Skill Set Definition and Examples

Skill Set Definition and ExamplesSkill Set Definition and ExamplesA skill set (also spelled as skillset) is a particular category of knowledge, abilities, and experience necessary to perform a job. Specific skill set areas include human relations, research and planning, accounting, leadership, management, and computer skills. You can job-hunt by matching your skill set to a certain profession, or enhance your skill set to furtherbei your career progression. Types of Skill Sets Soft skills are interpersonal, or people, skills. They are somewhat difficult to quantify and relate to a persons personality and ability to work with others. Author Daniel Golemans wells of hard skills include computer programming, accounting, mathematics, and data analysis. Some can be learned on the job, while others, such as surgical skills, are first learned in a classroom and then refined through work practice. One difference between hard skills and soft skills is that you can easily list hard skills on a resume, while soft skills may come across more clearly during an in-person job interview. Hybrid skills include a combination of technical and non-technical skills. Many positions require employees to incorporate both soft and hard skills in their skill set to succeed in the role.Transferable skills can apply to many different career fields. These include soft skills like critical thinking and problem solving, or hard skills such as writing and math ability.Job-specific employment skills are those necessary for a particular position. For example, a hair stylist must know hair-coloring techniques, a payroll clerk must have payroll skills, and a nutritionist must have diet management knowledge. How to Figure Out What Skills You Have Highlighting your skills is an important part of any job search. However, what if you are uncertain which skills you have? Answering these questions can help you determine your core skills What do you enjoy doing? Identify the tasks where you fe el extremely competent. Perhaps throughout your life, youve enjoyed positions where you have knowledge and can patiently answer peoples questions. That might be expressed as communication skills or customer service abilities from a resume perspective.What gets you compliments? In a work setting, what activities lead to praise? Perhaps during performance reviews, you consistently receive acknowledgment for your team player abilities. Maybe your previous bosses have always commented on your timeliness or attention to detail. What have you done at your jobs? Look to job descriptions, both for the job you want and for the jobs youve held and described on your resume. Consider the skills necessary to do the work. If you launched a new app at your last job, you likely know a programming language or have other tech-based skills. How to Develop New Skill Sets If you are looking for a job in an industry that requires a skill set you dont currently possess, one way to gain new skills is t hrough skill sharing. Someone with a particular skill shares his or her knowledge in exchange for lessons from you in another skill. Often, this occurs online through a web tutorial, such as someone looking for a job in marketing that exchanges an online tutorial about web design for a tutorial in marketing strategy. You can also develop skills in other ways, including taking online courses in both hard and soft skills. Matching Your Abilities to the Skills Required for a Job Show employers that you have the skills necessary when you apply for a job, by demonstrating this in your resume, titel letter, and during the interview. Job listings often include a list of skills that employers require of applicants. In your resume and cover letter, reference the skill sets you have that fit the job listing. In your cover letter, mention the computer skills, and provide a specific example of a job where you used those skills regularly, especially if its in a manner that fits your new pote ntial job. For example, if a position requires an applicant with strong computer skills, list the software programs you are familiar with, your level of expertise and any related projects youve worked on, such as software implementation or configuration. When preparing your resume, use keywords that describe your skills to employers so that if you post your resume online, it will turn up in search results for those key terms. Once you land an interview, prepare by making a list of your skill sets that relate to the job. For each skill set, come up with a particular example of a time you have demonstrated or used that skill in the past and practice a brief summary to share during your interview.

Customize this Outstanding UX Designer Resume Template

Customize this Outstanding UX Designer Resume TemplateCustomize this Outstanding UX Designer Resume TemplateWriting the UX Designer Resume TemplateCreate Resume A well-written resume is oftentimes the one element that can make an applicant stand out to employers. Highlighting relevant skills and abilities in a well-formatted resume allows employers to quickly learn the most important qualities that an applicant possesses. The following UX Designer resume template is a great example for this plan position. Teri Lane Professional SummaryUX Designer dedicated to design and development to create engaging user experiences. Thrives in a work environment that requires problem solving and innovation. Proven ability to offer highly analytical and creative ideas to the design environment.Core Qualifications Contemporary user-centered design methodologies Interaction design trends research Technology trends data Visual design Interaction design and development Multi-disciplinary teamExperienc eUX Designer, April 2013 PresentCunninghams Technical Services Los Angeles, CA Execute interaction design as well as visual design while working as parte of a multi-disciplinary team. Consult with the lead architect and clients as necessary to ensure designs comply with client visions. Plan quality user experience by collaborating with the lead architect and researching technology trends to implement most innovative features into design. Directed the visual appearance of all new features and enhancement to software applications while keeping the interface beautiful, clean and easy to use. Designed elegant solutions to complex workouts and acted as the user advocate throughout the development and implementation processes. Provide input and feedback during departmental discussions and board meetings to help further design process.Design Technician, August 2012 May 2013California Information Technology Department Monterey, CA Assisted UX Designer with developing wireframes, personas and behavioral specifications. Used research-related services, methods and theories to provide interface best practices and standards and to support recommendations.Education2012 Bachelor of Science, Interaction DesignUniversity of California Los Angeles, CACustomize Resume

5 Things You Should Never Share With Your Boss

5 Things You Should Never Share With Yur Boss5 Things You Should Never Share With Your BossSome things are better left unsaid, a wise girl once told me. Actually, five regretful girls told me- after saying things to their baboes they wished they could have sucked right back in their mouths (if only their feet werent blocking the way).Learn from their mistakes, and avoid these topics with your manager at all costs.1. Your Side BusinessIts fine to have a hobby, and its fine and dandy if that hobby makes you a profit. Whats not fine is selling your services to your manager and her peers.Case in point A girl I used to work with welches getting some negative feedback on her recent performance. Little things were building up to be a big thing, and rumors were swirling that management had had enough of her lack of attentiveness in meetings and constant mistakes.They finally found out why this initial rock star was dwindling into a clock-watcher At an important client dinner, she announced t o a manager (who just told the table that shes getting married) that shed love to plan her wedding because shes been trying to build her clientele. Turns out, she was an on-the-side vorstellung planner.When she asked me later if I noticed how weird managers were being around her, all I could think of was Yes, and its probably because theyre paying you $50K a year and their work is being neglected by the start-up youre promoting on their time. Yeah, that might be it.2. Exhaustion Due to Late Night Studying Its totally cool to walk into the office tired from a late night of working overtime- in fact, it will probably earn you some big-girl Brownie schwimmbadges thatll help for your next promotion. But its not OK to complain because you had to stay up and study for an exam you have to take in order to make a career switch.True story a girl I worked with in a marketing department walked into a morning meeting yawning. When our boss playfully asked if she had a late night out, the girl r eplied, Ugh, I wish. I was studying forever last night for my teaching certification.If youre wondering if she pretty much told our bosses that shes actively trying to get another job outside of the company- well, yes she did. And, she felt about 10 times more awkward than you do reading this after she broadcasted her calculated plot to quit ASAP as soon as she could find a good teaching job in a nice school district. She ended it with, Its just so hard finding a job in this economy, you know?3. TMI Doctor Visit DetailsIf you need a sick day, fine. Even feel free to share whether its something minor or serious, if you really want. But, whatever you do, leave out anything that will conjure up unpleasant images in your boss mind.A few years ago, a girl I interned with sent a note to our male boss about an infection she had, ahem, down there. Ill never forget the look on his face when he opened up the email. Its the same face you make when you see intoxicated couples making out on the subway. You think, theyre clearly not in their right minds, and they will regret this and feel as appalled as I do tomorrow when they come to. And so will you if you divulge things to your boss that should never be discussed outside of an exam room.4. How Bad You Screwed UpOnce at a work happy hour, a group of us were sharing stories- you know, funny happenings around the office, G-rated embarrassing moments- until one admission turned the room silent. Turns out, its one thing to accidentally break the copier, but quite another to damage client relationships.One of my peers had a cocktail in pranke with pink liquid swishing from side to side as she laughed so hard she cried about the time she accidentally tweeted about a Bravo TV show on behalf of the client on accident. As soon as she saw our managers agitated fluttering of the eyes, she panicked- and ordered a bigger drink to wallow in her sorrows. She was a social media manager, and I dont blame her for wanting to swim away in th at fruity drink of hers. If I had offered up a reason for my bosses to no longer trust my judgment, I would have ordered up another round for myself, too.5. The Real Reason You Left Your Last JobAcceptable reasons for leaving your previous job for your current one can be any number of things relocation, a career switch, an urge to feel challenged or an interest in a different company culture. One thing that is not a sufficient reason, and if spoken could cause some serious damage to your boss-employee relationship? That you were looking for something slower-paced, less challenging, easier.That is a direct quote from a gal I worked with who was apparently surprised that our manager didnt clutch her pearls in flattery and thank her for the compliment. I mean, this woman helped to build the business from the ground up- and a new hire is telling her that she essentially downgraded by working here because she needed a break from the hustle and bustle of a tougher company? Even if its the truth, this is essentially the office equivalent of one coattail-holder slapping the coat owner in the face.While outright lying can harm your relationship with your boss, the same goes for being way too honest and open with things you should share only with your friends (specifically, your good friends- the ones who wont judge you). Even if youre close with your manager, its a good rule of thumb to run from the above situations just in case. Now you know what happens after a bad case of word vomit Even a seasoned custodian cant clean that career mess up.Photo of surprised woman on phone courtesy of Shutterstock.