Know Your Work Skills
A skill is the ability to do a certain task well. Skills can be a natural ability and can also be learned over time. You can gain or expand your skills with practice or training. It is important to assess your skills at all phases of your career since you develop new skills at work, school, and through extracurricular activities.
There are different ways to group your skills.
- Technical skills: These skills are specific to occupations. Welders need to work with special equipment. Nurses need to understand medical terms. The descriptions of occupations will list required skills. You can also use the Occupational Outlook Handbook website for more information about occupations.
- Transferable skills: These are skills that can be used in almost every industry and in a lot of different jobs. There is a short list of common transferable skills below, but you should explore other online skill assessments
Common Technical and Transferable Skills
Read over these skills and think if you have or need to gain any of them. Start your skill assessment by looking at these groups. Ask people close to you for feedback.
| Skill Set | Description | Examples |
| Basic Skills | These are skills needed by almost all workers. These skills are very important to have. Writing, for example, is a basic skill that gets you into a good job. Not having it can keep you out of a good job. |
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| People Skills | These are some of the most needed and wanted skills. They're sometimes called "soft skills." These skills help people to work well with others. |
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| Management Skills | All workers need these skills, not just managers. Employers hire people who can keep track of projects, money, and their time. |
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| Technical Skills | Technology includes computers and equipment. Computers are common in most workplaces. People in all occupations should know how to work with technology. |
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You can take free skills assessments online at:
