6 answers
francisco
Student
Callahan, Florida
1
Question
6 answers
Sumit Kumar
Account Growth Executive
1
Answer
Phoenix, Arizona
Updated
Sumit’s Answer
Excellent question Francisco. I think almost everyone ponders over this question many times during their professional life. Even after you choose a job based on your skills, you may find a situation where you will question again if the job you have selected is the right one.
Before you think about a job, spend some time and introspect on what is your passion? What do you like to do when we get some free time? What do you enjoy doing the most? Doing what tasks make you happy? If you are student, what subjects interest you the most? Do you like to think about the numbers and see a pattern or you like to think more about how a machine works? Or it could be an interest and passion in area of fine arts? Or wondering about machine learning and algorithms? Based on your areas of interest and the knowledge & skills that you already have, you will be able to find if there are any gaps between your skills and the job and make it easier for you to be able to focus on those specific gaps.
There are many websites available which can help you in filling those gaps - Coursera is one. IBM also offers Free learning courses and badges. Here is a link - https://www.edx.org/school/ibm
Introspect on what you like and what are your passions
Go online to coursera / edx and see if you like any course
If you don't find any course matching what you like, reach back with some more details and I would love to research more for you.
Before you think about a job, spend some time and introspect on what is your passion? What do you like to do when we get some free time? What do you enjoy doing the most? Doing what tasks make you happy? If you are student, what subjects interest you the most? Do you like to think about the numbers and see a pattern or you like to think more about how a machine works? Or it could be an interest and passion in area of fine arts? Or wondering about machine learning and algorithms? Based on your areas of interest and the knowledge & skills that you already have, you will be able to find if there are any gaps between your skills and the job and make it easier for you to be able to focus on those specific gaps.
There are many websites available which can help you in filling those gaps - Coursera is one. IBM also offers Free learning courses and badges. Here is a link - https://www.edx.org/school/ibm
Sumit recommends the following next steps:
Thank you!
francisco
Sarah Tarta
Consumer Banking Associate
8
Answers
Boston, Massachusetts
Updated
Sarah’s Answer
Try to think about your passions, hobbies, and experiences! You may not realize, but you have plenty of skills already - all you have to do is think about your every day life, how you make goals, and what success means to you.
For example, one of my passions is art, and due to my interest, I learned graphic design, which is a skill I could use to interview for a job.
If you want to build your skills and add some kudos to your resume, there are also many free, online courses that you could take to either discover your skills or learn new ones! I recommend EDX and Coursera.
Go online, see what certificates interest you, and take a course!
For example, one of my passions is art, and due to my interest, I learned graphic design, which is a skill I could use to interview for a job.
If you want to build your skills and add some kudos to your resume, there are also many free, online courses that you could take to either discover your skills or learn new ones! I recommend EDX and Coursera.
Sarah recommends the following next steps:
Thank you!
francisco
Jennifer L. Dos Santos, M.S., SHRM-SCP
Director - HRBP
8
Answers
Roxbury Township, New Jersey
Updated
Jennifer L.’s Answer
Hi, Francisco,
Great question, and one that you will most likely find yourself asking time and again. If there is a particular job in which you are interested, take a look at the requirements of the job and reflect on whether or not you have experience in those areas. Think back to any part-time jobs you may have had in the past - what function did you perform in the role(s). Those are all skills you can build upon.
Also think about your passion. What is it that you love to do and are good at? You will find more joy in a career than only looking at what you are good at now. Take advantage of any internships now that fuel your passion, as well as elective courses. If you do not have prior work experience, look to gain some through an entry level role, and build from there.
Best of luck to you.
Jennifer
Reflect on past jobs and list out what you have done.
Make a list of the things you love to do and are good at performing
Match your lists to the job requirements
Great question, and one that you will most likely find yourself asking time and again. If there is a particular job in which you are interested, take a look at the requirements of the job and reflect on whether or not you have experience in those areas. Think back to any part-time jobs you may have had in the past - what function did you perform in the role(s). Those are all skills you can build upon.
Also think about your passion. What is it that you love to do and are good at? You will find more joy in a career than only looking at what you are good at now. Take advantage of any internships now that fuel your passion, as well as elective courses. If you do not have prior work experience, look to gain some through an entry level role, and build from there.
Best of luck to you.
Jennifer
Jennifer L. recommends the following next steps:
Thank you!
francisco
Simeon Snow
Risk Assurance
1790
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
Simeon’s Answer
There are a lot of strengths analyses out there, but the quickest way to get a better understanding of your strengths is to ask friends and mentors what strengths they see in you. The strength survey I'm most familiar with is StrengthsFinder, which will give you five qualities to focus on. You'll have to pay to take the test, but you'll generally get more out of a test you had to pay for than the free tests that you'll find online.
Terence Cheung
Business Operations
78
Answers
San Francisco, California
Updated
Terence’s Answer
I would differentiate between "hard skills" (programming, accounting, trade skills, excel modeling, project management, etc.) and more "soft skills" that you may have (public speaking, team building, cross-functional work across groups, problem solving). The difference is really dependent on the jobs or careers that you are considering. There are jobs that have hard requirements that you kind of can't get around - for example: if you're looking to be a mechanic, you really have to have applicable hard skills (programming skills is probably less applicable, but you would definitely need applicable automotive knowledge.
Conversely, the softskills you have may shape the role you have within the career you choose. Whether you're at an autoshop, an accounting firm, a tech company, or your own business, your softskills will probably have more of an effect on what you could do within that role. Would you be a leader or senior team member to help coach and develop others? Would you be better suited as an advanced individual contributor? Would be better suited towards client facing work, or better suited solving problems internally? Your softskills are likely to shape the answer to all of these questions. It's not to say that you COULDN'T do client facing work if you're more introverted, it just may mean you may need to work harder to develop that client facing presence.
The softskills are also tied to your personality, so there are things that you would be more predisposed to. These are areas that you might be best positioned to succeed in, as they will be aligned with your strengths. Again, it's not that you can't succeed without these softskills! Also, it's not a all or nothing scenario, you could be say an "B" or "B-" at something, but can work to turn that into an "A" or "A+" with practice, training, or experience.
Conversely, the softskills you have may shape the role you have within the career you choose. Whether you're at an autoshop, an accounting firm, a tech company, or your own business, your softskills will probably have more of an effect on what you could do within that role. Would you be a leader or senior team member to help coach and develop others? Would you be better suited as an advanced individual contributor? Would be better suited towards client facing work, or better suited solving problems internally? Your softskills are likely to shape the answer to all of these questions. It's not to say that you COULDN'T do client facing work if you're more introverted, it just may mean you may need to work harder to develop that client facing presence.
The softskills are also tied to your personality, so there are things that you would be more predisposed to. These are areas that you might be best positioned to succeed in, as they will be aligned with your strengths. Again, it's not that you can't succeed without these softskills! Also, it's not a all or nothing scenario, you could be say an "B" or "B-" at something, but can work to turn that into an "A" or "A+" with practice, training, or experience.
Dottie Regan
Recruiter
1
Answer
Atlanta, Georgia
Updated
Dottie’s Answer
This is such a great question! Start by writing down any job you have gotten paid for. Have you babysat? Mowed lawns? Tutored someone? Those are skill that you already have. What classes have you taken that you are good at? Those are skills you have! Hobbies? Those are skills too. Also remember to list out the things you do that you have fun with, like avid music listener or novice hiker. Good luck!