The Human Face
The Skill Set
Last year I interviewed Richard Wahlquist for CareerBuilder.com. Mr. Wahlquist is the President of the American Staffing Association, a group that represents many of the companies that send 2.5 million Americans a day into the labor force as temporary or contract workers.
In the course of our discussion, he said something to me that seemed to be just common sense, but it the kind of thing that doesn't really sink in until you hear someone say it.
He described the traditional employment model that most older Americans had experienced in their adult lives -- Get a degree or some vocational training. Then, a company hires you and you plod along doing great or tedious things for 40 years as they provide a salary, your healthcare, vacation weeks, and eventually, a retirement package. That's mostly gone now, he said.
What he said next is the part that struck me as critical.
“All you have today is your skill set.”
Your skill set. What is it Unless we have an obvious talent or have been trained to be an accountant or an electrician or a welder, most of us haven't thought about ourselves as just a collection of skills. It's probably time to start doing so, since the new employment model is all about what you can do, and more than that, you will be asked to prove that you can do it, or that you have done it.
So, with a blank piece of paper and a pen, start making a list of all of the things you can do. Be inclusive. If you've had safety training, if you know how to operate any kind of machine, if you are licensed to drive a bus or a truck, or if you've made travel arrangements for a sales department, write it down. College degree. Write it down.
If you can operate a computer, if you have taught a training course in the operation of forklifts, if you have supervised a road crew, or if you have designed a program in the local park district, write it down.
Better yet, do this exercise with a partner or in a group, especially if you don't have much on your list. You may get some ideas from them, and together you will generate more ideas than you would on your own.
Compare your skill set with that of others. This may be a difficult thing to do, especially if they are a licensed dental technician or a network technician, and you've got training for a job that has gone away. Don't be discouraged, or go ahead and be discouraged, but once you are done with that, figure out how you are going to get some training and credentials.
In the coming weeks we'll talk about setting goals, about how to look for training, about how to express your skill set in a resume, and many other things like networking and using local resources.
All of these things present a challenge, and may require some personal change. It's about moving ahead, and that starts with understanding your skill set.
If you would like to share your thoughts, you can message Tim Trummer through our community blog, or click the Contact button to send Tim an email. Thank you!