Before a job interview, many people wonder, “Should I focus on emphasizing my skills?” In short, yes! Due to rapidly growing job competition worldwide, many people could fill an available position. How do companies choose the employees that will be the best fit? Simple: they look at the applicant’s skills and qualifications. Companies look for candidates who stand out from the rest of the crowd based on their experience, skills, expertise, and certifications. Emphasizing the skills you can offer the company is extremely important when applying for a job.
The Three Types of Skills
Skills can be categorized into knowledge-based, transferable, and personal.
1. Knowledge-Based Skills
These are the skills you’ve learned from your experience and education. Any skill attained through courses, seminars, or certifications falls under this category. Knowledge-based skills vary from field to field; for example, if you work in IT, you may have mastered a programming language or have specific, advanced computer skills that you’ve attained from one of the best IT colleges in Canada. These skills demonstrate that you are an expert in your chosen field, possessing extensive knowledge and experience to bring to the company.
2. Transferable Skills
As the name suggests, these skills can transfer from one job to another. Most candidates will have the knowledge-based skills required for a specific job, but your transferable skills are the ones that can help you stand out from the competition. They are unique to your experience and will show the employer what you can do for their company. Transferable skills include problem-solving skills, leadership skills, organizational skills, writing skills, client service skills, time management skills, project management skills, etc. Each candidate will bring a different set of transferable skills; make sure the employer knows yours are the best.
3. Personal Skills
Personal skills are unique to you and help define who you are. The interviewer will likely start out with, “Tell me something about yourself.” How you answer is very important because it reveals your skills and sets the tone for the rest of the interview. Personal skills include self-motivation, flexibility, teamwork, communication, positive thinking, creativity, etc. These skills demonstrate who you are and what you will contribute to the work environment each day.
Self-Assessing Your Skills
To impress your potential employer, you must know and emphasize your strengths. Examine your résumé and make a comprehensive list. This list should include your skills—knowledge-based, transferable, and personal. Make sure you have the list ready before your interview so you can memorize it. Present your skills to your interviewer in an organized and compelling way. Be direct when describing what you have accomplished in your career, and highlight the skills most applicable to the position.
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