Developing a Summary of Qualifications / Skills / Profile
- STEP THREE

• Continue using the last worksheet - Employer Skills Match - develop your Qualifications or Skills section by matching up what the employer needs with what you can provide. Sounds simple enough!

  Click here for an example job description and targeted qualification statements.

• Click here to view some additional sample qualification/profile statements.

REMEMBER:

• These are brief statements of your experience, training and/or personal abilities.
• They should highlight what you have to offer an employer (based on what the position requires.)
• Begin each with an action verb or number, being sure to choose different words to begin each statement - click HERE for sample verb lists.
• Subheadings can be used, if appropriate, i.e., computer skills, customer service skills, etc.
• Note that "Qualifications" or "Skills" are more experience-based or quantifiable whereas "Profile statements" are more personal attributes.

The following are questions designed to help you develop your Qualifications or Skills section - NOTE!! - do not use any of the worksheet statements or phrases word-for-word. Obviously, they are available to thousands of people and some (many?) will plagiarize them!

What have I really done since most of my employment experience is in entry-level positions?

The Key Traits work sheets may jump-start your brain to begin thinking creatively about your abilities and skills.

How do I take 'summer and part-time job experience' and show what I can do in a professional position?  

The Identifying your Skills and Attributes worksheet assists you in taking basic jobs and translating the skills you've developed from these jobs into attributes for professional opportunities. An example is given.

How do I choose which skills are best to put on a résumé?

Identify your five best transferable skills using the Transferable Skills worksheet.

What is a thorough approach to identifying my skills?

The Skills Inventory worksheet helps you to identify your strengths and weaknesses in five key areas:

1. Technical Skills
2. Performance Skills
3. Basic Skills
4. Thinking Skills
5. Personal Qualities. 

Use the information obtained to develop qualification statements of attributes you will bring to your next employer.

How can I phrase my qualification statements most effectively?

Start your qualification statements with action verbs for a powerful effect.

How do I speak the language of the employer?

A job description tells you what an employer is looking for. Speak his language. In addition to listing sites of job vacancy postings, find job description sites from the Websites for Research worksheet.

Are there any interactive tools that will help me develop a skills profile?

For a $15 fee - SkillScan - a commercial skills analysis system, questions you to develop a skills profile. NOTE: This service is not affiliated with West Texas A&M University or Career and Counseling Services in any way.

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