Goal Setting
Matching Skills to Goals
Transferable skills are another way to expand your job search. Once you've identified your skills, look for ways they might transfer to other jobs. The transferability of self-management skills is obvious.
All employers are looking for motivation and dependability. But many job skills are also transferable and transferable job skills open doors to new opportunities.
Look for ways that your skills transfer to other employment opportunities. If you decide to pursue these opportunities, your next challenge is to find effective ways to present these skills to a potential employer.
Here are two examples of how workers used their transferable skills to search for new jobs:
Bob had extensive experience making ceramic figures. He mixed materials and extruded them into molds. Once the piece was set, it was then sanded and inspected. Since most ceramic companies are small, Bob was challenged to find opportunities that used his skills. Bob discovered the same basic extruding and finishing operations are used to work with plastics, light metals and even heavy foundry work.
After a long absence to raise her three children, Sue wanted to go back to work. She had no recent employment experience, and her education was outdated. However, Sue has mastered many skills through managing a household on a limited budget and through volunteer work with the YWCA. Through a careful skill assessment and some creativity, Sue was able to identify many skills important to potential employers.
Goal setting is an important part of a successful job search. It's critical that you take the time to establish clear job search goals. This takes research and an honest self-assessment.
Consider talking to a professional career counselor and taking career tests (aptitude, interest, values and personality inventory). You will certainly want to research the labor market.
Focus on the job that you plan to pursue right now. Your immediate need for employment should be a step in your long-term career plans.
As you explore your job search goal, you will be considering criteria for the ultimate job. Throughout the process, a healthy dose of reality is important. Remember that your goals must be attainable.
If you find your dream job isn't immediately achievable, reevaluate and plan the steps to achieve your goal. Secondary job goals are often among these steps. A secondary goal may include part-time, temporary, evening or contract employment. It may be an opportunity for advancement or self-employment. It may be short-term employment while you pursue other opportunities. Whatever the case, consider secondary goals early in your job search.