GENERIC SKILLS CHECKLIST

​Although qualifications are important in getting a job, employers also want to recruit young people who have employability skills such as communication skills, problem solving, creativity, honesty and integrity, being punctual, taking responsibility, team working, being self motivated and having a good work attitude.

Young people can improve their chances of impressing employers by being clear about the skills they have to offer. It’s up to you to confidently list and describe your skills during the various stages of the recruitment process.

These should help you in identifying your own particular “skill set”.  Each heading is followed by examples that illustrate that skill but don’t stick slavishly to these – try to come up with your own list which matches your own blend of experience and ability.
Think about which of the descriptions represent your strengths and add your own descriptions where you can. Be specific and avoid vague or general claims to skills.
When you have your own personal list keep it with your CV and refer to it when making changes to your CV for particular job applications or when writing covering letters.  Memorising key skills within your list will help enormously when answering skill or experience related questions in job interviews.
List No 1:  Generic Skills (school leavers)Communication & Teamwork Skills

• Listening carefully and making sure you understand
• Speaking clearly and with precision
• Being patient and persuasive while taking on board suggestions
• Sharing information and making constructive suggestions
• Seeing things from the point of view of customers and colleagues
• Building trust with customers and colleagues
• Getting on with people of all types
• Understanding the strengths and limitations of team members, including your own
• Sharing your knowledge and skills with others
• Being clear about your tasks and responsibilities and delivering reliably
• Seeking compromise when differences of opinion arise
• Using initiative to solve problems within the boundaries of your job role

Planning, Organising & Problem Solving Skills

• Analysing complex tasks and breaking them down into logical stages
• Identifying possible problems and planning ways to work around them
• Discussing likely problems and solutions with colleagues
• Ensuring that all necessary resources (tools, equipment, materials) are available
• Using accurate measurements, quantities and estimates

Learning Skills

• Sharing knowledge & experience in the workplace
• Being prepared to invest time & effort in learning new skills
• Recognising where a new approach or skill would improve things
• Developing  a range of basic IT skills relevant to your job role

Self Management Skills

• Being punctual and meeting deadlines
• Being a reliable, honest and ethical employee
• Not being put off by setbacks and problems
• Striving to improve your work performance

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List No 2:  Generic Skills (graduate level)Communication Skills

• Listening, understanding and speaking clearly
• Writing appropriately for different audiences
• Persuading & negotiating effectively
• Demonstrating empathy, assertiveness & tact
• Understanding the needs of customers/clients
• Establishing relationships & using networks
• Sharing information & proposing ideas
• Fluency in English & other languages
• Logically summarising information or data
• Chairing a meeting

Teamwork Skills

• Working effectively with people of different ages, gender,
  race, religion or political persuasion
• Identifying the strengths of team members
• Recognising own strengths & limitations
• Clarifying team roles & performing agreed tasks
• Demonstrating leadership as appropriate
• Coaching, mentoring & motivating others
• Giving & receiving constructive feedback
• Resolving differences of opinion
• Collaborating & contributing to team results

Problem Solving Skills

• Defining the problem & contributing factors
• Developing creative, innovative &/or practical solutions
• Showing initiative in identifying & solving problems
• Solving problems independently & in teams
• Applying a range of strategies to problem solving
• Analysing facts & testing assumptions
• Developing & evaluating a range of options
• Making realistic decisions & action plans
• Resolving customer concerns
• Implementing & monitoring solutions
• Evaluating processes & outcomes

Initiative & Enterprise Skills

• Identifying opportunities not obvious to others
• Assessing the competitive advantage of ideas
• Identifying customer or client requirements
• Being creative, initiating ideas & innovative solutions
• Determining the commercial viability of ideas
• Translating ideas into action
• Liaising with stakeholders & sponsors
• Using a range of business communication methods
• Marketing & selling a product or service

Planning & Organising Skills

• Understanding basic business systems & their relationships
• Establishing clear & attainable project goals & deliverables
• Defining specifications & quality standards
• Collecting, analysing & organising information
• Risk management & contingency planning
• Managing time & priorities (setting milestones)
• Managing tasks  (delegating, coordinating, monitoring)
• Managing people (training, developing, motivating, giving feedback, supervising)
• Being resourceful, taking initiative & making decisions
• Establishing evaluation criteria & participating in continuous improvement
• Reporting on progress & outcomes

Learning Skills

• Managing own learning
• Sharing knowledge & experience in the workplace
• Contributing to the learning community at the workplace
• Using a range of mediums to learn (mentoring, peer support, networking,
  information technology, courses)
• Having enthusiasm for ongoing learning
• Being open to new ideas & techniques
• Acknowledging the need to learn in order to accommodate change

Technology Skills

• Having a range of basic IT skills
• Using IT to organise data
• Being willing to learn new IT skills
• Having the occupational health and safety knowledge to apply technology

Self Management Skills

• Being punctual and meeting deadlines
• Being a reliable and honest employee
• Demonstrating resilience (working under pressure)
• Having a personal vision & goals
• Taking responsibility
• Working ethically
• Evaluating & monitoring own performance

[With thanks to the University of Sydney]