you.
Double-Color, Prioritize
When you are done filling out the Transferable Skills Inventory, it will help you greatly in deciding Patterns and Priorities if you will go photocopy the preceding four pages of the Skills Inventory and spread them all out on a table or on the floor. With these four grid pages side by side you now have a complete view of the boxes you checked, or colored in, as you analyzed your stories. Next, take a red pen or pencil, and read over each skill description where you colored in more than once. As you now read each of these skill descriptions, say to yourself: “Sure, I used this skill in the past. But do I STILL REALLY ENJOY using this skill today?” If your answer is “Yes,” put a red circle around the number in front of that skill. (The numbers are not significant; they’re just “placeholders.”) Next, if, in that particular skill description there are multiple phrases, but one or two of these really grabs you, then underline just that phrase, in red. When you’ve run through all four pages of the skills grid, in this manner, look it all over, choose your top ten favorites from among all the circled ones, and copy these ten onto a separate sheet of blank paper. Then prioritize these ten, using the grid on the next page.
Now, list the top six or ten, in order of priority, on the diagram below.
5. “Flesh Out” Your Favorite Transferable Skills with Your Traits
We discussed traits earlier. In general, traits describe:
How you deal with time, and promptness.
How you deal with people and emotions.
How you deal with authority, and being told what to do at your job.
How you deal with supervision, and being told how to do your job.
How you deal with impulse vs. self-discipline, within yourself.
How you deal with initiative vs. response, within yourself.
How you deal with crises or problems.
A CHECKLIST OF MY STRONGEST TRAITS
I am very…
Accurate
Discreet
Persistent
Achievement-oriented
Driving
Pioneering
Dynamic
Practical
Adaptable
Extremely economical
Professional
Adept
Protective
Adept at having fun
Effective
Punctual
Energetic
Quick/work quickly
Adventuresome
Enthusiastic
Alert
Exceptional
Rational
Appreciative
Exhaustive
Realistic
Assertive
Experienced
Reliable
Astute
Expert
Resourceful
Authoritative
Firm
Responsible
Calm
Flexible
Responsive
Cautious
Humanly oriented
Safeguarding
Charismatic
Impulsive
Self-motivated
Competent
Independent
Self-reliant
Consistent
Innovative
Sensitive
Contagious in my enthusiasm
Knowledgeable
Sophisticated, very sophisticated
Loyal
Cooperative
Methodical
Strong
Courageous
Objective
Supportive
