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February 18, 2009
Soft Skills Are Transferable Skills
In previous posts on the eSight Network Forum, Jake and Jennifer have wondered if the skills they use in volunteer positions are transferable to paid positions and valued by employers.
That's the burning question most job seekers wonder about in bad times or good times. How can I apply the skills I’ve developed in various situations to the job I’m currently seeking?
In other words, what do employers really want?
Here’s a list of skills employers have said are most important to them in a job candidate:
- Communication skills.
This means excellent verbal or oral skills, effective listening skills and excellent written skills.
- Analytical and research skills.
These skills deal with the ability to assess situations, look at and understand multiple perspectives, identify any and all key issues and do all pertinent research for the problem or proposal at hand.
- Computer literacy.
This involves the basic understanding and use of hardware, software, adaptive technology, assistive devices, word processing, spread sheets, and e-mail.
- Flexibility, adaptability, managing multiple priorities.
These skills look at your ability to handle many tasks at once, change direction if you need to, decide on priorities and effectively managing your time.
- Interpersonal skills.
These skills involve your ability to work with others effectively, to empower and encourage your colleagues or team members, and to motivate others to participate in discussions and meetings. Interpersonal skills also include your ability to handle and manage conflict with others without taking it personally or getting emotionally involved. Are you good at conflict resolution and problem solving?
- Problem solving, reasoning skills and creativity.
Such skills involve being flexible in problem solving. It's using reasoning and experience to find creative solutions. With these skills, you'll be able to spot future trends ahead of others. You will be able to use "synergy" to find practical applications to solutions that you have found.
- Teamwork.
Teams have become an integral part of education, business and, of course, sports. These skills involve being able to work with many individuals or groups where you can help them and they can help you. Good teamwork eschews cliques or favorites or those with closed-minded attitudes such as "been there, done that; it doesn't work." Good teamwork skills mean you're proactive and positive and are able to pursue common goals without hoarding all the credit or trying to bully others to work the way you want to. As the old maxim goes there's no "I" in team or teamwork.
We often hear people say that employers value soft skills -- that if a person has the right attitude and is willing to learn they can teach the specific job related skills.
Employers value soft skills because they make a real difference in how well you perform a job and the added plus is that they are transferable to other jobs and work situations.
That's why I'd like to tell you about Vicky from Ohio. Vicky called Member Services this week. She has been working as a nurse for years, and, when she could not longer do her job to her satisfaction, she started teaching.
She has a hearing problem and Parkinson's. She said it is now too hard to teach because her hearing has gotten worse.
She is looking for advice about how she might transfer her skills into a new work situation which can be more manageable for her.
What advice do you have to offer her?
Add your comments to this posting
Posted by Liz Seger at February 18, 2009 05:29 PM
Comments
Rather than being on the instructional side of the Nursing Profession, perhaps may wish to consider training materials development, i.e. textbook or training materials developer/editor for an entity providing textbooks and other Nursing curriculum related materials.
Many hospitals are engaged in Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) efforts because of increasing mandates of Insurance providers. Many of these positions require computer literacy, familiarity with Medical Records software and attention to detail to insure patient charts are complete and accurate. Often, QA/QC personnel work off-schedule, reviewing materials after the patient departments have concluded their primary functions for the day.
Using this skill set, Insurance Providers may be in need of Case Managers to insure patient services are being provided efficiently and in a cost-effective fashion. This often requires review of physician recommendations, the individual's insurance coverage then, coordinating the Patient Service plan. Similar positions are routinely available as well in local/county/state government entities who are Medicare/Medicaid Providers and, need Case Management to schedule, assign allied staff and follow-up on client services.
Finally, many of the On-Line Career Search Websites have the ability to do localized searches for specific health care related positions.. Many of these sites also have options to search for freelance or consultant positions as well.
Posted by: James J. Elekes, M.Ed, MPA, CPM at February 18, 2009 07:04 PM
I work in the business office of a Home Health Care provider in NW Ohio. Even in the current economy, this business is definitely growing. Vicki's nursing credentials would be a valued asset. Best wishes and good luck to her!
Posted by: Karla Golding at February 18, 2009 09:14 PM
She might try teaching online with Phoenix University. Many of the colleges now have online learning classes and in this case her skills and knowledge would be readily transferable. By teaching online she overcomes the issue of hearing and can use her knowledge and skills to teach students the skills they need to become better nurses.
Posted by: bmayse at February 23, 2009 02:03 PM
thanks for the suggestion about Phoenix. Does anyone have any other ideas?
Posted by: Vicki at February 23, 2009 08:35 PM
Vicki, you might want to talk to your local Jr. college or university in your area where you could utilize your skills and experience teaching online.
Many colleges and universities are offering courses online like the Phoenix university, which was mentioned by Barney.
Liz
Posted by: Liz at February 24, 2009 05:35 PM
Neesd to know about soft skills
Posted by: tshering at February 19, 2010 03:27 AM