Chapter Three

Skills Set

S

ometimes when we are asked what our strengths are, we

tend to think “knowledge-based skills.” These are the

skills you’ve acquired from experience and education.

While these skills are important, the next person to be inter-

viewed may be equally qualified in these skills. There are two

other categories that are very important when you are trying to

establishing your uniqueness in interviews. These are your

transferable skills and your personal traits.

■Knowledge-based skillsare skills learned through experi-

ence or education, such as computer programs, graphics,

languages, and writing

■Transferable skillsare portable—you can take them with

you to almost any job. Examples are communication, listen-

ing, decision-making, judgment, initiative, planning, and

organizing. Chances are that you are probably taking for

granted some of the skills that make you unique.

■Personal traitsare qualities that make you who you are—

flexibility, integrity, friendliness, dependability, good atti-

tude. These skills cannot be taught, even though some

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