Learn, Discover, & Use Corporate Superpowers Effectively Like Your Superhero
You probably do not know about it, but you’ve got it
I was browsing articles, LinkedIn content, and some YouTube videos in the past — and these content creators say one thing about skills.
Skills are the new currency.
Yes, it is packed with value, and if you know how to package it, you can make good money out of it in business and corporate.
In today’s competitive job market, articulating your skill set is paramount for your career success.
Whatever your role, whether you are in sales, finance, legal, admin, engineering, operations, and so on, a comprehensive list of technical and soft skills is your professional toolkit to thrive and get where you want to be.
As a career coach, It is not surprising for other of my mentees to discover that they had it but never knew about it, so it is worth taking a step back, reflecting, and documenting it.
Here is a quick guide.
Let’s begin with the technical part if you need help figuring out where to start.
The Work Experience Appraisal
If you stick to one type of job, it is easy. Where you are in legal admin, accounting, or purchasing, there are relative tasks or processes that you have gathered through the years.
Several tasks include:
- Drafting contracts specific to terms and conditions between partners.
- Analyzing and recording invoice and official receipt dates.
- Sourcing and accrediting vendors.
- Mastering a particular software system like SAP, Quickbooks, or NetSuite.
These noteworthy things speak about your worth to a specific company or industry.
It can also be a project management stint that allows you to draft an effective activity charter.
Gather all your experiences capturing your professional journey. It is a treasure trove of technical skills.
Reflect on your current and previous roles, pinpointing specific technical competencies required from your roles previously.
Check out the Prescription by Looking at the Job Descriptions:
Examine job descriptions for roles you’ve held or aspire to have.
If you are a project analyst gunning for a project manager role for a specific industry, explore the job postings on LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and Indeed, among others.
Take note of the technical skills mentioned as requirements or preferences.
- Do employers require somebody who knows how to use Gantt charts?
- Is there a specific software that companies expect you to know?
- Are you backed with financial understanding and learning how to manage budgets?
- Regarding schedule and resource allocation, are you good to mobilize in case things do not turn out the way they should?
This portion helps you align your skills with industry expectations and identify areas for your growth.
Not Discriminatory, But Some Recognize Equipping
Your education is a foundation for technical expertise.
There are companies that do not care about formal schooling, but some niched careers need retooling.
If you are in the field of banking or technology, employers require certifications or courses that contribute to your technical skill set and uplift.
It is essential to highlight any hands-on experiences, projects, or practical applications of theoretical knowledge, whether you gained it within or beyond the four corners of the office.
If you still Cannot Figure it Out, Try This.
Explore online platforms offering skills assessments. This is where Google becomes your best friend.
These assessments can objectively measure your proficiency in technical areas in detail specific to your background and intention.
Consider taking relevant tests to quantify and validate your technical capabilities.
It Is Free To Ask
Engage with professionals in your industry. Do you have a LinkedIn account?
Despite the noisiness of social media, there are still many good reasons to join networking events offline or online.
Invite people who belong to your field, and start a discussion with random guys willing to give you a good exchange about developments in the field.
I’ve done this on LinkedIn several times. I connect with random people and initiate good conversations with them.
It did not just build my network; I learned much from these people’s experiences.
This broadens your perspective and keeps you informed about emerging trends in your space.
What Is In and What Is Out
The business landscape evolves rapidly.
Stay informed about industry trends through reputable sources, blogs, and publications.
Define reputable. Here are a few on my list
- Harvard Business Review
- Forbes
- Entrepreneur
- Inc
- Wall Street Journal
- Fast Company
- And many more
Identify emerging technologies or tools relevant to your field and incorporate them into your skill set if applicable to you.
Try to Categorize So That You Can Break It Down
Are you a tech guy?
Compile your skills, categorizing them based on programming languages, software applications, hardware expertise, databases, and other relevant areas.
Into business and strategy?
Attempt to break it down to sending proposals, going into exploration calls, developing win-win terms, etc.
This inventory serves as a quick reference for potential employers or collaborators.
Go Over Resumes
Refer to resume-building tools specific to you and provide predefined lists of technical skills.
Delve deep into the list and ask yourself, do I have it?
These tools can guide you in selecting and organizing your technical competencies effectively.
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