1. Understanding and Assessing Skills
Some employment surveys have determined that over 90% of all job applicants interviewed cannot explain their skills. These people may have the necessary skills to be successful in a job but cannot communicate them effectively. The first critical step in the job search process is to determine your skills and qualifications and to become familiar with the best possible method for presenting them to employers.
A skill is something that you have learned or possess. It may have been learned through employment, through education and training or through personal activities. Some skills are simply personality traits that you were born with.

2. Getting Started Take out a blank piece of paper
In the next 5 minutes, journal about 3 things you do really well.
How do you know this about yourself?
Can you give an example of a time you have demonstrated this?
Participants will take five minutes to write about the following in their journals:
Three skills they possess (something they can do really well).
Have the students include the following:
How do you know this about yourself?
Can you give an example of a time you have demonstrated this?
Was this exercise easy or difficult? Why?

3. Definition of “Skill” The ability to do something well; expertise
Remember…there are things we do well (skills) and then there are things we do well AND enjoy doing (Dependable Strengths)
Let’s start off with a definition of the word “skill.” I want to emphasize that skills differ from Dependable Strengths.
Ask for someone to explain the definition.

4. Types of Skills Job Content/Technical Functional/Transferable
Personal/Adaptive
Now that you have an understanding of how skills relate to career development, we are going to discuss the different types of skills that exist.
Skills can fall into 3 categories. There are job content/technical skills, functional/transferable skills, and personal/adaptive skills. We are going to take a closer look at each of these. Understand that there may be some overlap.

5. Top Skills
View Video:
Three Million Jobs in the U.S. but Who is Qualified?
Complete worksheet and discuss
Find a partner, come up with a list of the top 10 skills all employers are looking for.
You will have 5 minutes to complete your list.
Top Skills Employers are Looking For
View CBS 60 Minutes Video: Three Million Jobs in the U.S. but Who is Qualified?
This video is focused on the manufacturing industry and the employers’ difficulty with finding entry level workers. It defines the entry-level skills necessary for being hired.
(HANDOUT #1) CBS 60 Minutes Segment Worksheet
As the students listen to this video, ask them to complete the handout: CBS 60 Minutes: Three Million Open Jobs Student Worksheet.
Discuss the students’ responses to the questions. Wrap up the discussion by focusing on the lesson learned:
- There are good , high paying jobs available for people with the appropriate skills and education (and not just in manufacturing)
- Use the labor market information available to research the number of job openings and the specific skills sets needed to help them with their career decision-making.
Have students work in pairs to develop a list of skills they think employers are looking for. After 5 minutes, show the video and have students score their lists.
Check in with the following questions:
Was anyone surprised by this list?
Is there anything you think should be added to this list?
Do you think that you possess some of these skills?

6. NACE 2013 Top Skills Oral communication Analytical skills
Technical skills
Collaboration
Computer skills
Problem-solving
Written communication
Organizational skills
Critical thinking
Interpersonal skills
For reference…the skills featured in the video.
Participants will complete a Skills Search at
Did all students find skills that related to them? If not, help those students by explaining to them ones that may apply. Have them select at least five skills. After selecting “Go”, a list of matching occupations will be shown.
Review the following for navigating the website:
Bright Outlook Occupations: expected to grow rapidly in the next several years, will have large numbers of job openings, or are new and emerging occupations
Green Occupations: Occupations in Environmental protections or energy consulting and research. Employment demands will remain the same but there is a potential for increase.
Job Zone: Level of education and on the job training preparation required
Skills Matched: Shows the skills selected and the level of importance of them each occupation
Ask students to complete the following (put this information into the student’s portfolio):
Select three occupations they would be most interested in researching further
Select three occupations in which they have the least interest
Explore all six occupations to find out job availability, educational qualifications and salary
Have the students develop a chart to record the information
Discuss the students’ findings from their research
Now it’s your turn: Complete Skills Search on O*NET

7. Job Content/Technical Skills
Skills related to a specific job; hard skills that are unique to an occupation
Examples include laboratory skills; automotive skills; computer programming skills
Acquired not only from paid positions, but volunteer work, hobbies, extracurricular activities, and education

8. Transferable/Functional Skills
Skills that you develop or learn in one environment that can be used in another
Examples include organizational skills, communication skills, analytical skills, and writing skills
Here, it might be helpful to provide an example. Ask students in the class if they have babysat or waited tables. You can also share an anecdote from your own life.

9. Personal/Adaptive Skills
Skills that show how you react to various situations
Your personality traits
Examples include being enthusiastic, punctual, creative, and able to work well with others

10. THINK FAST! Match up the type of skill with its definition.
Skills that show how you react to various situations; your personality traits
Skills that relate to a specific job; hard skills that are unique to an occupation
Skills that you develop or learn in one environment that can be used in another
Technical/Job Content
Transferable/Functional
Personal/Adaptive
After this lecture, have students complete the adjective checklist.
(HANDOUT #2) Adjective Checklist
Have the students complete the Adjective Checklist (add this to portfolio).
Discuss with students the relationship between aspects of their personality and skill development.
e.g. If a person is shy, he/she may have difficulty with public speaking or participating verbally in a professional setting like a business meeting.
e.g. If a person is persuasive, she/he may be comfortable speaking in public and is able to debate or justify their statements well in a professional setting such as a business meeting.

11. Job Descriptions We are going to take a look at two job descriptions.
In pairs, determine what the job content, transferable, and personal skills the employer is looking for.
See above. Remind students that some skills may fall into more than one category
Show the students the two job descriptions to determine:
job content/technical skills
transferable skills
personal/adaptive skills
Discuss the skills that these employers are looking for in their new hires.

12. Sample Job Description
Crew Member at McDonalds
Looking for friendly, enthusiastic people who can deliver excellent customer service with a presentable smile. Dependable, hard working individuals should apply now! Must be able to work in a fast paced environment and be a team player. 
Content skills?
Transferrable?
Work in a fast-paced environment
Customer service
Smile
Team player
Personal?
Dependable
Hardworking

13. Job Description Research Assistant at Johns Hopkins
Bachelor's degree in biology or chemistry. Some related experience. Experience using Access, and be knowledgeable in the use of Microsoft office products including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Outlook . Requires excellent organizational, verbal and written skills, and the ability to work independently and prioritize multiple demands. 
Content skills?
Degree in biology and chemistry
Related experience
Access and Microsoft Office
Transferrable?
Organizational
Verbal
Written
Work independently
Prioritize multiple demands
Personal?
- Could be similar to some of the transferable

14. On Your Own
After determining your top skills, add them to your summary sheet
Skills Quiz
Homework:
Write a reflection that addresses the following
How do your skills relate to your Dependable Strengths?
How does your list compare to the skills employers are looking for?
What skills are you interested in developing further? How will you develop them?
(HANDOUT #3) Personal Summary
Ask students to fill out the “Skills” section of the Personal Summary handout that was introduced in Lesson #1. Ask a few students to share what they identified as their top skills.
Endorse the importance of knowing skills but emphasize that this is only one component of your personal brand or who you are as a person.
(HANDOUT #4) Lesson Quiz
Use Unit Quiz to assess learning.
(Handout # 5) Reflection Writing Rubric
Write a reflection that addresses the following
How do your skills relate to:
Your Dependable Strengths (refer back to the Dependable Strengths Report)
The list of skills that employers are requiring.
The skills are you interested in developing further. How will you develop them?