KNOW YOUR SKILLS

Date : 8 November 2012

Speaker : Vanessa Fan
Student Advising Officer (Career)

This PowerPoint will be put in our website :

http://intraweb.hku.hk/local/careers/web/CareerPreparation H:\1011\Project\pgday\100925.ppt
Agenda
 Mechanical

Administration

Hard Skills Creativity Specialist Skills

Numerical

Communication

Decision Career Skills

Making
Skills
Reliability

Listening

Soft Skills People Skills

Self Management
Skills
Self-Initiative

Teamwork

Leadership
What are hard and soft skills?
• Hard skills
Skill set and ability to perform a certain type of task or activity
• Detail-minded - handling things accurately, carefully and quickly
• Analyzing data
• Understand logic, abstract reasoning
• Investigating - researching, studying, questioning for information
• Using Equipment
• Creative, innovative, designing
• Repetitive tasks
• Budgeting - managing money, budgets or finances

Usually acquire from School

Analyzing data Business, Mathematics, Finance
Creative Fine Arts, Music, Architecture
Communicate Journalism, Language
Logic Engineering
• Soft skills
Ability to interact effectively with coworkers and customers and are broadly
applicable both in and outside the workplace
• Multi-tasking - handle a number of task simultaneously
• Influencing- selling, persuading, encouraging
• Organizing - arranging, coordinating people, resources and schedules
• Planning- predicting, scheduling, preparing for tasks, events, projects
• Time Management - meeting deadlines, setting priorities, being on time
• Team Work - achieving goals with others
• Leadership - leading, directing, guiding others
• Problem solving - looking at problems from different perspectives, exploring solutions
• Decision making - weighing up options and making a choice
Why Soft Skills?
You Can Acquire the Soft Skills
Extracurricular Activities

The Society of Mechanical Engineering Organizing, Leadership, Planning

Vice-president
- Coordinated team efforts to organize 13 functions in a year while being the person-in-charge.
- Took the initiative in organizing a team-building activity. Successfully negotiated an
exceptional promotion space with the faculty.
Self-motivated, Communication

Samsung Educational Sponsorship Programme – Consumer Behavior Survey

- Conducted marketing research and organized focus groups
- Constructed insightful presentation and advised Samsung on TV promotional activities
- Participated in panel presentation

Presentation, Research
 Time
Time Management,
Management,
Multi-tasking
Multi-tasking
Volunteering and Community Work

Organizing, Multi-tasking
Alumni Office, ABC University
- Run fundraising campaign on campus; managing the logistics and on-site operation
- Made cold calls to contact and persuade alumnus for donation and handled related enquiries
- Invited prominent guests and social figures to various fund raising events

Verbal Communication, Can-do Attitude

Interpersonal Skills

Problem Solving, Listening,

Dietetics Department of Eastern District Hospital
Communication
Student Volunteer (Clerical and Clinical)
- Performed nutritional screening for clients to identify and evaluate their nutritional problems
and propose needs
- Developed and implemented a nutrition education programme named ‘Food and Emotion’ for
teenagers, advising on food and equipment selection, food preparation and nutritional
knowledge
- Reviewed and updated annual plan by analyzing statistical reports using SPSS

Analytical, Numerical Planning, Leadership

Ask Yourself
Do I have these skills? How Good am I?

Interpersonal, People Skills

• Maintain group cooperation and support
• Interact effectively with peers, supervisors and supervisees
• Understand and respect the feelings of others
• Make commitments to others and follow through
• Demonstrate effective social behavior in multiple situations (friends, mentor, teachers, neighbors..)
• Acknowledge efforts and contributions of others

Communication & Language skills

• Listen with objectivity
• Speak articulately
• Paraphrase the content of a message
• Use various forms and styles of written communication (emails, reports, press release)
• Speak effectively to individuals and groups
• Use a variety of media formats to present information imaginatively (flipchart, whiteboard, ipad)
• Express needs, wants, values, opinions and preferences without violating the rights of others
• Describe objects or events neutrally and factually
Leadership skills
1. Analyze tasks and set priorities
2. Include others who will contribute to the solution of a problem or task
3. Identify potential problems and identify resources useful in the solution of a problem
4. Motivate and lead others. Bear responsibilities and consequence.
5. Align common goal. Organize people and tasks to achieve specific goals.

Decision Making
1.Create a constructive environment.
2.Generate good alternatives.
3.Choose the best alternative. 
4.Communicate your decision, and take action.

Administration & Organization skills

1. Set plan, budget, timeline.
2. Categorize issues and tasks. Follow through diligently.
3. Predict future patterns.
4. Accommodate multiple demands for time, energy and resources.
5. Review and Report progress periodically.
Would it Affect Your Career Choice

Both are IMPORTANT!

Hard skills > Soft skills:

Laboratory, Researcher, Quality Assurance, Designer, Doctor,
Analyst, Engineer, Translator, Transport Operation, Detective

Hard skills = Soft skills:

Lawyer, Counselor, Secretaries, Nurse, Consultants, Social
Worker, Teacher

Hard skills < Soft skills:

Account Executive, Sales, Customer Service, Senior
Management, Receptionist, Call Centre, Probation Officer
Skills employers are looking for
Many of the skills employers look for in a candidate are transferable skills, or skills
that can be used in a variety of jobs.

Question: What are the top skills most-valued by employers?

Answer:
1.Strong interpersonal skills
2.Strong verbal and written communication skills
3.Leadership
4.Learning Ability
5.Team player
1. Self-Motivated
6.Problem-solving skills 2. Can-do
7.Analytical and conceptual skills 3. Energetic, Passion
What employers look for in a job candidate
Question: How employers find out your Qualities and Skills?

Answer:
Can you do the job?
• Do you have the necessary abilities, knowledge, experience and qualifications?
• How soon can you become productive? Are you a fast learner?
• Will your work be accurate and high-quality?

Do you have the skills to succeed?

• Show me a case where you have demonstrated your leadership skills.
• Tell me an experience that your team has to align a goal.
• Have you worked with a difficult person? What is the result of it?
• Are you able to work unsupervised, use your initiative and work confidently under pressure?
• Did you come across a tough situation and decision has to be made? What is your experience?

Do you fit with the organization?

• Do you have a good attitude?
• Does your presentation and appearance represent the company well?
• What’s your passion and aspiration?

Note: It is your responsibility to provide employers with the best information to help them make a quality
hiring decision.
Self Management vs Specialist Skills
Self-management skills - enable you to work well in different types of situations with
a variety of people.
Usually soft skills. Examples include:
• being motivated
• showing initiative
• meeting deadlines

Specialist skills - usually relate to a specific job or group of jobs.

Usually hard skills. Examples include:
• fluency in a language
• ability to use specific computer programs and technical equipment

When planning the next steps in your career, it is important to identify the skills and
competencies you have. This will help you to:
• decide what sort of jobs you might like to do
• decide what areas you need to focus your study or training on
• write your CV if you are applying for a job.

Tool to help assess your skills:

• Assess your skills - an exercise to help you identify your skills (Appendix I: Skill
Assessment)
Exercise

Assess Your Soft Skills

Self Management Skills