Identifying Transferable Skills
Participant Workbook
Use this workbook in conjunction with the JVS e-learning course available at:
http://s.zoomerang.com/s/skillsonline
Workshop Objectives:
•
•
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To define transferable skills and the role of transferable skills in job search
To provide tools for identifying transferable skills
To demonstrate matching transferable skills to a job posting
Defining Transferable Skills
Slide 5: Draft a definition for transferable skills.
Slide 6: Choose one of the definitions for transferable skills and write it here.
Tool 1: Using a Skills Chart
Slide 13: Using a Skills Chart
Tool 2: Matching Skills to Job Description
Slide 24: Matching Skills to Job Description: Teresa
Job Description
Teresa’s Skills
Community Outreach Specialist:
•
Develop and implement outreach
plan with clear objectives, metrics
and timelines
•
Developed semester-long
education plans with clear
objectives, metrics for
evaluation and weekly deadlines
•
Identify and create intra-agency
and inter-agency partnerships
through committees
•
Served on educational
committees, developing
partnerships with colleagues in
other grade levels to ensure
smooth student transitions
•
Serve as spokesperson at
community events serving people
from diverse backgrounds
•
Met with parents and students
of various socio-economic and
cultural backgrounds
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Tool 3: Use a list of action verbs
Slide 28
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Matching the Job Description: Practice 1
Slide 36: Rewrite Ronald’s experience.
How could Ronald rewrite his experience to match the job duty?
Tool 4: Tell Your Story with PAR
Slide 38
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Matching Requirements with Skills
Slide 47: Extracting Key Skills from Job Description
Slide 48: Matching Charlene’s Skills to Key Skill Requirements
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Matching the Job Description: Practice 2
Using a job description that you’re interested in, identify three key skill requirements, and
your matching skills. If you don’t have a job description handy, use the sample job
description on the next page.
Job Title: ___________________________________________
Job Description
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Your Skills
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Sample Job Description:
Director of Programs
Position Overview
First Graduate is a college success program that helps students finish high school and become the first in their
families to graduate from college.
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Programs will be responsible for the rigorous assessment
and ongoing development of a multi-faceted program that embodies excellence.
Additionally, the Director of Programs will serve on the management team of the organization, working
collaboratively on fiscal management, personnel management, policy implementation, and fundraising to
ensure sound organizational development.
Qualities That We Seek
•
Experienced and effective educator, with extensive knowledge of the college access and success
landscape both locally and nationally
•
Inspirational leader, able to motivate and manage staff to deliver on high standards of success and
provide guidance and support through organizational transitions.
•
Innovative and resourceful creator of programs, with a compelling and coherent vision for sustained
programmatic success.
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Effective and engaging collaborator, who thrives within a team leadership concept and is not afraid to
push or be pushed.
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Thoughtful and passionate spokesperson of First Graduate’s mission, values and methods.
Minimum Qualifications
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5 years of management experience in the field of education or youth development
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5 years experience in managing effective educational programming (strong preference for
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college access and success experience)
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5 years experience managing programmatic partnerships, especially public and private k-12 schools
(experience with San Francisco schools preferred)
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Demonstrable expertise on effective pedagogy, urban education systems, and outcomes-based
program evaluation (advanced degree in education or child development preferred)
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Excellent communication and writing skills
•
Undergraduate degree (advanced degree preferred)
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Frequently Asked Questions
1.
I don’t want to waste my time applying for jobs for which I can’t compete effectively. How much of
a match should there be between the skills the employer is asking for, and the skills I can offer? Is
50% enough?
You’re right to be strategic about your job search. Since creating a targeted resume and cover letter takes
considerable time and effort, you should only do so where you have a good likelihood of success.
There’s no magic percentage that equals a strong match. An employer who is evaluating you based on your
resume or online profile will generally look for:
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A strong match to whatever skills are most vital in the job. You can’t know for sure what the employer
will consider most vital, so you should make your best guess based on what you see in the job
description.
•
A convincing presentation of the candidate’s potential value to the employer. If you can create a
strong, fact-based presentation, showing how you can accomplish something of clear value to the
organization, you are likely to be considered.
2.
I saw a job posting, worked hard to create a targeted resume and cover letter, and sent my
response. Now what?
You might be rewarded for your hard work with an invitation to interview for the position – or maybe not. In any
case, you have gained a valuable piece of information – you know about an employer who is apparently hiring
for positions for which you might qualify.
Now – utilize your network and your research skills to learn more about that employer and generate a great
answer to the question, “How can I be of value to this organization?” Continue to learn about the organization
through your contacts, through social media such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook, and through the
organization’s web site and publications. And most of all, network your way towards gaining internal
advocates within, or allied to, that organization. The JVS course, Successful Networking Techniques,
discusses this in more detail.
3.
You’ve provided several different ways to identify transferable skills. Which one should I use?
Some of these tools – the skills chart, the verb list, PAR stories - are particularly useful when you’re creating
your “master” resume or your online profile. From your master resume, you can create resumes and cover
letters that are customized for different opportunities.
Those same tools may be helpful when you’re targeting a resume or cover letter for a particular position or
opportunity, or preparing for an interview.
When targeting or customizing, it’s always worthwhile to match the skills that you’ve identified as key, based
on your analysis of the job description is always recommended.
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Next Steps
Input the transferable skill language into your:
Resume
Cover letter
Interview preparation
Resources - JVS
Visit our site
www.jvs.org
Career Gateway
www.gatewaytocareers.com
Visit us:
JVS
225 Bush Street, West Lobby, Suite 400
San Francisco CA 94104
(415)391-3600
Transferable Skills course online:
http://s.zoomerang.com/s/skillsonline
Email us:
[email protected]
Other resources
♦ Gatewaytocareers.com
♦ www.myskillsmyfuture.org
♦ www.iseek.org/careers/skillsAssessment
♦ www.careerinfonet.org/skills
♦ www.vcn.org: see how your skills transfer to a career in healthcare
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