sense of humour.
I am learning to drive/I can drive.
I am used to working to a budget because …
I am used to working to a deadline.
I am learning/can converse in a foreign language.
I can work well as an individual or as part of a team …
I can use a range of hand and power tools including …
I successfully completed a project/investigation in …
I can use my own initiative to solve problems.
I can encourage and influence others if required.
I can use new technology such as …
I can use a variety of word processing packages.
I have learned to keep calm under pressure.
I can communicate clearly, both verbally and in writing.
I have well developed keyboard skills.
I have experience of working with the public in …
I enjoy working with figures.
I attended boardroom meetings and took the minutes.
I organised a conference in…
I opened, sorted and distributed the office mail.
I responded to customer requests for …
I gained experience of cash handling procedures.
I performed reception duties.
I answered the telephone and took messages.
I gained experience of working with elderly people.
I gained experience of operating a till.
I gained experience of working with young children.
I gained experience of working with teenagers.

This website gives a questionnaire for testing your key skills:  

http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sk/skillstest.html