What am I good at? – My skills

Expertise

During your studies and your professional activity, you acquired a variety of professional competencies. These include not only knowledge in business administration such as marketing, accounting or management, but also skills in processes and methods, or the mastery of software or foreign languages. In order to know your own strengths, it is best to look at your work references, diplomas, language certificates and course confirmations. Then list the professional skills documented in them one by one. Experience from internships, stays abroad or volunteer work may also have created new knowledge.

Professional skills I acquired during my studies and in schools

University / school My strongest subject… My weakest subject…

Professional skills I acquired during internships and on the job Company / Position Knowledge I could apply with ease… Knowledge I could only apply with difficulty…

Character strengths and personality

In the following list includes a variety of traits that make people unique and distinctive. Identifying these traits can help you determine what kind of corporate culture and team you would like to work in. The greater the match between you and the environment, the more comfortable you will feel – and the more successful you will be. In the "self-image" column of the list, mark your characteristics on a scale from what you hardly show (1) to what is particularly prominent (4). Then give the list to one or two other people who know you well and ask them to fill in the column "external image".

Characteristicst

Self-image External image 1 External image 2 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

adaptable

ambitious

assertive

athletic

authentic

balanced

cheerful

choosy

communicative

compassionate

competitive

conciliatory

confident

considerate

cooperative

courageous

curious

diligent

diplomatic

driven

easy-going

emotional

empathetic

energetic

Charaktereigenschaft Selbstbild Fremdbild 1 Fremdbild 2 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

enterprising

enthusiastic

entrepreneurial

fiery

flexible

focused

forgiving

free-spirited

friendly

generous

good listener

helpful

honest

humorous

idealistic

impressionable

independent

interested

inventive

knowledgeable

leader

logical

mediating

modest

open

organised

original

outgoing

patient

perceptive

political

Charaktereigenschaft Selbstbild Fremdbild 1 Fremdbild 2 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

positive

practical

proactive

productive

professional

quality-conscious

quick

reasonable

rebellious

resourceful

responsible

results-oriented

self-sacrificing

sensitive

sensorial

shrewd

sincere

skilful

sociable

social

stable

strong

successful

sympathetic

tactful

thoughtful

trustworthy

understanding

unpretentious

warm-hearted

well-read

In the following, compare your own assessment with the two external images of others. In which strengths are there similarities (confirmed strengths)? Where do you have strengths that you are not aware of (blind spots)? And where do you think you have strengths that are not perceived by others (hidden strengths)?

Characteristics

Confirmed strengths Hidden strengths Blind spots

Transferable competencies

In your everyday work and during your studies, you have acquired skills and competencies you can apply to future professional situations. These include communication, organisational and leadership skills. The following list shows you a compilation of such transferable competencies. Take your time and in the column "self-image" mark your self-assessment of to which extent these competencies are visible (1 = you hardly ever show them, 4 = you show them very often). Then ask one or two people to make an assessment in the column "external image".

Transferable competency Self-image External image 1 External image 2 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

Analysing and thinking critically Solving complex problems and managing data

Teaching and researching

Creating and innovating

Formulating concepts and strategies Planning, organising and coordinating Following instructions and directions

Transferable competency Self-image External image 1 External image 2 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

Accepting and adapting to change Dealing with pressure and setbacks, not giving up

Achieving personal goals

Thinking entrepreneurially or economically Making judgements and taking decisions

Initiating actions

Taking responsibility and getting things done

Being service-oriented

Leading, managing and supervising

Collaboration skills

Networking and building relationships

Persuading and influencing

Communicating and presenting information

Writing and reporting

Now compare your self-assessment with the external images of others. Where do you find confirmed strengths? Where are there blind spots? And where do you have hidden strengths?

Characteristics

Confirmed strengths Hidden strengths Blind spots

(Source: shl competency framework,Future of Jobs Report WEF, Knackonomics)