Gratuitous Self Promotion

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Okay, so I've been writing a few posts monthly for the last 9 months or so. My goal is to average 2 posts a week, but sometimes time, energy, or inspiration get in my way. I'd be very open to hearing feedback from readers to hear what you think so far... the good, the bad, and the ugly- bring it on, i've got thick skin.

Have a great day all!

Best Skills Inventory I've Found

I've been researching Skills Inventories and Skill Sets in relation to job functions for an upcoming seminar I'm developing. If you'd like to share your input on what I'm working on, please check out some more detail in this forum at HRM TODAY, the Social Network for Today's HR Professional- free plug Laurie, no need to send money :) If you're not familiar with this resource, take a look around, it's a great place to peruse.

Anyway, in my research, I've come across numerous lists and processes for job seekers to itemize their on skills inventory. In the program I'm working on, HR professionals will use similar methodology to uncover latent skills within their current workforce. Once uncovered, the employer can provide opportunities to employees to work cross functionally, effectively increasing productivity, engagement, and retention. This is even more important during a recession (remember, like Hermione Grainger said in Harry Potter, "fear of the name only increases fear of the thing itself"- IT IS IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE REALITY OF OUR CURRENT ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT- sorry... I digress), when employers are forced to do more with less.

In my digging, I found the following worksheet to be of the most value, at least in my opinion, and thought I'd pass it along. This is a great Skills Inventory list from SunRaye Enterprises. You can find more great info like this at their website: http://www.sunraye.com/job_net/

I've been

A Free Internet Resource from SunRaye Enterprises

Worksheet #5 - Skills Inventory Worksheet

For each skill, rank your degree of competence as you would compare yourself with others -- your classmates, friends etc. For those skills where your degree of competence is above average, describe briefly the experience(s) in which you gained the skill.

Skill	Never Done	Needs Work	Average	Above Average	Experience(s) Where You Gained the Skill
Analyzing Situations or Data
Assembling Equipment or information
Calculating Mathematical computations or risk assessment
Coaching Guiding or tutoring
Competitiveness Ability to compete with others and a willingness to be measured on performance
Compiling Data or facts
Constancy Persistent, faithful
Constructing Objects or buildings
Coordinating Activities or events
Corresponding Answering or initiating
Counseling
Creating Artistic creations, new ideas or inventions
Deciding Finding alternatives, making best use of resources or materials
Delegating Tasks or responsibilities
Designing Products or systems
Direction Ability to define personal goals and needs
Displaying Ideas, products or equipment
Editing Newspapers or magazines
Energy Level Ability to demonstrate a forcefulness and capacity to make things move ahead
Estimating Costs, income or physical space
Evaluating Performance, programs, processes or events
Flexibility Capable of change and receptive to new situations and ideas
Fund Raising One-to-one or through media
Goal Achievement Ability to identify, work toward and obtain specific objectives
Group Facilitating Managing group interactions
Handling Complaints Parents, clients or citizens
Inspecting or Examining Physical objects, financial statements, or through test administration
Interpreting Data, legal, medical terminology or another language
Interviewing Seeking information from others and making subsequent decisions or suggestions
Investigating Private information underlying causes or events
Making Layouts For printed media public displays or advertising
Measuring
Meeting the Public Receptionist, host, agency or product rep, salesperson, etc.
Monitoring Progress of people or equipment
Motivating Self and others
Observing Physical phenomena, human behaviour or situations
Operating Equipment, machines or vehicles
Organizing People, information or events
Patience Ability to remain calm, endurance
Planning Budgeting, goal setting, scheduling
Perseverance Ability to continue a course of action in spite of difficulties or opposition
Programming Equipment or activities
Promoting One-to-one or though media
Recording Numerical or scientific data
Record Keeping Logs, files or time sheets
Repairing Equipment, vehicles, furniture, appliances, accessories, etc.
Researching Obtaining information from the library, surveys or physical data
Self-knowledge Ability to assess your own capabilities
Self-starter Ability to identify purposeful work and to take action
Selling Ideas, products or policies
Serving A product or an individual
Sketching Pictures, diagrams or charts
Speaking In public, groups or via electronic media
Supervising People or processes
Teaching Formal or informal
Timing Organizing time or events
Troubleshooting Equipment or situations
Updating Information or records
Using Instruments Engineering, medical or scientific
Writing Creative, business, or non-fiction
Other Skills You'd Like to Add (e.g. Word Processing, Spread Sheets, Accounting)

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