Skills Identification
To create a professional objective you need to begin by
identifying your skills, interests, values and the lifestyle you
wish to lead. To assess these key areas you should review the
following:
Transferable Skills
To determine these skills you need to reflect on your past
experiences. These skills could have been developed through
your education, employment, volunteer work or life experiences and
can be transferred to other industries.
Management Skills
Motivate
Delegate
Coach
Train
Team Building
Make Decisions
Supervise
Direct
Manage Tasks
Implement
Plan
Forecast
Organization Skills
Prioritize
Restructure
Time Management
Scheduling
Attention to Detail
Finance Skills
Calculate
Compute
Analyze
Budget
Audit
Communication Skills
Listen
Write
Facilitate
Speak in Public
Interview
Mediate
Negotiate
Technical Skills
Computer Literate
Programming
Designing Systems
Developing Products
Scientific Research
Marketing/Sales
Skills
Promote Ideas
Sell
Advertise
Persuade
Client Relations
Planning Skills
Design
Research
Conceptualize
Strategize
Personality Traits
These skills may be inborn or developed and will help you adapt
to new situations.
Ambitious
Assertive
Confident
Creative
Dependable
Energetic
Enthusiastic
Imaginative
Independent
Inquisitive
Personable
Problem Solver
Reliable
Resourceful
Responsible
Self-Starter
Team Player
Values
Your professional objective should reflect your values.
These values may have changed since your last major career
decision. Values are:
1. Guiding principles, which provide you with the ability
to answer a career related question, "What is important to me?"
2. Who we are. They will be the same in work and non-work
activities.
3. Key criteria to choosing meaningful work and non-work
activities.
What is most important to
you?
Challenge: Desire to handle
difficult situations successfully.
Independence: Ability to do
things on my own without significant direction from others.
Power: Authority to control
situations within an organization in order to make things
happen.
Security: Limit future financial
worries; preferring stability and predictability.
Friendship: Being accepted by
others; maintain relationships and a feeling of camaraderie.
High Earnings: Achieve great
monetary rewards; more than necessities require.
Management: Directly responsible
for others and for the achievement of organizational goals.
Help Society: Do something that
contributes to improving the world.
Variety: Have work
responsibilities which are diverse and change frequently.
Influence People: Be in a
position to influence the attitudes or opinions of other
people.
Prestige: Attain a certain
position that adheres to a desirable reputation.
What type of lifestyle is important to
you?
Your professional objective should be compatible with your
career goals and your lifestyle needs. Depending upon the
stage of your career, you may want to explore alternative career
options. This may be the appropriate time for you to consider
flextime, consulting, self-employment or telecommuting.
Each individual needs to determine what is appropriate for him
or her. Whatever your choice, how motivated you are will
determine the drive you put forth to achieve your career goals.
Accomplishments
In order to prove to an interviewer you have specific skills you
need to identify your accomplishments. To do this, examine
your work related achievements, community service involvement, and
participation in professional associations. Then, identify
the skills you used to obtain successful results and be prepared to
articulate these success stories.