|
|
Home: Employment full menu
Assessing yourself
Worklink - December 2006
zahir.daji@kirklees.gov.uk
This is your opportunity to make a fresh start so think carefully about any ambitions and long term plans you may
have. Think also about ALL aspects of your skills and experience, current work record, domestic situation, personality
and any restricting factors that you may have to overcome.
This process of taking stock of yourself will also be beneficial when you are describing your attributes in letters
and CVs and will help you respond in a positive way at interviews.
Skills and Experience
All prospective employers will want to know WHAT YOU CAN DO.
Lack of formal qualifications is not a barrier if you can describe success from experience. Even things you do well
outside work can be of use to future employers, so include ALL skills on your list.
- What things do you do well?
- What subjects are you knowledgeable in?
- What jobs/tasks are you skilled in?
- Are you good with your hands?
- Are you good with figures/paperwork?
- Are you artistic?
- Are you a good organiser?
- Are you a time served apprentice?
- Do you have professional qualifications?
- Have you attended any training courses?
- Do you hold a full driving licence?
- Are you a qualified first aider?
- Do you have voluntary experience?
- So you have any unusual hobbies or interests?
Current Work Record
Employers will want know what your attitude to work is. If there is anything you feel may be an embarrassment to you
now is the time to think carefully about how you will respond to awkward questions.
- Can you obtain good references?
- Have you a good attendance/timekeeping record
- Have you ever been disciplined at work?
- What standards of work do you produce?
- Has any employer ever re-employed you?
Ambitions and Long Term Plans
Being out of work is seen by many people as an opportunity to realise secret ambitions or to move towards long-term
plans that were always shelved because of work. This may be your chance, make the most of it by considering ALL
your options.
- Is there anything you have always wanted to do but never had the opportunity?
- Do you have other abilities that have never been used at work?
- Could you become self employed
- Could you live comfortably if you retired now?
- Would you like to re-train for something new?
- Would you like to up date your current skills?
- What would you like to be doing in 5/10 years from now?
Think of the specific jobs, tasks and achievements you have successfully undertaken throughout your life and jot them
down so that they may be included in your CV under "Skills, Abilities or Achievements".
Barriers to employment
Do bear in mind anything that restricts you from accepting certain types of work. There is no point in wasting
valuable time pursuing jobs you cannot do or not wish to do.
- Is there anything you would not wish to do?
- Is there anything you are unable to do?
- Do you have any limitations on your physical/mental capacity?
- Are there limits to the amount of physical work you can do
- Are there any limits to the hours you can work?
- Do you want to work?
- What are your options?
- What is the minimum pay you could accept?
Domestic Situation
- Can you work shifts?
- How far can you travel?
- Is your family able to relocate?
- Do you have dependants or do you need to consider childcare?
Personality
Personality is an important factor to consider when job hunting. Some people are most effective when working alone
and unsupervised whilst others prefer a lot of guidance or may even prefer to be the one giving the guidance.
- Are you good at dealing with the public?
- Do you have the ability/experience to supervise people?
- Are you happier in a personal performance role
- Are you outgoing and extrovert?
|
|
Facebook
del.icio.us
Digg
Newsvine
StumbleUpon
Reddit