How To Get The Job You Really
Really Want - Your Skills and Abilities
There
is one very basic question here which dictates how you will "market"
yourself in your job search, it is simply this;-
What Are You Good At?
Good question isn't it? Shame they didn't tell you
at school, package it all up and set you off on a pre-destined
career. I don't know about you, but I always felt someone else
ought to be better placed to tell me what I am good at, or even what
my true vocation in life should be. (Remember careers counselling
at school, college or university?) In my younger years I just
wanted it easy, someone to tell me everything I should do for an
easy life.
Fat chance!!
That is definitely NOT the way it works if you want success.
I was only ever good at things like Subbuteo or ten
pin bowling, picking a top-ten hit or making wise cracks in class.
I could never score the F.A Cup Final winner at Wembley or woo the
class dolly bird, or, come to think about it, get anything above a
"C". These things were beyond me!
However, as I went through school, college, my early
working life, I began to pick up good skills. I learned to
type reasonably well (please, no letters if you find a typo!), I
learned good financial sense, good business skills, I learned to
sell, completing the biggest deal in my company one year. I
learned to get along with people, how to get the best from people
and finally became one of the U.K's most successful individuals in
the recruitment business.
I also developed a unique sense of humour, learned
how to motivate people, and developed a highly positive attitude
(crucial, I believe). I also learned how to bring up three children
(no-one prepares you for that one!), and how to live life to the
full, to feel the spice of life, to feel joy at waking up in the
morning.
Now, you're probably thinking Derek's blowing his own
trumpet a bit here, well, yes I am, but it does illustrate
the point I want to make. You see, along the way I have developed
a very useful set of skills, skills that would be of
benefit to virtually any company in the country!
Sometimes it was hard, but all of these
skills, in certain circumstances, are highly marketable.
You have developed similar, maybe (probably?) better skills. I
know there were some kids in your class at school who could run the
100 in 10.5 seconds in the third year. Who were on trials for
Manchester United at thirteen. Who could play guitar like Clapton
at fourteen. Who were natural mathematicians. Who always got the
girl! (or boy).
The natural wheeler-dealers. These individuals all
had rare ( and I mean rare) talent. But, if truth be told,
they were the exception, the rest of us had to gradually
build up our unique portfolio of skills and abilities,
sometimes by damn hard work and persistence (admiral qualities
by the way). These skills are your passport to success;
don't let anyone tell you any different.
Next Page -
Skill Sets
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